Montessori in Haiti - news of teachers and schools after the earthquake

Haiti needs our solidarity - now more than ever

The Peter-Hesse-Foundation, created in 1983, trains Haitians to become Montessori pre-school teachers to help local partners open pre-schools for deprived children. Over 800 teachers have since been trained and 50 schools built, many in Port-au-Prince. The Montessori St Nicholas Charity has donated equipment to the schools in the past and has offered their support in the re-building of the schools to help get families lives back together.

In the aftermath of the recent disaster in Haiti, Peter Hesse has sent us the following update:

We at the Peter Hesse Foundation are holding our breath as we wait for news of our teachers and children. We are mostly concerned about the schools in Port-au-Prince and Leogane since most of this area is completely devastated. Telephone and e-mail communication is extremely limited as there is no electricity.

So far we have been told that the teacher training centre in Rue Clermont, Port-au-Prince, has crumbled. The directress of the school, Naomi Joseph is reported to be alive. We are thankful for this. Buildings can be rebuilt ...

The trainer Heliana is also ok, although her house has been destroyed. We wait for more information hoping for the lives of our teachers and children in Port-au-Prince and in the other badly affected areas in Haiti.

All we are sure of right now is that we cannot let Haiti down. We will work to rebuild and staff schools and to help families get their lives back together. We are determined to continue with even more dedication to help give deprived children a starting chance in life.

Right now the first priority is to save lives and to provide basic needs. Building up what is destroyed and saving the Montessori system for deprived children in Haiti is already in the planning phase.

Futher news updates will be added to the news section of www.solidarity.org

Peter Hesse

18 January 10