Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2013 Issue | Page 30

Regional Collboration Brings Solar Power to Haiti
Russ Collins
On a mission led by St. James’, Leesburg, a team from Region
XIII churches installed solar power early in February for the
new St. Marc School in Trouin, Haiti. The former St. Marc
School was damaged beyond use by the 2010 earthquake.
Region XIII has partnered with St. Marc in Trouin and Haitian
Hope from Macon, Ga., to build a new school and support
the students in primary, secondary and trade school classes.
Starting from a barren site in August 2011, four mission
teams have constructed a new school, culminating with the
installation of solar power and dedication of the school by

Bishop Duracin of Haiti on February 3.

The trade school was established by the priest-in-charge,
Pere Michaud, in March 2011, and with support from Region
XIII, the school currently teaches cooking, sewing, embroidery,
decorative arts, music and computers. While much remains
to be done to improve these classes, we are clearly making a
difference. During a February visit, the principal of the local
public school remarked, “Your work here has given new life
and hope to the entire community of Trouin.”

Mission Trip Shock
Nicole Hutt
I had some expectations about my first
trip to Haiti. I knew that the people
had very little, and that after the
earthquake they had even less. I knew
that the people of Haiti had been the
victims of corrupt governments and
that there were serious problems with
t H