THE LIBRARY IS OPEN!!!

We and ODES are thrilled to announce that Bibliyotek Communitaire de Deschapelles (the Community Library of Deschapelles) has officially opened its doors to the community.

A celebration was held on January 8, 2016 in an all-Haitian affair with the people of Deschapelles, our collaborative partner, ODES, and the library’s Haitian supporters, FOKAL and Digicel.  This is the culmination of a wonderful and productive collaboration between supporters of Sister Cities Essex Haiti and the people of Deschapelles led by ODES, an all-volunteer organization comprised of Deschapelles community members.  Many thanks go to Haitian supporters FOKAL (Fondasyon Konsesans ak Libèrte) and Digicel.  Now that the construction is complete, many people in the community are taking full advantage of this completely new opportunity in Haiti’s Artibonite Valley.

On April 9, 2016, SCEH Executive Committee members, Dan Taylor-Stypa, Jenifer Grant, David Evangelisti, Terry Parkinson and Kathleen Maher, attended a Dedication of the Library in Deschapelles.

Over 250 people helped celebrate the opening of the library including a representative from Digicel Foundation which provided a generous grant to ODES for the construction of the library.

A ribbon cutting ceremony after the Dedication was followed by a picnic for all who attended.

Since the opening of the library, approximately 200 people per week visit the library, clubs have been formed (including the French Club and the English Club), children’s reading groups have formed and many workshops and programs have been held. For example, on April 29, Dr. Rulx Narcisse, a doctor at Hospital Albert Schweitzer and President and Founder of the Haitian Astronomical Society, presented a program on astronomy at the library. See the video below of the highlights of the presentation!

The following is a report we received on January 21, 2016 from ODES member Anny Frederique:

“I have to share with you all that yesterday at the library, it was business as usual since inauguration: more and more attendees. There were the usual neighborhood kids who read (so many choices of creole and french books) to each other, alone and one came with a mother! and of course after reading they begged for a game of UNO so I taught   Plerette [one of the librarians] so she could be a go-to adult who knows the game. We played the card game met for 7+ year olds with  5 kids, 2 of which were 5 and 6 years old!  

A film about the making of the library!
North Cove Films has made a seven-minute film about the making of the library.  We invite you to view it by clicking here.

SCEH Made a Book!
Carole Devillers, a prize wining National Geographic photographer, who created a series of photo books  (Anna Goes To The Countryside, Anna Goes To School, Anna Goes to the Seashore, etc.), just created Anna Goes to the Library featuring Bibliotheque Communautaire Deschapelles!!!  The Anna books are published in French and Kreyol.  It will first be sold at the annual, very popular May book fair, Livres en Folie, in Port au Prince.

She very much enjoyed  working with the Deschapelles librarians, Odverne Charles, Eulicaine Fleurisma, Plerette Mervil and Besly Belizaire, and the children visiting the library.

As of November 2015

The library building is nearly complete and the librarians are getting ready to welcome Deschapelles!!! Kathleen Maher and Terry Parkinson traveled to Deschapelles in November in this transition period from construction to operations.

They were so pleased to arrive early in the morning to a hand-washing demonstration conducted by ODES members in front of the library. Later that day, they were welcomed by a small group of children who are participating in story-time with the librarians.

So, while the building is not yet completed, ODES has slowly begun to introduce the community to the library.  A construction punch list has been agreed upon including the installation of screens, completion of the library shelves, adding doors to the “twalets”,  and installing the water tank on the “chateau dlo” (the water tower near the gatehouse).

The librarians plan to invite teachers to tour the library before it opens to review the rules and procedures with them so they can return and tell their students.  ODES will be making a decision soon regarding the “official” opening of the library. So stay tuned!

Kathleen and Terry also spent some time in Port au Prince to continue our relationship with FOKAL and to make new ones that will benefit the library.

As of July 2015

SCEH Director Jean Maignan was warmly received by members of ODES and others when he visited Deschapelles in July and brought back these photos! Very exciting. We are getting close!