Bonne Nouvelle School in Bigonet, Haiti

Onè! Respe! Honor! Respect!
A Traditional Haitian Greeting

Goal: by 2015, provide school for every child in Bigonet, pre-k through 12th grade.

Who will benefit from your gift?

• Immediately and visibly, children of the small mountain village of Bigonet will benefit.  With modest financial support from St. James, Bonne Nouvelle School has expanded from pre-kdg through 6th grade (2008) to 7th, 8th, and now (2013) 9th grade. The dream: all the way to Grade 12 by 2015. In spite of zero support for education from the Haitian government, your gift will assure that every child in Bigonet can go to school. Every child.

 

• So, too, will the children of Minnesota benefit. Following each of six visits of Minnesotans to Bigonet since 2008, travelers have made presentations in public libraries, community organizations and public school classrooms throughout Minnesota.
  
  In January 2013 our partnership brought, for the first time, Bonne Nouvelle educators to Minnesota. Over 12 days they visited community groups and classrooms, kindergarten through college, throughout the metro area.
   
  The result: an ever-broadening public is learning a balanced view of Haiti’s energetic, resourceful and deeply committed people.

 

• And most certainly, you and your family will benefit. “Haitians are choking on receiving,” says Haitian educator Djalòwki Dessables. As a contributor to Bonne Nouvelle you can be confident that your gift will affirm the dignity of our Haitian partners. You can take joy in being part of a team which — together — strengthens the education of children in Haiti and Minnesota alike.

Please consider the United Nations standard to end extreme poverty: 7/10s of 1% of your annual income — a gift of $7 per each $1,000 of income.

In rural Haiti, people sometimes walk the mountain trails barefoot — saving their shoes for occasions when they wish to show special respect. The confidence that flows from Bonne Nouvelle’s relationship with St. James has brought many changes to Bonne Nouvelle’s church and school. Our Haitian friends tell us, “Because of our relationship with St James, Bigonet has become a village that people hear about, a village that they respect. Now, when people come to Bigonet, they put on their shoes.”

WE’RE ON AN ADVENTURE — AND YOU’RE INVITED!

For more information:

"Story of Bigonet shows Haitians know what to do -- they just need a boost," by Ruth Anne Olson, 1/13/2011, MinnPost.com

"Schooled in Haiti: a Visit to the Village of Bigonet," by Susan Maas, 1/2/2011. St. Paul Pioneer Press
Part 1  |  Part 2

St. James on the Parkway Episcopal Church--Haiti Project