On Wednesday, April 1, Haiti Solidarity hosted a fundraiser at the Eagle Theater that included a silent auction and the screening of a portion of the PBS series documentary, “A Path Appears.”
The film, produced by New York Times op-ed journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof, explores the different organizations that combat humanitarian issues worldwide, including the Society of Providence United for the Economic Development of Port-au-Prince (SOPUDEP). One of the stories that the documentary features includes SOPUDEP director Rea Dole and her efforts to help a young Haitian girl escape from being a “restavec,” a term that refers to Haiti’s institutionalized slavery. While the movie was meant to spread awareness of SOPUDEP and the club’s mission, it served another purpose.
“[The movie] was our hook to get people to come,” Haiti Solidarity co-president senior Ya’el Weiner said. “We had a fund-me auction before and after where people could come and, for different price points, buy a chair, buy a desk or buy a solar panel.”
The event hauled in around $4,800. Added to the $29,000 from crowdfunding and $3,000 from other club activities, Haiti Solidarity has raised a total of more than $35,000 this school year. All of the money is being spent on finishing the construction of a SOPUDEP school in Haiti, which has been a work in progress for five years.
“It will probably be another year and a half or two years [until construction is finished],” Ya’el said. “Construction stops and goes as we bring in money, so if we have a lackluster year, [builders] are going to get less work done.”
While many organizations support SOPUDEP, our school’s Haiti Solidarity Club has a stronger tie than most, thanks to persistent contributions by Haiti Solidarity members and other volunteers.
“We go and see firsthand what the money is going towards.” Ya’el said. “We help with construction on the work site. We go and meet students at the school… I would say we have a really strong solidarity connection with [the students]… We’ll always continue to support them in any way possible.”
