NEWS FROM STARFYSH.ORG – SUMMER 2023
STARFYSH IS WORKING TO BRING HOLISTIC, SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION TO THE ISLAND OF LA GONAVE, HAITI
Practicing Goodness
Dear Friends,
As conditions on Haiti’s mainland continue to deteriorate, our work on the island of La Gonave continues to move forward.
We have always been saddened by La Gonave’s moniker as “The Forgotten Haiti.” Remoteness makes life even more difficult than for those living on the mainland. The cost of shipping across the sea adds to the prices of everything (food, fuel, cement, etc.). During these tumultuous times, however, we are seeing a silver lining to being “forgotten,” when ruthless gangs are terrorizing the rest of the country.
While mainland businesses, hospitals, and schools are shut down, life on the island goes on, seemingly unaffected. Unlike the mainland, children on La Gonave are able to walk to school without fear of being kidnapped. Parents on La Gonave are able to go to and from church and market without fear of being robbed or shot. For these blessings, we are thankful.
We refuse to believe that evil will have the final say. In evil’s face, we choose goodness. We practice goodness even when it’s hard and costly. We enter the lives and homes of those who suffer, providing them family-supporting employment, building latrines, helping them access clean water, helping their gardens flourish, and providing a safe school where their children can learn, play, and eat.
Thank you, my good friends, for joining this counterculture of goodness in a world seeing too much of the opposite.
Blessings,
Steve Edmondson, President, Starfysh
Current Conditions in Haiti
Events on the ground in Haiti are not reaching most news feeds. Following are the unsugar-coated realities:
- Security:
- 200 individual armed groups are currently operating in Haiti.
- 80% of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area is under the control or influence of armed gangs.
- Kidnappings for ransom are now part of daily life.
- Movement:
Many main roads on the mainland are under gang control, with regular robberies. There are even reports of piracy on ferries transporting food to the island. - Hunger:
- 4.9 million people (nearly half the population) are currently experiencing high levels of food insecurity.
- La Gonave falls in the “emergency” category for food insecurity.
- Food prices in Haiti have inflated 53% annually.
- Sadly, no elected officials remain in office, and the national police force is operating at minimal capacity.
MAF Suspends Operations
With gangs controlling the roads between Port-au-Prince and the boat wharf, Starfysh’s only access to La Gonave has been by plane. For years, we relied on Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) to fly us safely to and from the island, but conditions have forced MAF to suspend their flight operations due to safety concerns.
Thankfully, Starfysh has established an affiliation with the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to get us to and from the island for the time being.
Life Garden Coffee on Hold
Gang control has halted the movement of coffee from our co-op growers in the mountains down to Port-au-Prince. As a result, we are unable to export Haiti’s coffee to the States for now, and our Life Garden Coffee site is offline until further notice.
Shipments on Hold
For now, all shipments to Haiti from our Grand Rapids warehouse are on hold due to the security situation. Thanks to a generous supporter, we have ample warehouse space to receive and stage the necessary tools, equipment, and school furniture.
Cholera
After years without cases, cholera has resurfaced in Haiti, including the village of Gros Mangles near our base in Anse-a-Galets. In response, Starfysh has installed 63 biosand water filters and provided supplies for 82 family latrines. Our long-term vision is for every home on La Gonave to have a latrine.
Farms and Gardens
We are thankful for the arrival of Spring rains, which have brought the promise of a good harvest. Life Garden is busier than ever, supplying farmers with 4,700 tree seedlings and 135 pounds of vegetable seeds in March and April.
Schools
In the face of national turmoil, Starfysh’s five schools continue to meet without interruption. School meal stipends have increased to keep up with higher food prices. Our 800+ students are healthy, high-energy, and happy!
Smart Box
Thanks to a generous partnership, Starfysh has brought computer-enhanced learning to one of the most impoverished areas of Haiti. We introduced 20 Chromebook laptops loaded with French-language educational resources. Students and teachers have embraced this non-internet technology, and we hope to expand it to more schools in the future.
6757 Cascade Rd. SE #207, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
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