This past Thursday, January 28, Mr. Ray Rene of World Youth Served was invited to Marietta Middle School to speak to an eager group of 7th graders. With the help of Mrs. Theresa Allen, Ms. Danielle Bonin, Ms. Rachel Waldron, Ms. Khamia Powell, and Ms. Sheila Leftwich, Mr. Rene was given the opportunity to speak with 105 students about life growing up in Haiti.
The presentation started another guest speaker, Mr. Leon Grant, who introduced the Haiti Pipeline PCL, officially named E.A.R.L.S. (The Engineering and Architecture Research Lab for Sustainability.) This project is an innovative way to help provide resources to those in need in Haiti.
From Left to Right: Ms. Danielle Bonin, Ms. Theresa Allen, WYS Vice-President Ray Rene, Ms. Khamia Powell; Ms. Sheila Leftwich.
Mr. Rene followed up with a discussion about the differences between life in America and life in Haiti. The children were shocked to discover how their lives would be dramatically altered if they had been born in Haiti. Multiple students took guesses on the literacy rate, life expectancy, and unemployment rate, but were unable to imagine the reality of the extremely low education level that leads to the extremely high unemployment. Mr. Rene also gave insight on the current events happening in Haiti right now.
The Aquaponics System Model built for Marietta Middle School.
Haiti is currently undergoing a lengthy election process for a new president. The election office is on lockdown due to the overwhelming number of candidates running for office and a lack of deciding votes. With possible voter fraud and corruption there is a deadlock to even narrow down the candidates for the next election. The current president will be completing his term within the next few days and the county will be left without a president. As of now, the ports have been closed, so there is little to no way to get food and medical supplies into the country. The people of Haiti are starving, eating at most every three days, and are in need of an immediate solution.
WYS Vice President, Ray Rene
Mr. Rene had a wonderful time interacting with the students and sharing with them the harsh realities children like them face every day in Haiti. World Youth Served looks forward to collaborating with Marietta Middle School as well Mr. Leon Grant of E.A.R.L.S. again in the near future.
