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Schools
Council chairman paves way to mission's school in Haiti
An improved road is a testament to Bennett's efforts.
By Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG - For one week, City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett's daily routine did not consist of public hearings and consent agendas. Instead, under a scorching tropical sun, Bennett laid pavement on a dirt road in rural Haiti. He woke at daybreak to the sound of donkeys braying. He showered without running water. "The things you take for granted, you go there and it's like, 'wow, how can I survive here?'" he said. The trip to L'Oiseau, about 30 miles southwest of Port au Prince, was Bennett's fifth visit to the region. The mission is part of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church's ongoing effort to help the struggling coastal Caribbean town. Bennett, a member of the St. Petersburg church, first traveled to L'Oiseau in 2003 to help build St. Francis, a free private school for kindergarten through fourth-grade students. In subsequent trips, improvements were made to the school. On this most recent trip, Bennett and two others traveled to Haiti during the first week of March to help pave the steep road leading up to the mountainside where St. Francis sits. It took five days to create about 225 feet of road. But in the end, the road was paved, providing a smooth path to the school. "It is much easier to get up the road now," said Mirella Smith, a St. Petersburg resident who accompanied Bennett on the trip. "You don't have to worry about stepping on a rock and falling down." Still, there is more that needs to be done. A well is needed for easy water access. Money must be raised to keep the school open. A donation of $150 covers the annual tuition for one student, including one hot meal a day, Bennett said. For some students, that is their only daily meal. How to help To learn more about the St. Francis school in L'Oiseau, Haiti, and how to help, contact St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at (727) 866-2187.
[Last modified March 8, 2008, 01:53:35]
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by Jodi
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03/11/08 01:04 PM
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Keep up the great work! My Girl Scout troop has donated girls dresses, ribbons for hair and flip flops to the children. The enjoyment and excitement the children who recieve these items is priceless. Giving a little means a lot!
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by Gadfly
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03/09/08 09:59 AM
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Excuse me, aren't there projects and needs right here in St. Pete to do. Heck just donating the airfare and expenses to some local charity, struggling artist or local hospital would have been a better use of the time and dollars. Get real here.
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