On March 12, 2009, the International Action staff installed two chlorinators on a 9000-gallon concrete tank at the St. Jean Bosco School in the Saline district of Port-au-Prince. It will serve 500 students immediately.
For many years, the St. Jean Bosco Church next door has stood empty. A tree grew in the center aisle, and the roof was open to the wind and rain. This is the church where the Rev. Jean-Bertrand Aristide once preached.
The Salesian Fathers of Haiti built the church and trained Aristide to become a priest. On September 11, 1988, thugs set fire to the church and killed 13 worshipers. 70 more were injured.
Aristide — who started at St. Jean Bosco School when he was 5 — lost power in coups twice over many years. In 1991 and again in 2004, he was ousted by military and Macoutes.
Now the School teaches arts and crafts — electronics, construction, carpentry, plumbing, masonry, and mechanics — at the secondary level. Next year, the Salesian Priests of Don Bosco will reopen the primary school for 1,000 younger children. In addition to the children and teachers, clean water will be provided to the neighborhood.
Aristide’s favorite saying was: Tout moun se moun. In English, that is, “Every human being is a human being.” His favorite charity was La Sanmi Selavi or “The Family is Life” — a home for street children he started in 1986.