January 15, 2010

 Update on Wings of Hope
Cotting’s Sister School in Fermathe, Haiti

Please Send Donations to HeartsWithHaiti.org

Wings Children

To read a letter from Alec, on the ground in Haiti, click here.
To see Wings of Hope in the news, click here.

Dear Friends,

The entire Cotting School Community has been touched by your support for our sister school, Wings of Hope in Haiti, and by your donations to HeartsWithHaiti.org.

I thought you might appreciate an update on the status at Wings of Hope.

Most importantly, all of the students and staff are alive.

In the photo above, which was taken today, you will see the smiling face of my friend Teddy next to his friend Josephine. For those of you who have visited Wings of Hope, seeing their smiles must be a very welcome sight.

The students and staff are now confined to one very small, overcrowded room. The earthquake has detached the remainder of the building. Even in these awful conditions the students still look clean, well cared for, and happy. Since I know the staff very well, I am not at all surprised that they, with their own worries, would care for these incredibly vulnerable children.

More than 20 of my staff members have worked at Wings of Hope in Haiti and all of our staff support their efforts. These days have been particularly difficult at Cotting School. They are frightened for their friends. Many tears have been shed.

Twelve Cotting staff members were scheduled to return to Wings of Hope to volunteer their time during the upcoming February school vacation week. This would have been part of our ongoing work, as both schools train intensively with each other both in Haiti and in the U.S. For years, our students have shared ideas, stories and their cultures with each other via e-mail. Photos of Cotting School and Wings students can be found on the walls of each other's classrooms.

Before the earthquake at Wings of Hope, there was no running water and only 2 hours of electricity per day. And this is considered the finest program in Haiti for children with special needs! In addition, all of the children were abandoned and live at Wings of Hope their entire lives. All without government support. Can any of us imagine working under those conditions?

Now the conditions are even worse at Wings.

St. Josephs

In addition, the organization’s other facility, a 7-story building in Petitionville at the epicenter of the earthquake is now a pile of rubble. (See photo above).

Your donations will rebuild. You will make Wings of Hope even stronger. You will help this new beginning!!!

A number of you have asked, “What else can I do?”

You can still help these extraordinary children in the following ways:

Please keep Bill Nathan, the director of the program in your hearts. He was seriously injured when the main building collapsed. He is a very dear friend of mine and is one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. For years, he was a Restavec (child slave in Haiti). Today, he is the director of one of the best organizations in the country.

 Finally, from my good friend Renee Dietrich, who works at Wings of Hope:  “The only time I cry is sitting in front of the computer when I read all the messages I’ve received from so many people. Instead of the fear and sadness that is all around the rest of the time, your love and support lead me to tears of joy and gratitude.”

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

David W. Manzo

David Manzo
President of Cotting School

 Hearts with Haiti