Graduation

At nine this morning, we met with our first graduates of Fondespwa. The meeting, was held in our usual place, a small room above the orphanage where missionaries visiting Haiti stay. To make room for the group, we moved out the 4 beds and placed them on the roof of the orphanage. These 20 women who are our initial group were now given a loan of $1000 ( $125 US). For 4 months, these entrpreneurs attended all the meetings, and made all their repayments. The materially poor always pay back! So knowing, that they were moving up the ladder this was a festive occasion. We did our standard practice of collecting their monies with their savings, prayed, sang, had an inspiriing teaching from Jeff about business and then after 1 1/2 hours we handed out the $1000. Then the dancing and singing began. It was hilarious, as these women sang one of those interactive songs where there is a continuous chorus but you make up short verses along the way and all the women added something. They were sashaying back and forth, pointing fingers at one another, raising their hands made into fists, clasping each others hands as they danced, intentionally bumping each other with their hips and this went on and on. They were shouting, clapping, one lady stood on a chair and swayed back and forth. When they finally finished, we had refreshments and crackers (our standard snack at all our meetings). It was time to end the meeting, but they just hung around continuing to enjoy each other. A distinction of Haiti, pointed out before in this blog, is their desire for community. In the afternoon, we replicated what we did on Monday, with sessions at 12 with 39 women and at 2:30 with 31 where they sign their contracts and receive their first loan. We bring a group (5-7) up to the front of the room, to sit on benches and as before, they sign the document with the Group Leader co -signing. Today, it was much slower than before, as so very few could print their name. Many of the groups were cracking up as they made fun of each other on how bad even some of their crosses were as they signed their name. Each group chooses a Group Leader based on their having integrity, kindness, an encourager, responsible, supportive and the ability to read and write. Well the latter is relative. In this one group, the Group Leader could not complete printing her name but yes she could print. So, one of the members of another group would do the signing and filing out of the biweekly passbook for them. There was also plenty of screaming in disbelieve as they looked at their Fondespwa ID cards which had their photo. You know how bad drivers licenses are, these were worse because i did quite a poor job taking these particular pictures and then we could not size them properly in time. They passed them around and howled and screamed with embarrassment. Some of them called each other demons which in Haiti means your, ugly. For some reason, the atmosphere was not quite as heavy as on Monday. This time when they received their loan they were smiling, joking and laughing. However, one woman caught my eye as I saw her take her passbook, ID and loan and place it in the center of a white wash cloth where she then ever so gingerly folded the cloth around it. Protective and special. It was hers. The first step up the ladder. Another woman, when we asked if there were any questions stood up, looked at her 6 members and said, " I sweat working every day and I will not sweat more because of you. So if you think you might miss one payment ( which means she and the others have to make up for it), then I want you out of my group right now." No fooling around here. This is as they say, serious business. Relative to teaching we will be having classes in reading and writing in sessions that are not tied directly to our biweekly meetings. We are in the process of getting such a teacher. The women will pay for this as they do for everything. No charity. They are survivors, they are resolute, throw a difficulty at them, they'll be fine. Set high standards, they are capable of meeting them. On-going charity causes dependence and shame, they want to be as do most people, independent and self reliant. So after 13 days, with many meetings and interviews, Fondespwa established our final group and gave out all the loans, at least for this trip. Today, was gratifying.