Haitian Youth in Action Exhibit in Honor of Flag Day May 2009

In honor of Flag Day 2009, Haiti Soleil in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Public Library and the Center for Black Studies Research at UCSB, held a reception at the Santa Barbara Central Public Library on Tuesday, May 19 to raise awareness about Bibliotheque du Soleil and Haiti Soleil. The reception was part of the Haiti Youth in Action Exhibit on display at the central library the entire month of May. This exhibit includes portraits of students at Bibliothèque du Soleil as well as colorful drawings by children and teens participating in educational enrichment programs in Haiti.

Haiti Soleil Fundraiser in New York

On Saturday, March 7, 2009, an Informational Session/Fundraiser for Haiti Soleil will take place at Casa Frela Gallery in Harlem, New York. This event will also be a closing reception for photographer Tony Savino's exhibit, "Fete St. Yves: Beyond the Mountains," currently on display at Casa Frela.

Along with celebrating Mr. Savino's work and his contributions to Haitian communities in New York and abroad, this gathering seeks to cultivate a network of supporters and volunteers for HaitiSoleil in the New York area.

Time: 12pm - 4pm

Location: Casa Frela Gallery, 47 W. 119th Street, New York, NY

For more information on Casa Frela, please visit http://casafrela.com or contact Ferentz Lafargue at Ferentz@Ferentz.com.

Happy New Year 2009 with Updates and Goals

CAMP D'ETE DU SOLEIL 2008



Happy New Year everyone! Haiti Soleil is starting off the New Year with renewed energy to organize awareness and fundraiser events for 2009. Thanks to those of you who donated to our organization last year, we were able to support the programs at Bibliotheque du Soleil. Much of the donations received before July were spent on our library's 2nd annual summer camp program, which began in July and ended in September. Fourty (40) kids participated in the program. Photos of the summer camp program will be posted shortly on our website

FALL 2008 FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS!



Thanks to all those who participated in our Fall 2008 Fundraiser. We reached our Fall fundraiser goal. There were two gatherings and one small benefit concert hosted by Haiti Soleil supporters in Brooklyn, New York (Ferentz Lafargue), Austin,Texas (Joao Vargas), and Oakland, CA (Voleine and Tim Suttle). These supporters raised in total $1600. Haiti Soleil also received a $2500 Platinum Sponsorship donation from the Irene Scully Foundation. The rest of the funds raised came from individual donors. The donations will be used to modernize electricity and provide internet service at Bibliothèque du Soleil. We will send out an updated report of how the funds were used to our donors in June 2008. Photos from the fundraiser events will be posted in the near future.

OUR GOALS FOR 2009

We want you to know that your generous donation helps us accomplish our work in Haiti and gives us the drive to continue our mission to build and develop community libraries and museums in Haiti. This year, our goal is to raise funds to support our youth and cultural awareness programs, sponsor presentations, and cover the cost of ten (10) laptops for Bibliothèque du Soleil. We will be organizing a number of activities and fundraiser events in the Bay Area and other parts of California to raise awareness about Haiti, and nurture a relationship with California residents interested in supporting youth education in Haiti. We hope to work with individuals and groups in other parts of the US who wish to collaborate with us to organize events to raise awareness about our cause.

As we will be providing Internet service at our library in Port-au-Prince, our goal is to launch the website for Bibliothèque du Soleil.

We hope to send more musical instruments, art supplies, and other educational materials for the library's afterschool program and summer camp. We will be sending science supplies this year.

We will also have a large fundraiser drive in Fall 2009 and hope you will join us in our efforts.

Thank you for all your support!

In solidarity,
Nadège T. Clitandre
Executive Director
Haiti Soleil, Inc.

Impact of Hurricane Hanna on Bibliothèque du Soleil

Dear Friends of Haiti Soleil,

Many of you have been sending messages expressing concern about the impact of Hurricane Gustav and Hanna on Bibliothèque du Soleil, our library in Haiti. Hanna in particular has become the deadliest storm of the season. So far 137 people have been killed by the storm. In Port-au-Prince, trees have been uprooted, light poles and electric lines are down, and many houses are now roofless. But as Josette Perard, Haiti Director of Lambi Fund, said, "this is nothing compared to the devastation which has struck other communities throughout the country." The city of Gonaives, in particular, is dealing with major floods and mudslides.

We want you to know that the library did not suffer any major damages. In July, a large tree that provided shade in the backyard was torn down by a heavy tropical storm. As a result, the commencement of the summer camp program was rescheduled for a later date. The summer camp program has indeed taken place, but certain events and activities were postponed due to Gustav and Hanna. The activities at the library have since resumed and the summer camp program has been extended for another two weeks.

Kids and students however are directly impacted by the Hurricane. Because of Hanna and other anticipated hurricanes, the Minister of Education postponed the opening of classes. Bibliothèque du Soleil is happy to be providing a space for kids and young adults to engage in educational activities as they wait for school to open their doors.

While the library was not devastated by the Hurricane, many of the patrons who frequent the library were not so lucky. Families, property and businesses in the neighborhood of Carrefour-Feuilles were directly impacted.

For those who are interested learning more about environmental concerns and sustainable development in Haiti, please contact the Lambi Fund of Haiti at info@lambifund.org. Lambi Fund has been working towards alternative sustainable development in Haiti since 1994.

Again, Haiti Soleil thanks you for your expressed concerns about our library and its patrons.

In solidarity,
Nadege T. Citandre
Executive Director
Haiti Soleil, Inc.

Haiti Soleil is Now on Facebook

2nd annual Haitian/Francophone Book Fair at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

On May 24, 2008, Nadège T. Clitandre, Executive Director of Haiti Soleil, Inc. attended the 2nd annual Haitian/Francophone Book Fair at Howard University in Washington, D.C. to celebrate Haitian literature and writers from Haiti. Organized by the Association of Haitian Professionals (AHP) and the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C., the fair included about 30 Haitian writers from Haiti, the United States and Canada.. Through their generosity, many of the writers at the fair donated books to Bibliothèque du Soleil, the library Haiti Soleil is supporting in Carrefour feuilles, Haiti. On behalf of Bibliothèque du Soleil, Haiti Soleil, Inc. thanks all the writers who donated their books

Haitian Flag Day

In celebration of Haitian Flag Day on May 18, the Center for Black Studies Research at the University of California, Santa Barbara sponsored a book drive and a bake sale fro Bibliothèque du Soleil. The book drive, held on Tuesday, May 20, was organized by the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at UCSB. The bake sale, held on Friday, May 23rd, was organized by Akanke student organization. Haiti Soleil, Inc. would like to thank The Center for Black Studies for their continuous support and everyone at UCSB who made both events successful.