Community leader of Ile a Vache, Joseph Phelix, (second from left) speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony held in Ile a Vache, Haiti, on Monday 7 June 2010. The groundbreaking ceremony was for a new school which is being built with funds raised by the Rotary Club of Tortola and the Good Samaritan Foundation.

The Rotary Club of Tortola and the Good Samaritan Foundation joined forces 18 months ago to raise funds to construct a school on Ile a Vache, an island off the southern coast of Haiti. Having now raised nearly two-third of the necessary funds, in early June Stephen Cooper of Rotary and Michael ‘Beans’ Gardener of the Foundation travelled to Isle la Vache for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of the school construction.

Commenting on the ceremony, which was held on Monday 7 June, Cooper said: “It was difficult to see the conditions which people are living in Haiti, especially after the earthquake in January. But the ceremony was full of hope and optimism that by building this school and making education available to more children we can break the cycle of poverty.”

During the ceremony, community leader Pastor Joseph Phelix formally turned the first sod and spoke on behalf of the community. Phelix expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club and the Good Samaritan Foundation for what they are doing to help the people and in particular the children of Ile a Vache, Haiti.

Once complete the new concrete school will include a cistern for clean water storage, latrine, kitchen, classrooms and office. The existing school is a dilapidated structure made partly of scrap wood which is too small for the number of students and open to the elements. Cooper said that the first phase of construction is the transportation of supplies and equipment to the remote island. He noted that the Rotary Club of Les Cayes is helping to supervise the project and ensure that all funds are put to the proper use.

“We are looking forward to seeing this project come to fruition and are grateful to all the persons and businesses in the BVI and around the world who have supported our fundraising efforts and allowed us to reach this point,” Cooper said, noting that an additional $35,000 must still be raised.

Fundraising thus far has included several “Pirates with a Porpoise” concerts held by Michael Gardener, co-founder and joint President of the Good Samaritan Foundation in the Territory, held at Myett’s at Cane Garden Bay and Leverick Bay Resort on Virgin Gorda.

To make a donation to the school in Ile a Vache or for more information, contact Rotarian Stephen Cooper at stephen@eurocarib.com or at 495-9616.

To watch a video about the school project please visit You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk4ep8tHigk