“Go! Go! Go!”
And with that we ended the first Mentoring Program session with the charter class of CODEP protégés. The three hours had been busy. First there were administrative details, including handing out notebooks along with the assignment to “Keep a Journal.”
Next we had an explanation and discussion of vetiver grass, its extensive root system, its sharp spines that deter goats, and its use in stabilizing the soil in preparation for planting seedlings. The class listened, their mouths agape with astonishment. “How do you know so much?” they asked.
They’re still young.
Finally, we discussed recycling. During the interviews the candidates made clear their concern about pollution, pointing to the toxic trash along on the roads and bad water. So it was easy to explain why 41 CODEP nurseries are working to use recycled bottles as seed containers in place of plastic bags. We ended the session with the assignment to collect plastic bottles. “Go! Go! Go!”
And now the rest of us must be On the Go — raising the money to fund the program through this first year and into the next. CODEP’s young people deserve this investment and we all need to build the next generation of reforestation leadership for Haiti.
Please be generous.
Let’s Talk About Stimulus Checks
If you are someone who received a stimulus check but are blessedly financially secure, consider donating the funds to Haiti Reforestation Partnership. The contribution will offer true stimulus — bolstering our ability to pay workers a small stipend for their work, funding fertilizer which is not covered in the current budget, and providing some support for the CODEP School.