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the local community throughout the process project contractor Richard Cineas observed,
to ensure that the school’s support system “They will be protecting that school for the rest
remains always engaged and involved. of their lives.”

eDuCATiON bRiNGS HOPe As so many joined together to Hope Rises from the Rubble
commemorate the joyous occasion, attendees
On October 26, 2012, Tzu Chi and ANGH heard from ANGH, Tzu Chi, parents, and even
gathered together for a festive groundbreaking young students, who all shared what the school
ceremony to commemorate a new era for the and its rebuilding mean to them. In the middle
children of Solino. Unfortunately, heavy rain of the ceremony, local volunteer Jean Denis
Petit Pha read in French the words of blessing
from Dharma Master Cheng Yen:

“Today is a wonderful day because two
years after the earthquake, when many other
relief organizations have left Haiti, we are still
here among friends with the same goal and
prospects for Haiti and, most importantly, with
the same strong will to help Haiti stand up again.
Education is an important step toward a better
future, because only through quality learning
can the children of Haiti excel on the global
stage. . . . Today, with the groundbreaking of
Centre Préscolaire Carmen René Durocher, we
celebrate the love and blessings from all over
the world, as every brick, pillar, and corner of
Durocher students attend class under a cover the school is made possible through donations
of tarp in May 2012. Photo: Bornain Chiu from the international community. I sincerely
hope that as Great Love takes root in the hearts
from Hurricane Sandy turned the Durocher of Haitian children, the future will be bright and
construction site into an enormous pool of full of opportunities for all of Haiti.”
mud—a ceremonial shovel would not have
broken the ground so much as simply sunk As the ceremony drew to a close, the father
into it—so the groundbreaking ceremony of a young student stood and addressed the
was moved to the Overseas Engineering and gathering. One of the many who had piled
Construction Co. (OECC) office across town. onto the pickup truck to ride across town in the
pouring rain, he reflected Master Cheng Yen’s
The storm was strong enough to shutter message by observing that rebuilding Durocher
schools and government offices that Friday is “a good thing for this area: not only for this
morning, but the mood remained joyful as area, but also for the whole country.” Speaking
students, parents, teachers, Tzu Chi volunteers, to all those who had gathered together to work
ANGH leaders, and even an ambassador joined in harmony for these children—the future
together to recognize the school’s three decades of Haiti—he closed with a simple message in
of service to the community and celebrate the Haitian Creole: men anpil, chay pa lou. Many
many more to come. hands lighten the load.
#79
More than a dozen parents and neighbors
displayed their deep care and commitment to Never lose courage. Never lose faith.
Durocher that day, packing so tightly into the Nothing in this world is impossible
back of a single pickup truck that its back bumper when you are determined.
nearly scraped the ground as it scratched along
the half-hour drive from Durocher to OECC. As Jing Si Aphorism by Dharma Master Cheng Yen

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