Hope everyone had a nice week-end! Here’s another one page story for you. To help with my fundraiser, please DONATE a little. Thank you!
$2,086.74 has been raised to date. Thank you!
Join me in making a difference, one person at a time.
About this Fundraiser
Hi, my name is Daniel Lafrance and I made these stories to raise funds for the Starthrower Foundation in Haiti to sponsor young Haitians adults for high school education.
It cost the Starthrower Foundation around $600 to sponsor one Haitian to go to high school for a year. This includes school fees, school supplies, uniforms including shoes, socks, underwear, transportation if necessary,tutoring, drop in centre, hygiene products, medical and dental support, potable water and when available food sacks.
I'm also trying to raise awareness of the great work the Starthrower Foundation is doing in Haiti. I was drawn to them because of the philosophy behind their actions - they seek SOCIAL JUSTICE, not just charity. They are a small foundation with no big money sponsors and they rely on donations from people like you and me to make a real difference in the lives of the people they serve. They provide financial support for more than a hundred Haitians who want an education. Due to limited funds however, they cannot provide sponsorship for education to all who come.
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Another great page, Dan!!
Thank you Karen!
Wow. I’ve never felt so useless. You guys have totally put me to shame with your commitment through this webcomic. I really feel like have nothing to give and Ms. Gaskell’s words within the ‘Justice’ comic simply nailed it home for me. I have so much I want to give to those in need, but I have this deep sense of being lost, as if there’s no way to find a starting point. It’s extremely overwhelming seeing these stories unfold, and I’m doing it from the comfort of my warm, secure home in the States; I haven’t even seen the poverty first-hand. How do you folks deal with the direct experience of witnessing human beings suffer like this and manage to keep not just your simple sanity, but also your drive and focused sense of what to do?
Hi Scott, I’ll make sure Sharon sees your comment so she can answer part of your question since she’s the one dealing first-hand with poverty.
I totally hear you when you say you are lost in how to help those in need. At least you are AWARE of it. And you DO have something to give… sometimes it’s just a matter of slowing down a bit and look around you and not become overwhelmed by trying to ‘fix’ the world. That’s the main thing I learned from Sharon is that we cannot ‘fix’ everything, all we can do is help a little at a time…One startfish at a time!
Heck just with posting your comment, you are giving me the courage to keep going. I must admit my energy was getting low but your comment shows me that what I’m trying to do here can make a difference in raising awareness. Thank you for that.
For me, the turnaround happended last year after I read two books that drove me into action, ‘Three cups of tea’ by Greg Mortenson and ‘War Child’ by Emmanuel Jal. After reading these books I decided it was time I got off my comfy a#* and start contributing to making this world a better place. My first idea was to go to Haiti and work with Sharon and absorb the whole thing so I would be able to tell the stories in webcomic form, but that didn’t happen since Sharon has been very ill from an infection she got in Haiti and she’s been in Canada recovering. The good thing is that she lives about 2 hours drive from where I live and I’ve been able to meet her a few time. She’s a very courageous and inspiring person. Once she’s back in Haiti, I plan to go there myself to help, interview the people and come back to illustrate my journey there for the final story of this fundraiser. The other reason I want to go there, is to experience first-hand abject poverty…I want to make sure the slap in the face I will get will have a lasting effect on me, to undo the lifelong brainwashing effect of western society’s value of consumerism.
Hi Scott
Thanks for taking the time to comment. The purpose of this webcomic is NOT to make you or anyone feel useless. It’s to inform and educate by telling the stories of our kids in Haiti. I believe that folks cannot be part of the solution until they know what the problem is. That’s what happened to me.
You ask how I cope – my first trip to Haiti left me devastated, angry, sad – you name it. Talk about feeling lost! I knew after that first trip I would always go back – there is so much to do. I had no idea what, where or when . When my thoughts and emotions cleared, I realized it was necessary to let the universe unfold.
In his book “Mindfulness Meditation”, Jon Kabat-Zinn writes that the universe has a job with a capitol ‘J” for everyone. We just have to be open to it.
Until now my JOB has been hands on in Haiti. Throughout this journey with e-coli and multiple surgeries, the JOB has shifted to mentoring our staff from a distance and doing what I can to raise funds and awareness from here. Daniel and his talent have been a gift from the universe.
When I receive the green light from the surgeon I’ll be back full time. It is overwhelming, but someone has to witness the suffering. Along with witness , for me comes stepping up to the plate and doing what I can. It is never enough but it is always better than doing nothing.
People often say “Why you?” to which I can only respond “Why not me? ” The qualifications are not academic – empathy, compassion, patience, and respect and a healthy dose of life experiences.
Respect for the culture, the country, the people. No one invited me, I am an intruder and always aware of my status. It never gets easier but it does become more joyful. That joy is what gives me focus . There are times when I do feel I could lose a portion of my sanity.
Drive just grows with every new young person who knocks on our gate, every time one of our kids passes state exams .
Thank you for giving Daniel a lift and for taking the time to read the webcomic.. We appreciate your time and energy writing.
But part of the problem is the way I look. I have many tattoos along my arms and neck, all done willingly, with meaning and no regrets. The problem, though, is how it affects other people. My tattoos are the main reasons that I’ve already been told by members of the Peace Corps that I would never be accepted into their organization. How am I supposed to go to other countries, where the need is most prevalent, when I won’t be accepted because of my looks?
Hey Scott, your tattoos situation reminds me of a book I read last year by Noah Levine calle ‘Dharma Punx’. An auto-biography of a punk COVERED in tatoos who becomes…a boudhist monk. Anyway, he meet the Dalai Lama and the big guy himself didn’t blink an eye. Maybe you’ll find a charity or organization near where you live that will welcome your tatoos…like places that look after street kids for example, etc…
But what about foreign service, Daniel? Do you think that can ever be a possibility for a person like me?
Scott, I really don’t know…I have no idea how the foreign service works…
Well, thank you for the help and encouragement. It’s all given me something to think about. I appreciate it…