The Day the Roofs Fell In-Part 2: MaCambre Academy

Before Earthquake-classes in a building


3 Months after Earthquake-classes resume in tents


Robinson looked at the clock impatiently. Almost 5:00 PM. As director of the MaCambre Academy, a local Haitian, Christian school that served pre-school, elementary, and high school students, Robinson was responsible for 730 students, 37 teachers, and 28 other employees. Robinson was glad for the relative quiet of the afternoon. Only the cleaning lady was on campus.

Suddenly, the quiet was shattered by a sound like a freight train rumbling by...but much louder. The floor was vibrating and dust was falling from the ceiling. Robinson knew he had to get out quickly. By the time he made it outside, the roof had come down on the main building. "The cleaning lady!" he thought. As he ran back towards the building, he called out her name. By God's grace, he knew where she should be and found her quickly, alive but buried in rubble. He cleared out the rubble and helped her to her feet. As they stepped back to survey the damage, two thoughts entered his mind. One, the campus is completely destroyed. Two, Thank God that this happened after school hours.

Pre-earthquake Haitian Public Schools were far and few between. The government had no money. Haiti was tied for the 2nd poorest nation in the world BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE. Public services were intermittent and poor. These 730 students would not be attending school if MaCambre Academy wasn't here. Many of them wouldn't be eating either. The school provided the only meal that many of the students would get during the day. The instant these roofs fell in, 730 students were left without the opportunity to feed their minds...and their stomachs. This was not acceptable so Robinson got to work. The safety of the students and staff was ascertained. There were only a few staff or students killed at home by the earthquake. In the next several weeks, a water tank was built, the kitchen was rebuilt, tents were raised, tables and chairs were set up, curriculum was secured, and classes were resumed three months later.

I arrived in Haiti 5 1/2 months after the earthquake brought the roof of the MaCambre Academy down. Robinson and his daughter Sofia, the principal of the school, graciously welcomed our team in and told their stories. They showed us the 19 tents that were classrooms for 800 students. I, a former teacher, quickly calculated 42 students per tent with a view to the fields, the cattle, and anybody walking by...including us. Eye contact or a smile was enough to distract 42 seven year olds from their over-worked, frustrated teacher.

The MaCambre Academy, with the help of an American missionary and students from the University of Florida, has drawn up plans for a 20,000 square foot building to house the pre-school and elementary school. The budget is $200,000 to $250,000. As one of the possible projects for a Czech team, the MaCambre Academy has some appealing qualities.

1) Education for those who would not get one otherwise
2) Meals for those who would not get them otherwise
3) Christian teaching
4) A Director who is involved in helping locals become self sufficient through small agricultural projects
5) A Director who is facilitating church plants in 11 locations

After interacting with Robinson, Sofia, staff, and students, I experienced a feeling of hope for Haiti for the first time since arriving in the country. It gave me a great motivation for getting Czech (and American) churches involved in the relief work in Haiti. Interested in finding out more? Write me at thomas.becker@efca.org.