Fr. Tony Junior High Project
Solèy Haiti have launched the Fr. Tony Coote Junior High Project.
For so many people who have a connection with Haiti, this connection started because of the late Fr. Tony Coote. Tony had a deep love for Haiti and its people. When he first visited Haiti in 2004, Tony was moved not only by the extreme need of the Haitian people but the incredible potential that existed in the town of Gros Morne for a significant and lasting impact to be made.
Fr. Tony was a great friend and inspiration to Solèy Haiti. Through Fr. Tony’s parishes, Mount Merrion and Kilmacud, former volunteers with Tony (now the board of Soley Haiti) continued community development projects in Haiti in 2016-2018 before Solèy Haiti was officially formed in 2018. Solèy Haiti would not exist without the guidance and support of Fr. Tony and we can think of no better way to honour Tony, his memory and his work in Haiti than with a project in his name.
What we want to do is build what will become known as ‘Fr. Tony Junior High' – a wing of four additional classrooms in a local school in which Tony worked, ‘Lèkol Jezi Mari' - the Jesus & Mary School. Poverty is at its most extreme in rural communities - the school is located in a community called Fon Ibo in the village of Gros Morne, an isolated town in the North West of Haiti.
Currently, the school can only accommodate students up to 6th Grade. Fewer than 30% of children in Haiti reach the 6th grade, with secondary schools enrolling fewer than 20% of eligible age children.
The 'Fr. Tony Wing' will allow for the first time in the Fon Ibo community for children to complete 7th, 8th and 9th grade. It will also help to alleviate the pressure in terms of numbers and space as it currently stands in the school by allowing an extra classroom for 6th grade - for example, 1st grade currently has 102 students enrolled.
In Summer 2021 we will be commencing Phase 1 of the project, which will entail constructing the first two classrooms. Regular project updates will be available on our social media pages. Fr. Tony Junior High will be completed in Summer 2022.
We would be incredibly grateful for any support you can give to this project by donating whatever you can.
Please be assured that in doing so you are truly changing the lives of the most vulnerable in Haitian society and allowing them access to their best possible chance of a better future for themselves - a chance that exists through education. I can think of no better way that we could all honour Fr. Tony and ensure his legacy and name lives on in the hearts and minds of the Haitian people for generations to come.
Thank you,
The Board of Solèy Haiti
A picture of Fr. Tony Coote on the altar at the ceremony for the blessing of the rocks in Fon Ibo in July
The digging of the foundation trenches at the site, into which the concrete for the foundation will be poured
With the foundation concreate poured, work begins on placing the metal ribar which will reinforce the load-bearing walls of the structure.
Pouring of the concrete floor begins with the patio area outside the classrooms
The walls will be supported with load-bearing pillars. Spaces are left for the windows which will provide ventilation and sunlight to the classrooms.
The steps leading up to the classrooms are poured and sculpted.
The finishing touches are made to the shell of the building to prepare for the placement of the roofing structures.
The timber lats and frames are placed for the roof.
The roof cover and remainder of the window grills are put into place.