Program Managers Jennifer Lang & Paula Prince, March 7, 2012
It is an understatement to say that Kanaval in Les Cayes was a memorable experience. As members of Hope for Haiti’s full-time International Management Staff, we have spent nine months thus far in Haiti. Working together, we have experienced many of Haiti’s challenges first-hand—including limited access to healthcare, the spread of cholera and the difficulty of emergency response, and the impacts of poverty and malnutrition on education.
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| Dancers adorned in costume dance through the streets. | Dancers representing Comme Il Faut the Haitian cigarette company dance through the streets during the parade. | Float passes by in Les Cayes representing the Governmental Ministries. |
Still, much of our tenure has been spent hiking through lush forests, talking and laughing with program partners and community leaders, and walking pristine beaches. We eat Haitian food, speak Haitian Creole, and consider our office and team a new home and family. After the December announcement by President Michel Martelly that the national Carnival festivities would move to Les Cayes for February 2012, many were skeptical. We chose to stay and experience the event that so many around us recalled with such pride.
The music and colors of Kanaval were unparalleled. In less than a month, street stands were cleared away for the construction of massive stadium viewing of the passing parade. All electric wires were re-strung to make way for the speakers piled high atop semi-trucks. The normally sleepy port city had new restaurants opened, a flood of cars at the only stoplight, and a caravan of ambulances waiting for any emergency.
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| Float representing the Governmental Ministries passes by in the parade. | Haitian band RAM’s float passes by during the parade. | Students at Paul VI gather around the Hope for Haiti truck to dance to Carnival Compa beats. |
The city lit up. Following the 2010 Earthquake, the tradition of Carnival largely went unnoticed during the past two years. A feeling of frivolity tainted such celebrations throughout the festival’s previous home in the capital city of Port au Prince. But this year, the fete moved South. Under the slogan, “Ayiti ap dekole; Okay prann douvan,” meaning Haiti is “taking off” with Les Cayes in front, the community came together to support the nation.
A local business owner from neighboring Port Salut spoke of the opportunity that Karnaval provided. “I built a completely new restaurant in Les Cayes in 12 days. It sounds crazy, but for me it was important to support the festival. The South of Haiti is ready to attract development and tourism, and a successful Carnaval is one way to prove it to the world. Everyone in Haiti is watching Okay this week.”
The team of Hope for Haiti also made special preparations. Program Officer Pierre Francois volunteered for the American Red Cross. Healthcare Director Dr. Steeve Victor participated in Department-wide government meetings to coordinate hospital response prior to the influx of crowds. Infirmary Saint Etienne Director Dr. Elmide Nazaire asked all staff to be on-call for the holidays in case of emergency. Friends and family members joined Les Cayes residents from rural areas, Port au Prince, and even Miami so that they could be a part of the historic celebration.
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| Traditional dancers fill the streets of Les Cayes. | Women dressed in beautiful bright colors made the parade a smashing success. |
At a bi-annual monitoring and evaluation site visit the Monday before Carnival, Pre-K students at Hope for Haiti’s partner school Paul VI were already celebrating. Program Manager Paula Prince looked on as 4 and 5 year-old students gathered around Hope for Haiti’s truck with heads bobbing and hips swaying to the Carnival tunes. All the radio stations promoted the fete, encouraging people to drive to the South and dance in the streets. After the celebrations came to a close, Paula spoke with a teacher at partner Cornette Primary school about the festivities. Teachers explained how they made the 1.5 hour hike down the mountain and 1 hour drive to Les Cayes to participate. When asked about their impressions, teachers couldn’t find words to express their excitement. “Everyone was so happy. There was joy all around”, they explained.
We were proud to represent Hope for Haiti at this year’s Carnival. The patriotism, enthusiasm, and fun were both palpable and contagious. We danced the night away with mothers and grandmothers in elaborate costumes, talked with traditional kompa musicians from around the country, and watched fireworks rain down on us in a crowd of thousands. From all of us in Haiti, Bon fete Kanaval – Happy Carnival season!