Foyer Maurice Sixto (FMS) Summer Music Camp 2019
Donation protected
Hi everyone, I am so glad to announce we are starting our campaign to support a small music program at Foyer Maurice Sixto (FMS) school in Carrefour Ouest Haiti. This will be the fourth consecutive time we are having our annual summer music camp to support Restavek children, and children in need for a better future. Every year we hope things will get better in Haiti so that these children can improve their lives, but recent political upheaval has made it more challenging for them to succeed.
Please take a few minutes to read our story and help provide a summer music camp experience for Haitian children that would not otherwise have the opportunity. Especially this year with the economy getting worse, so many parents already can’t afford to send their children to primary school, let alone provide them with an enriching summer music camp experience.
Before going any further, we FMS, Skander Desrosiers, Derrick Landano and Pere Miguel would like to thank all of the generous donors who helped us make the camp possible for the last three years. Your support and your donations are dear to us. Because of your donations FMS is able to change lives in Carrefour.
The FMS school is a very special place. Its mission is to end child indentured servitude because “Tout Timoun Te Timoun” – all children, are children. FMS provides free primary school education, vocational training, and resources for Restavek children around Carrefour. “Restavek” is a word in Haitian Creole that means “stay with” and is for children who are indentured servants in people’s homes. They typically live with people who are not their birth parents in more urban areas, and they are rarely sent to school. Rather they are forced to do manual labor, cleaning, cooking, and other household chores. These children grow up without knowing the joy and freedom of childhood and are often mistreated.
At Foyer Maurice Sixto (FMS), not only do these children get to enjoy their right to learn, they receive a free hot meal every day, and are given opportunities to express themselves through art, music, dance, and soccer. That’s because FMS believes that these children matter, and their talents should be encouraged just like any child.
Year-round, FMS has a small music program consisting of an intermediate band, a chamber orchestra and a beginning full orchestra that we started last year during the summer camp. For the last three years, with the help of donors and volunteers, we’ve been able to host a two-week music camp in August. This is an opportunity for the music students to focus on music for two weeks with the help of experienced teachers, which has helped them make a lot of progress musically. But more importantly, the music camp is a way to give these children hope, extra motivation and confidence to better themselves in the Haitian community.
Many years ago, FMS decided to go deeper in questioning the moral ethic of our Haitian citizens through arts and defend the cause of the Restavek children. The goal is to show everyone how talented those children are that they deserve better lives and treatment. Thank you for the role you play in helping us realize this vision All Children are Children.
I feel so proud and humble to have been the director of the music camp for the last three years and entrusted with your generosity and support. I will continue to help with planning, fundraising, and volunteer coordination, but I am excited to share that long-time FMS volunteer Derrick Landano will be the camp director this year.
Derrick is a music teacher in Goffstown, NH. He teaches grades 1-4 General Music, grades 3 & 4 Beginning Strings, and Grade 4 Show Choir. Derrick received his B.S. in Music Education K-12 with an emphasis in vocal performance from Plymouth State University in 2008, and is currently finishing his Masters of Music Education from Buffalo State College. Derrick is also an active member and tenor section leader of Manchester Choral Society in Manchester, NH. Derrick has been traveling to, and volunteering in Haiti since 2011.
Our goal is to raise $4000 to have a two-week camp. All funds raised will go to support the camp including the cost of food and water for the students, material costs, music copies, instrument repairs, and stipends for Haitian teachers assisting with the camp.
Please consider sharing this story and making a donation today. No donation is too small (or too big!) We appreciate your support at any level. If you would like to sponsor a meal, teacher’s stipend, or another specific expense please contact Skander Desrosiers for pricing. As the Haitian proverb goes “Men anpil, chay pa lou.” “Many hands make the load lighter.” Together we are stronger. Thank you in advance for your kind support of the FMS children.
Please take a few minutes to read our story and help provide a summer music camp experience for Haitian children that would not otherwise have the opportunity. Especially this year with the economy getting worse, so many parents already can’t afford to send their children to primary school, let alone provide them with an enriching summer music camp experience.
Before going any further, we FMS, Skander Desrosiers, Derrick Landano and Pere Miguel would like to thank all of the generous donors who helped us make the camp possible for the last three years. Your support and your donations are dear to us. Because of your donations FMS is able to change lives in Carrefour.
The FMS school is a very special place. Its mission is to end child indentured servitude because “Tout Timoun Te Timoun” – all children, are children. FMS provides free primary school education, vocational training, and resources for Restavek children around Carrefour. “Restavek” is a word in Haitian Creole that means “stay with” and is for children who are indentured servants in people’s homes. They typically live with people who are not their birth parents in more urban areas, and they are rarely sent to school. Rather they are forced to do manual labor, cleaning, cooking, and other household chores. These children grow up without knowing the joy and freedom of childhood and are often mistreated.
At Foyer Maurice Sixto (FMS), not only do these children get to enjoy their right to learn, they receive a free hot meal every day, and are given opportunities to express themselves through art, music, dance, and soccer. That’s because FMS believes that these children matter, and their talents should be encouraged just like any child.
Year-round, FMS has a small music program consisting of an intermediate band, a chamber orchestra and a beginning full orchestra that we started last year during the summer camp. For the last three years, with the help of donors and volunteers, we’ve been able to host a two-week music camp in August. This is an opportunity for the music students to focus on music for two weeks with the help of experienced teachers, which has helped them make a lot of progress musically. But more importantly, the music camp is a way to give these children hope, extra motivation and confidence to better themselves in the Haitian community.
Many years ago, FMS decided to go deeper in questioning the moral ethic of our Haitian citizens through arts and defend the cause of the Restavek children. The goal is to show everyone how talented those children are that they deserve better lives and treatment. Thank you for the role you play in helping us realize this vision All Children are Children.
I feel so proud and humble to have been the director of the music camp for the last three years and entrusted with your generosity and support. I will continue to help with planning, fundraising, and volunteer coordination, but I am excited to share that long-time FMS volunteer Derrick Landano will be the camp director this year.
Derrick is a music teacher in Goffstown, NH. He teaches grades 1-4 General Music, grades 3 & 4 Beginning Strings, and Grade 4 Show Choir. Derrick received his B.S. in Music Education K-12 with an emphasis in vocal performance from Plymouth State University in 2008, and is currently finishing his Masters of Music Education from Buffalo State College. Derrick is also an active member and tenor section leader of Manchester Choral Society in Manchester, NH. Derrick has been traveling to, and volunteering in Haiti since 2011.
Our goal is to raise $4000 to have a two-week camp. All funds raised will go to support the camp including the cost of food and water for the students, material costs, music copies, instrument repairs, and stipends for Haitian teachers assisting with the camp.
Please consider sharing this story and making a donation today. No donation is too small (or too big!) We appreciate your support at any level. If you would like to sponsor a meal, teacher’s stipend, or another specific expense please contact Skander Desrosiers for pricing. As the Haitian proverb goes “Men anpil, chay pa lou.” “Many hands make the load lighter.” Together we are stronger. Thank you in advance for your kind support of the FMS children.
Organizer and beneficiary
Skander Desrosiers
Organizer
Menasha, WI
Derrick Landano
Beneficiary
