Charlotte Preschool has been a Lifeline Partner since our very early years in the 90s, when you could have seen us with our baby Miriam and Ben on the way, borrowing their building and reaching out to the children and youth of the community in the name of Christ. It is a vibrant PreSchool offering quality early childhood education for children regardless of background and has provided an excellent foundation for many individuals in the urban ghetto area of Newtown ( which is anything but new) . You can find Charlotte Preschool Alumni in every walk of life. Glenda Bertrand is at the helm and has been since the beginning. A few weeks ago fire broke out in the early hours and seven houses, home to at least ten children, were completely demolished. I was asked to attend the scene by the Parl Rep and was able to spot a child in need of her asthma inhaler "melted Sister Tina!" was the response to my question as to its whereabouts. Thanks to Jolly's Pharmacy, I was able to get a very quick replacement and was rewarded with a distinctly relieved pair of smiling eyes as the Ventolin brought relief from the smoke irritation. These families and individuals are mostly squeezed into already overcrowded family homes in the area now and are hoping to be included in the resettlement programme following Tropical Storm Erika. We are looking for sponsors for 2 preschoolers from this blackened yard who have not been able to pay their fees and 5 others who are in need. The cost is USD100 per term and I hope that those who can will "adopt" one of these children and be a long distance aunty or uncle for years to come.
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Hassy lives with his younger brother Leon and his parents, Reds and Leona, in a small 12' X 16' wooden house that was built for them by the Good News visiting builders. It is a lot better than their previous leaking shack which was inaccessible to the wheelchair! However there is not bathroom or kitchen yet, just a foundation ( sponsored by the Ross Salybia Mission Project Students)
Our next step is to raise $500 to finish the septic tank and put in the plumbing for the toilet. Unfortunately Hassys StepDad was digging the hole and "caught a stroke" . He is now very weak down one side and so we had to pay someone to finish the labour. Hassy tells me that he is a victim of the Storm as his wheelchair was swept away, fortunately not with him in it, and now the brakes are totally damaged. This makes getting to school even more difficult as his mum pushes him a long way to get on the Government school bus on which he goes to Crayfish River to attend the ISULUKATI Centre. He loves the computer and would like to ask the Prime Minister when he will be getting his tablet as he is 14. He really needs a new wheelchair but the tablet is his priority! Hassy has a sponsor in Scotland who covers his school expenses and sends him a Christmas box every year, but as you can see there are many challenges to overcome.
Over the years these donations have helped many people with clothing, bedding, medical supplies and even furniture. My mother's sofa from my childhood is still providing service in a ghetto shack in Tarrish Pit and there is a mirror I recognise on a wall in Morne Prosper, a chair in Newtown, a bed in Giraudel and quilt covers in Sylvania! Debra and Berns who have been part of the Lifeline team with us since the beginning of time are experts at clearing the goods on the port and sending boxes of stuff to our various Lifeline families around Dominica.
Geest Shipping have every year for over 20 years now given us a good deal on shipping and Herman Miller / TNT have provided free transportation within the UK. Thank you - all of you - it is so good to have things to give away and see God meet people's needs. It is also great that all these things did not get thrown away, in this world where so few have so much and so many have so little it is good to be the agents of redistribution. We know each item has been washed and in some cases ironed before it is sent with love. |
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TIna Alexander
Director, Lifeline Ministries Archives
December 2017
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