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"It is fundamental to show children that one loves them and really wants to help them. The rest goes automatically. It is also a work of justice towards these children whose physical, intellectual and moral development is jeopardized by a life without affection, without guidance, without constraint, without obligation. The street cannot educate in any way." Father Joseph Simon of Timkatec Welcome to TIMKATEC.ORG, home of The Friends of Timkatec, Timkatec France, and Timkatec, Petion-Ville, Haiti.April 2008 Friends of Timkatec News Haiti and Timkatec - Triumphs and tribulations The Tribulations
We are committed to help. We know that Father Simon is a good steward of resources and we have complete and detailed budgets for the schools. I spoke to Mrs. Manigat who is in constant touch with Father Simon. She advised me that their stocks of supplies are good for a few days but they are deeply concerned about their ability to replenish food supplies and the cost to do so. She estimates that Timkatec's food and supply budget will increase by 40% 50 resident orphans, and another 250 day students depend on our support in the difficult time.
Streets are impassible for vehicles so people wade or swim searching for food and drinking water We have all been affected by the storms; but in Haiti, they were hit by all four, FAY, GUSTAV, HANNA and IKE with torrential rains and the catastrophic results you see above. Roads washed away, bridges down , the limited service available no longer functioning and the agricultural heart of Haiti destroyed. No food or potable water. A tragedy just 4 years after JEANNE in 2004 killed 3000 and destroyed the homes of 200,000. CRS is a leader in aid in and Haiti and works closely with us and Father Simon The Triumphs
Please continue your strong support. All funds are distributed through CRS Haiti, and the Friends of Timkatec in America match All Souls donations 100% and also cover all expenses.
Patrick O'Shea at Timkatec 1. The 300 Square foot dormitory is shared by 18 –bunk beds and shelves for clothes. But, safe and dry, with food daily, an education and firm direction by Father Simon and staff Please check out the revised donation page which is now much simplified. Also, note that CRS has a Timkatec page on site and when you check through from the Timkatec site, you go straight to the Timkatec donation page. If you use a credit card, you will get an instant confirmation of your Timkatec donation by email. Previous Newsletters are on archived on the Newsletter page. Timkatec France We are very pleased to welcome Timkatec France, a group formed by Sophie Beaupère, in Paris. Sophie has worked in Haiti at an orphanage and also at Timkatec, and on her return to France continues to raise funds for Father Simon.Mme. Beaupère's welcome message: « Bienvenue sur le site de Timkatec. Mon nom est Sophie Beaupère. J'ai travaillé en Haiti dans un orphelinat de 600 enfants (qui avait des moyens) et pour le Père Simon (qui n'en avait pas) ce qui m'a donné envie de l'aider. Pour en savoir plus sur la mission de l'organisation et comment participer à son fonctionnement, merci de vous reporter à la page en français. » The Friends of Timkatec
"It is difficult to refuse a child who comes at night, in the rain, asking for a small place to sleep. In those instances, children sleep on the floor, sometimes with only a blanket, sometimes without even that." Father Joseph Simon of Timkatec. I first became aware of Timkatec through an Orlando Sentinal article in March 2004 stressing the Haiti problems and chaos following the departure from Haiti of former President Aristide. The anguished comments made by Father Joseph Simon regarding the problems he was facing, and his unique mission to feed, clothe, house and educate the abandoned street children of Haiti, deeply touched me and I decided to learn more. After some difficulties I was able to contact Father Joseph and shortly afterwards received photographs, blueprints, and other documents describing his charges, his mission at Timkatec, plan for the trade training concept for Timkatec 2, his bona fides and, most importantly, his vision for the future for his "children". That vision is to take children (some as young as 5 years old) who have been abandoned to the streets of Port au Prince and not only to feed and shelter them, but ultimately to educate and train them in a trade so that they can become self-sustaining proud citizens. (See The Mission and History) It was clearly a worthy undertaking. One fraught with seemingly impossible problems... yet one that has been sustained by his faith and drive for over a decade. My daughter Tara designed this website which she maintains and we started our efforts which are covered inside in the various News items. In this, we have been most blessed with the unstinting support of our friends Mike Spinelli and Tom Moran and families, CRS-Baltimore and the CRS Haiti staff, and my parish of All Souls, Sanford. That support has to date reached over $130,000, sent to Haiti through CRS with 100% delivered to Timkatec. We now have a new 5000 Square foot school, Timkatec 2 with a team of dedicated teachers and facilities for 200 students. PLUS, an expansion at Timkatec 1 from 34 dormitory places to 50. It is rare to see so much impact on so many lives for such a relatively small investment. In the following pages, you will find more information regarding Timkatec 1and 2,and its founder Father Joseph Simon, a dedicated (supposedly retired) Salesian priest. I urge you to read more about him and his mission and I am sure that you, like our families will be as deeply touched by his dedication and faith and impressed by his focus on, and the success of, his mission. You will find on the donation page how you also can assist with a tax deductible donation for this worthy cause. We have arranged for 100% of our donations to be forwarded to Father Simon through our partner, Catholic Relief Services. Please feel free to contact me directly for further information. Thank you, Patrick O'Shea "Our experience shows us that these young children are normal children endowed with normal qualities and failings. Let us give them a chance and the means to cultivate these natural gifts while we endeavor to cure some of their failings." Father Joseph Simon of Timkatec.
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