Maria's Children

Maria's Children
Las Cahobas, Haiti

In the mountains northeast of Port Au Prince, Haiti lies a town called Las Cahobas. Here, as in all of Haiti, prospects for children to have a job and income when they grow up are very poor, despite educational level. The poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti is in total infrastructure collapse, and widespread starvation and disease exist. The average life span is under 50.

Samson Rock, realizing this miserable outlook for the next generation, decided to try to make a difference with the local children. Samson, a gentle artist, has several siblings in America, and could immigrate if he wished. But he feels he cannot abandon the hopes of Haiti’s children, and so endures on in Haiti, including through a brutal jail sentence for painting an image that displeased local politicians.

Samson’s project with the kids teaches them to create and paint the local folk art styles, a skill that can provide an income when they grow up. He has run the project out of his own extremely meager funds.

Maria’s Children International has been supplying the project with art supplies for 3 years. In the summer of 2003, the first funds will go to Samson’s Kids, along with a computer.

Samson needs paints and brushes, especially oils and acrylics, as well as funds.

Due to a lack of telephone, regular electricity, or mail service, it is difficult to contact Samson directly. All inquiries and donations should come to Maria’s Children International, and we will get them to Samson on our twice-yearly visits there.