Local Man Raises Money For Some Of Haiti's Youngest Victims

As time marches further and further forward and away from the devastating earthquake which ravaged the island nation of Haiti in 2010, it is easy to forget that the legacy of that horrific natural disaster endures and continues to adversely impact the lives of many, if not all Haitians. It is a legacy of destruction that will likely have a deep and long-lasting effect on the next generation of Haitians who find themselves continually trying to rebuild the lives they once knew.

Indeed those lives were not very easy to begin with, so the task of rebuilding is a great one. In order to help the youth of Haiti realize their true potential, one Spring Valley resident has made it his mission to raise money and awareness for the education and medical well-being of some of Haiti’s youngest victims.

Jean D. Simon, who has lived in Rockland since 1994, is the president of SIFODEC, a non-profit organization which raises money for a group of 300 needy Haitian children, about 100 of which are orphans. The organization, whose name is a French acronym meaning the Society for Community Development, has existed informally since 1989 and was officially organized as a legally recognized non-profit organization in 2009. While its mission predates the earthquake, the natural disaster made that mission that much more acute as the school where the children attended classes was destroyed, leaving them with a mere tent to serve as their schoolhouse.

“We must rebuild their school,” said Simon. “Even though they are suffering, they love going to school. Moreover, the school imparts valuable lessons on both academics and life. Rebuilding the school is a top priority for us.”

Simon is a Rockland fixture working as a court interpreter in town courthouses throughout the county. By interpreting Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, Simon ensures that everyone in the criminal justice system has the opportunity to only be heard, but to also understand the proceedings that they are involved in. Simon’s professional life in Haiti shaped both his profession in America as well as his commitment to advancing education back in Haiti.

“I used to be a foreign language and history teacher in Haiti for 15 years,” said Simon. “I always valued education. I recognize in education the right tools to help a human being to fit into any sort of society. To me, education is the best gift that we can give to a person. It is the best key to success anywhere where a person may be. Every citizen should be able to contribute to his own community and that can only be achieved through education. We take seriously into consideration the ability of every child to learn, practice, and fulfill his desire to become a participant citizen of his own community.”

His love of education also correlates to Simon’s love of being a court interpreter.

“I really love the justice system,” he said. “For me, it is a privilege to explain to others what is going on in their own language.”

Right now SIFODEC is trying to raise money for a particularly critical threat that is affecting Haiti’s children, namely a cholera outbreak. The more money that they can raise now, the more trained medical professionals can help combat the disease and its ravaging health effects.

In addition to the ongoing educational mission and immediate medical mission, SIFODEC has also launched several initiatives that help the children become self-sufficient members of Haitian society.

“We have projects for the children as well, such as a fishing project and an agricultural project,” said Simon. “If we teach them how to survive on their own, it is productive. We want to teach them mechanics, masonry, how to become electricians, nursing, how to be tailors, and also how to protect the environment. Some people may think that this is an ambitious endeavor, however it is one that much be tried, otherwise we will never know what these kids are capable of.”

SIFODEC’s work is ongoing and donations are what make that work possible. As with any non-profit donation, the donation is tax deductible. For more information about the organization and how you can help them realize their important humanitarian mission please visit http://sifodecinc.com/ or contact Jean Simon at yes1763@hotmail.com or 845-642-0091.