Enthusiasm, energy, and a message of hope – a group of 16 children and five accompanying adults from Haiti are scheduled to arrive in Boothbay on August 4. Sharing their music in both Creole and English, these youngsters will be living with families in the region for ten days while they intensely rehearse in preparation for a three-week tour of Maine and New England.

Local resident and former music teacher Barb House has been working with friends in Port-au-Prince since early spring on the project. The purpose of this effort: To afford these young people an opportunity to develop their potential so that they can make a positive impact on the world in which they live. The tour will also provide venues during which they can share the faith and hope they have, even in the midst of the very difficult circumstances in their homeland. People will have an opportunity to share monetarily at the end of the concerts, with a portion of the donations being used to support a new group coming next year, and the rest going back to aid children in two projects in Haiti.

Barb spent a week in Haiti in early spring and the planning was initiated. In May, she, along with singer/songwriter Fay Christy, spent several days there, conducting a music workshop with approximately 100 children, then choosing which young people would make the trip to the U.S. Some have a significant proficiency in English, while others are early in the process of learning our language. A couple of Haitian parents are now working with the group to aid in their adjustment, as the age of the younger members is six years old.

The choir plans to sing and dance on August 12 at Boothbay Baptist Church at 10 a.m. and again at the Boothbay Region Community Fellowship (which meets at the American Legion Hall) at 6 p.m. If you have any questions or would like to help during their stay here, call Barb at 633-7195. For more information, you can check out our website, www.hopehaitian.com.