Té’m Ba’w On Nouvel

Before I start this article, I apologize for not posting it yesterday as planned. Knowing that my personal issues should not affect the blog, understand it’s hard to keep the motivation when other things seem to not go your way.

However, once I start writing, every little negative things just flots away and I remember why I love doing this so much.

Today’s article will be much lighter and positive than the previous weekly news posts and I’m very happy about that.

“SOS Villages d’Enfants, 40 years later”

“SOS Children Villages”

Saturday June 23rd, 2018, marked the 69th year of the “SOS Villages d’Enfants” organization. On the same day, they celebrated their 40 years of services, in Haïti. The Organization has been in the country since 1978, in the community of Santo, Croix-des-Bouquets.

Many ex “villagers”, parents and other guests, who benefited from the different programs of the “Village”, participated in the festivities marking both their 69th Birthday internationally and their 40 years in our country.

On that meaningful day, the national director, Céligny Darius, stated that the “Village” worked in the reinforcement of 9 023 families registered in their programs. They also helped many victims of the Hurricane Matthew, which mostly struck the south of Haïti, in 2016.

Today, the “Village”, founded by Hermann Gmeiner, counts 3 villages in Cap-Haitien, Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Their main goal is to help kids that were abandoned and orphans. In the same spirit of helping children, the 
organization has three elementary schools, which welcomes 2 636 kids, eight technical schools and they also contributed in training 785 young adults.

Giving children a safe and protective environment is very important. In 2021, the representatives of the “Village” plan on helping 18 014 kids and young adults and with their different programs, they want to help 3 296 more families.

The task will not be easy, however we surely can wish them luck and hope they keep up their good work.

Source: Caleb Lefèvre, Le Nouvelliste.

This was “Té’m Ba’w On Nouvel”, writen by Tiff,
 “SOS Villages d’Enfants, 40 years later” edition.

Té’m Ba’w On Nouvel

Remember when we were "Too cool for school"?

Skipping class for different reasons was far more interesting than showing up and learning something.
Giving teachers attitude, linking up with friends, detention, all the bad things about High school were actually the "good stuff" for me. I've never been a “bad” student, but I was always to busy being sassy, gossiping and so on, to be first in class.

My mom used to always tell me that I didn't realize the chance I had, because some kids would do anything to get an education. The thing is, it's not that I was not aware of how lucky I was, at the time, I just had different interests.

I don't hate school, I hate the system. I have a hard time with learning things I'll never get to use in real life. However, knowing myself, let's say I was raised in a country where woman were not allowed to get an education, I'd be fighting so hard to be allowed in school. It is ironic, but it is life, we want what we don't have and neglect what we do. Or is that just human nature?

I've talked about taking school for granted and being deprived of an education but what happens when you get the chance to go to school and then you see that chance taken away from you?

“Bad News, School is Out”

Today, I will talk about a school in Haiti, it is going through financing issues and I just wish someone powerful enough will do something to help.

The institution is called John Branchizio, it is located in the area of Cazeau, in Tabarre, near the Toussaint Louverture Airport. The school has announced the potential closing of their doors due to lack of funds. Children, parents and employees are worried about this situation. Over 400 children, both in primary and secondary, don't know what their faith will be.

John Branchizio is very helpful in their community and is a property of the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Mercy and Sharing, since 2004, which operates in Haiti since 1994.

This organization is facing problems concerning financing due to the donations decreasing considerably. As a result, the possibility of closing the school doors is very near.

At the beginning, the institution never asked for any type of fee since their funds came from the NGO. Recently, they were obligated to ask for $20 US, per student, for the books and $50 US school fees. Keep in mind that 70$ for a whole year might be nothing for some, however it equals to 3500 Haitian Gourdes (HTG) and unfortunately many of the parents cannot afford that. With the currency going up & down often some years, the total might have reached 4000 HTG easily.

On the bright side they still are able to offer one hot meal per day.

Many parents have expressed how extremely worried they are and even the employees who work there and have their kids in the school.


Unfortunately, no one has been able to contact any representative of the NGO for further details.

Source: Windzor Aristil, Le Nouvelliste.

This post doesn’t not hold much information because it is an article I’ve read in the newspaper and I decided to write about it. I did not try to get in touch with any of the representatives of the school because I felt like I’d get the same information as the original writer. Since no one was able to speak to someone from the NGO, unfortunately I don’t have any links nor way to contact them and provide some help.

However, if you, as a reader, still feel like you want to help, I can try and get in touch with the Director of the school and we can figure out what can be done.

Feel free to contact me via email :tiffanyf.lohier@icloud.com

This was “Té’m Ba’w On Nouvel”,
“Bad News, School is Out”, written by Tiff.

Vision, Perception, Position

Music is part of every culture, regardless of how many different genres there are. The Haitian Music Industry holds a wide range of artists not many people had the chance to hear about. As a result, I decided that most music articles I’ll put out, will be about an underground Haitian artist. Hoping that one day, they will get the recognition they deserve.

Today, you will learn about Haitian rapper, Gaëtjens Jr. Charles, a.k.a PK$O, born and raised in Haïti. The young artist is 21 years old and has been making music since the age of nine or even a little before that. 

Gaëtjens often gives this first impression of being “careless” but once you get to interact with him, it’s mind blowing how knowledgeable and concerned he is about many subjects.

Besides making music, our friend works from home, he is launching a company with a couple of friends soon, based on: Apps, Websites, Video Games.
Gaëtjens has a degree in Web Development and is a future Industrial Engineer. At this point our next question is, does Gaëtjens ever gets some sleep?

Source: This picture was published by the artist on his Instagram page
Picture taken by @tiandy007_

The artist is part of a group called KAZITEXX, PK$O says and I quote “Music means a lot, I started at a young age influenced by “Brigandie” specially BriganJP lepap but being part of KAZITEXX changed everything, it’s a family thing”.
For information purposes, I will add that BriganJP is also an Haitian rapper from the Haitian rap group called “Brigandie” and close personal friend of the artist.

PK$O has a unique voice and way of “spitting” on the mic. Not to sound biased or anything but I am a true fan of most of the work he does. Sometimes, his style might be too hardcore for me, however, I find myself jamming on many of his songs.

The group KAZITEXX has a song called “FLEXX” and PK$O’s verse is by far my favorite on that track. He also has a song called “CHAK JOU” that I absolutely love, even more so, because of the instrumental that was made by his younger brother and the producer of the group.

The song I would like to put the emphasis on is called “LOJIK PA’M”, which in English means “My logic”. The word for word translation does not quite explain the real concept of the song. It is truly about his vision, his perception and his position on different issues Haitians have to face daily. The lyrics are powerful, raw and extremely sincere. I even find some of them heartbreaking.

PKSO’s official logo.
Source: @entouragemage.

There is a lot of truth in this song, too much even. If you understand creole, you’ll perfectly get the words, but in my opinion, if you haven’t been in Haïti for at least the past five years, you won’t be able to grasp how deep the issues actually are.

One of the lines that caught my attention was: 

“Aprè 12 janvyé malérèz still ap pran mové tan nan tant yo”.

Translation, “After January 12, less fortunate women are still dealing with bad times in their tents”.

We all know Haïti was struck by one of the biggest earthquakes ever, resulting in many people getting hurt, losing their homes, some even lost their lives. The less fortunate were placed in temporary camps while waiting for their houses to be rebuilt.

The earthquake happened in 2010, what he is trying to say is, after 8 YEARS, people are still in those camps having a difficult time, not getting the proper care they need and no one seems to be interested in getting them out.

Honestly, I could go on and explain every word of the song so you could have a better understanding of the message. However, I’d much rather have you listen to it and I hope it makes you think for a moment. This is not the type of rap song you dance to nor jam to.

This is the type of song you sit and listen to, type of song that makes you reevaluate your mindset, your thoughts and your surroundings. The type of song that makes you grateful for everything you have and maybe motivates you to be different from now on. 

Here is a link to “Lojik Pa’m” by Haitian rapper PK$O, hope you love it as much as I do.

https://youtu.be/ZTsp6sdkPPg

Picture taken by @tiandy007_

I also had the opportunity to interview PK$O, I asked a few personal questions and more information on the story behind “Lojik Pa’m”. The artist was kind enough to give me all the details needed to share with my readers. 

Tiff: Where does the nickname PKSO come from?

PK$O: From a joke, a stupid one [..] 😭🤐.

Tiff: When did you start doing music?

PK$O: I used to write a lot, started in 2006, I recorded my first track 5years later, which was Ballin San Lisans with FiP, at PiwoRecords, a well known record label in Haïti.

Tiff: When did you agree to be part of the group (Kazitexx) & why?

PK$O: I actually asked them to be part of it, they had/have the vision!! 

 There was a show at LAD, they went crazy on stage and i felt that energy and connection,  I literally told them to put me in & they agreed.

Tiff: Where do your instrumentals come from?

PK$O: Most of them come from Kazitexx's main producers and my lil bro AK 47.

Tiff: What’s your all time favorite track you’ve made?

PK$O: Lojik Pam & Badman (coming out soon)! There's no doubt. 

Tiff: Where do you get your inspirations from?

PK$O: From my ganja smoke and from things i or my friends go through.  

Tiff: A project youre not so proud of but is on youtube/soundcloud or other platform?

PK$O: An old project on SKMVOL 1 feat Reylexx, im not so proud of my verse to be honest.

Tiff: What is the story behind “Lojik Pa’m”?

PK$O: I had the concept long time ago but i never applied, recently my mom called me about the evolution of the trap game in Ayiti and i was shocked, because she usually don't give a f***, but that day, she personally asked me to drop something different and i was like "Gran Lojik manman" and she was like " sa se Lojik Pa'm". 

Tiff: The process of making the song?

PK$O: Faced an ounce and that was it.

Tiff: How long did it take you to write the lyrics?

PK$O: I wrote only 16bars, the rest came with the flow.

Tiff: Why choose this instrumental for this particular song?

PK$O: I wanted it to be memorable, classic, so i went with the old school type Mob Deep, which I'm a big fan of .

Tiff: Is Erika Badu one of your favorite singers?

PK$O: Not even! I really like her but I recently found out about her! I fell in love with the “On & On” track so i made the project with her vocals, the lyrics matched mines and that was it.

Tiff: On a scale of 1 to 10 how satisfied are you with this project?

PK$O: Well, 8, because i don't think it got where it was suppose to, 5K plays ain’t enough. 

Tiff: Did you get the response you wanted from your fans or was it better/ worst than you expected?

PK$O: Yes, my fans responded well, they know that they gotta expect the unexpected now (ahah) most of them were surprised, didn't know that side of me.

Tiff: Do you have similar tracks coming out?

PK$O: Yes, a lot of ‘em, i have a whole project based on tracks like that coming out soon , only classics!

Tiff: What kind of effect do you want tracks like “Lojik Pa’m” to have on your younger fans?

PK$O: I want them to know that music is not only about the vibe, you gotta step back and listen  sometimes.

Tiff: Any album? Mixtape? Solo projects coming out soon?

PK$O: Besides Kazitexx's collab with Point Records album, i have a solo mixtape dropping at the end of the year hopefully, Classic Joints only as i said.

Tiff: What level do you see your music reach in 5 years?

PK$O: Higher level definitely, i wanna be worldwide, i want people to sing in kreyol without even knowing what the hell they saying.

Tiff: Do you think the type of music you make could help the music industry in Haïti? 

PK$O: To be honest I don't expect tracks like Lojik Pa'm to help the haitian music industry, I wont fit their agenda (ahah) ,imma keep doing it for my fans, if they know they know.

Tiff: One message to any young haitian, aspiring to be a rapper, reading this:

PK$O: If you wanna be a rapper bro, you gotta read a lot, educate yourself, be aware, do your research, work on your vocabulary, and spit real facts.

After this interview, I got to see a different side of the artist, I was very pleased with the answers I got. I am truly grateful for the 
precious time he took answering my questions and I thank him for agreeing to be featured in my first ever article about Haitian music.

To my readers, a big thank you also for taking the time to read my 

article!
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it for you.

If you wish to follow PK$O’s evolution in the Haitian Music Industry, there are several ways to do so, you can follow him on:

Instagram: @pkso_ksk

Twitter: @Pkso_ksk

You will also find attached links to the different platforms you can find his songs on.

https://soundcloud.com/pkso_ksk

https://youtu.be/ZTsp6sdkPPg

https://audiomack.com/song/Kazitexx_sk/pkso-2018-prod-by-vivobeatz


This was, “Vision, Perception, Position”, written by Tiff.

Té’m Ba’w On Nouvel

Last week was my first “weekly news” post. The responses were both positive and negative. Consequently, I just want to take a few minutes to explain, one more time, the way this blog works. Even though I made a schedule, it is necessary for me to do a recapitulation of how I plan to manage this page.

When I made my “Quick Introduction” post, it stated that the purpose of the blog was to talk about positive things regarding Haïti, but also, to put the light on the current state of the country, whether it is good or bad.

As a result, every Wednesday, I will make a NEWS article about something I saw published by one of the many pages I follow on social media or articles I’ve read myself in a Haitian newspaper. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that if you wanted to read news articles, you would go on any research engine out there and get the information yourself. However, I do this segment for all kinds of readers, mostly the ones that don’t really take an interest in doing research at all and find it much simpler to get a quick resumé of the issues from me.

When posting about current issues, I have to go with the most “alarming” or “urgent” ones, hence why most of them will be negative. Like I said in my previous post, it would be very hypocritical of me to know about such problems, not say anything about them and pretend that everything negative about Haïti is a lie. However, It is very important to me that you understand that I am not a newspaper nor am I trying to be. My mission is mostly to spread awareness, help in any way I personally can and encourage my readers to do the same. 

Therefore, if you, as a reader, would only want to read about positive subjects, historical facts, local information, music, art and so on, you can always “tune in” every 1st and 15th of each month, this is where MY articles come in. I will make short articles on the 1rst, then longer ones on the 15th. It really is a very simple concept, hopefully in the next couple of weeks, there no longer will be questions or confusion about why things are posted in a certain manner.

Now that I got this out of the way, I can start today’s article.

SOS Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve.

“The Wynne Farm was founded in 1956 by Victor Ainsley Wynne, a civil engineer and geologist with degrees from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the United States. He noticed the ongoing misuse of the land and the inevitable threats of erosion and deforestation in the country, and purchased about 30 hectares of various plots of land from local landowners in order to create the farm and reserve. He then terraced the farm with 40 men and propagated indigenous species to conserve Haiti’s rich biodiversity and introduced various fruits, vegetables and trees from numerous parts of the world. Victor Wynne emphasized the need for soil conservation, composting, reforestation and experimented with agricultural techniques such as terracing.  

Since 1994, the farm has been dedicated to environmental education in order to promote sustainable development and the healing of not only Haiti but the planet.”

Source: Jessica H., via Avaaz.org

It is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) situated 20 Km from Pétion-Ville, P-A-P. The 30 hectares hold hundred years old trees and the land is one of the lungs of the metropolitan area. Wynne Farm (WF) welcomes thousands of school children to educate them on environmental issues which Haïti is facing, such as deforestation, erosion, soil and water pollution. In addition, thanks to soil conservation techniques at WF, infiltrated rainwater is redistributed in the community of Kenscoff, where the farm is located.

“Redistribution of water”
Source: @wynnefarm

“Schoolchildren learning trip”
Source: @wynnefarm

Source: @wynnefarm

“Sadly, the reserve and the Wynne family have been threatened for many years, and the threats have intensified the last few months. We need your support. Local residents have been falsifying land titles to the reserve and selling the false titles. This is not the first time these bandits have profited from someone else’s land. These same bandits built structures on the reserve last month to claim the land as theirs. On May 25, a dozen or so men associated with these bandits beat up the guardian on the reserve’s property late at night. If it weren’t for one brave man who intervened, the guardian would likely have been beaten to death. The bandits have also threatened members of the Wynne family. Earlier this week, bandits killed the reserve’s pregnant horse. Guns were were pulled on family members, the Judge and second Mayor of Kenscoff and at least four national police officers and security officers at the reserve.”

Source: Jessica H., via Avaaz.org

It is a sad and alarming situation, the people concerned are trying their best to help and protect the farm, if you wish to play a part and also make a difference there are three easy ways to do so.

Firstly, you can sign the petition at: 

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Ministere_de_la_Justice_Commissaire_du_Gouvernement_Sauvons_la_reserve_ecologique_Wynne_Farm_Save_Wynne_Farm/

Secondly, help finance the legal defense of the reserve, the construction of the protective fence and the security of the park at:

https://www.paypal.me/wynnefarm

Thirdly, if you wish to send checks, please address them to: Fondation Wynne pour l’Environnement.

For further information you can contact them on Instagram @wynnefarm or via email: info@wynnefarm.org.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, hopefully I’ve encouraged you to take action, even if it’s a small one.

I’ve signed the petition, have you?

This was “Té’m Ba’w On Nouvel”, 
SOS Wynne Farm Reserve édition, Written by, Tiff.

Fun fact: WF welcomed Alpacas which needed a home as the Baptist Missions Crew in Fermathe could no longer be their care taker, since they are leaving the country. They also created a prototype “Bamboo House” as part of a seminar-workshop on ecological habitat. Training on construction, processing, cultivation and soil conservation.

“Bamboo House”
Source: @wynnefarm 

 “The Alpacas”
 Source: @wynnefarm