The View Magazine - May 3, 2012
Ric Taylor
Teaching Tools For Haiti
Mary Simon has been writing new songs and focusing on developing her home studio where she teaches voice and piano. Over the last decade, the singer/songwriter has released five albums but has always lent her talents for altruistic good. While the people of Haiti may have been top of mind with the general population a few years ago, the news about helping the impoverished country has waned. But not for Mary Simon who’s had two altruistic trips to Haiti this past August and February and is set to return to help Haiti again this month but not before a special local concert to raise some help.
“My father went down to Haiti to look at construction building opportunities but came back with a strong need to help in the area of education,” notes Simon on her family’s work abroad. “He started working with Partners International and started overseeing four Christian elementary schools. He’s been back four times and has now started a high school. He’s organized the schools and helped fundraise to pay the teachers and keep the schools alive. The long-term objective is to start a vocational school so that people can learn a trade, particularly in agriculture.
“We have so much and they have so little,” adds Simon. “Forty percent of youth 18 and under do not have access to education and only 10 percent of the rest have access to government schools. The only way for change in that country is going to start with the youth because they’re still hopeful and it’s going to start with education. Over 50 percent of the population is illiterate. My dad brought me down there and once I was there, the need was so great I just had to get involved. It’s heartbreaking. The conditions are horrendous. The biggest thing for me that breaks my heart for Haiti and differentiates it from other countries I’ve worked in is that there is no middle class. These people live day by day and that’s all that they can do. We’re hoping to give them the opportunity for more.”
Connecting with some kindred spirits, a concert happens this weekend to not only raise awareness and funds but also computer hardware, integral infrastructure that could help monumentally in the cause. Sharing her gift of song and her compassion for the needy is what Mary Simon will continue to do in the future and the concert embodies all of these Hamilton musicians’ monumental hearts.
“It was really Michael Loveless and Michelle Titian who got behind the event,” explains Simon. “Michelle oversaw organizing the talent and Michael’s been really involved because we’re trying to get people to donate old laptops that they’re not using or too slow. We’ll refurbish them and really make use of them. We want to start a computer lab that everyone can use.
“People can get involved by just coming to the show, or by bringing a laptop or by emailing me for more information to see how they can help out,” adds Simon. “But who wouldn’t want to see Harrison Kennedy? Jim Ellison? Michelle Titian? It’s going to be a night of great music and I think it’s going to be a more heartfelt night of music because it’s a heartfelt cause.” V
Teaching Tools for Haiti happens with Mary Simon, John Ellison, Harrison Kennedy, and Michelle Titian this Saturday May 5 at Fenian Films. Doors are at 8pm and tickets are $20 by contacting Simon at mary@marysimon.com. Click on haitichristianschools.org
