MAY FIRST - AGRICULTURE AND LABOR DAY

MAY FIRST is a national holiday in Haiti. Schools close across the country. In cities, there are big fairs with craft displays, food sales, and expositions of local labor and agriculture projects.

Three years ago, ASAPH began organizing and hosting a MAY FIRST program on the local soccer field here in Pasbwadom. This year, we had some impressive successes.

1. The ASAPH "B" band started the day with live music to draw in people from the community. It was their first time playing that role.  

2. Our expositions were better than ever. A bee-keeper brought his equipment and bees! Groups of young people and adults gathered to hear him talk about his work...and see it up close. A local seamster brought his sewing machine and allowed people to sew on paper. He had a line of people waiting to sew all morning long. A nurse brought syringes and allowed people to give an orange a shot. A welder welded for a crowd of onlookers. ASAPH's agriculture booth allowed people to take pictures with a mask and equipment used to spray gardens. 

3. Kids from our soccer team hosted games for anyone who chose to play : horseshoes, cornhole, ring toss, and a soccer challenge. For each event, they recorded results and crowned a champion for the day.

4. Local vendors brought all kinds of food and drink to sell. Attendees could enjoy homemade juices, soup, stew, cookies, and more. 

5. At about noon, attendees gathered to watch some races : sack race, egg race, three-legged race, and a water race. There was also a short scavenger hunt. The ASAPH "B" band was there to bring more energy to the races.  

5. In the afternoon, a soccer game featured a team of kids dressed as farmers playing against a team of kids dressed as professional workers (carpenters, electricians...). The game ended in a tie. Penalty kicks followed, and the farmers lost to the professional workers.  

6. An evening program featured the ASAPH Brass Band playing some classic Haitian music and some Christian favorites. The AVJF girls choir sang with the band, and the ASAPH choir performed its tradition song about the food we get from the ground. 

7. Members of the ASAPH soccer team and the AVJF girls choir prepared and performed a PARADE OF PROFESSIONS.  We had almost 24 different trades or professions represented on stage this year.

8. A "make a vehicle" competition featured about 10 hand-made toy cars prepared by elementary age students. 

9. ASAPH distributed trees to the group of people who remained to see the end of the program. 

10. Technical difficulties prevented us from presenting a couple of short films that featured the work that happens daily in our community. Those films were shared online in the days after the event. 

A fair and evening program is a ton of work!  ASAPH leaders contributed greatly to this year's program and helped insure its success. WEC and Shelterline gave selflessly to make this event one of the biggest the year for ASAPH. 

A day-long program requires so many hands. ASAPH sponsors equip us with funds to encourage all of those who sacrificed their day to make the fair a success. ASAPH dollars allowed us to provide food for over 100 workers and helpers that day!!!  What a blessing!   

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ASAPH!!