Our Program Manager, visiting Port-au-Prince, was able to spend time over the weekend exploring one of tent camps and getting some details on how school is being held. Here are observations, while wandering through a camp by the airport:
"The tents are pitched so closely together that it becomes impossible to get a sense of where you are-it's like being in a maze–the tents are tall enough to block out external reference points. Daily life goes on. I saw women getting their hair done, men shaving and lots of cooking taking place (which is becoming a huge issue as there is a drastic increase in burn victims). The kids in the 'schools' were seated on benches. There was not any plywood flooring or mats. They all sat on the ground. Small portable blackboards are sometimes provided. They have few notebooks and pencils, that I could see. Classes are held in the morning and are over by lunchtime. The heat under the school tents was stifling. It had to be several degrees above the external temperature. These blue tarps, seen everywhere, just hold in the heat."
