UC French Teacher Travels to Haiti

Union Catholic French teacher, Kamila Ciringione, spent her spring break in Port au Prince, Haiti at two orphanages run by Mission Haiti Helping Kids. She traveled with UC alumni, Ed Guzman ’08 and Allyson Guzman ’11, as well as current UC students, Logan Guzman ’14 and Julia Hayes ’16. Julia’s Aunt Diddi Washington runs the two orphanage homes and welcomed the guests with open arms. The children who live in the orphanages were thrilled to have their friends with them, particularly since the two Guzman’s and Julia were repeat visitors. They were also so grateful to UC Director of Guidance Jennifer Dixon, who donated flip flops for each of the children; and to UC faculty/staff members who donated vitamins, protein bars, stationary items, a basketball, ping pong balls, and dried fruit. The Union Catholic school community, along with French Club and Project Haiti, and Mrs. Rebecca Schroppe’s ‘93 National Art Honor Society students, raised monetary funds before Kamila’s travel that will be used towards the children’s education.

While in Haiti, Kamila taught supplemental French lessons to the children in the orphanage. The children’s educational texts and a majority of language instruction is in French, along with Creole, the other official and primary language of Haiti that is spoken at home.  One of Kamila’s proudest teaching moments was watching her Union Catholic French student, Julia, help the children compose response letters in French to students in the Westfield, NJ school district, who had written letters that were brought to Haiti by Kamila.

Aside from schoolwork, the group also went on a special excursion to the beach one day, a luxury that the children in the orphanage might get to experience one or two times a year because of the expense. Everyone had a great time!

Kamila’s experience in Haiti is one that she is not soon to forget. She becomes filled with emotion even talking about it, and shared that it is such a great feeling to see the children that UC supports as part of its social justice project. She notes, “Diddi is a true saint; I have never seen someone with such dedication…she fights for these kids.” Diddi’s goal is to acquire land and build her own school.  Kamila hopes to one day return to Haiti and visit all of the children again. Her favorite moments (besides teaching French, of course!) were giving out hugs and seeing the children’s smiles. Kamila’s French Club and Project Haiti plan to continue working with the orphanages again in the coming school year. For more information on Mission Haiti Helping Kids, visit: http://www.missionhaitihelpingkids.org.

For over 50 years, Union Catholic High School has earned its reputation as one of New Jersey's foremost Catholic secondary schools. For information, visit unioncatholic.org.