On Friday, Dec 7, local pediatrician Barbara Weis visited GFS to speak to 6th Grade about her unique experience working with young children and various community leaders in Haiti. Ms. Weis is currently the Executive Director of Sante Total , a nonprofit that provides healthcare to rural communities in Haiti.

During her presentation, Ms. Weis spoke to the engaged group of students about her organization’s work which provides vaccines, medicine and a range of medical treatments to adults and children living in Haiti’s Central Plateau region. Sante Total, which is comprised of medical students, physicians and nurses, has taken 25 trips to Haiti to provide healthcare to 10,000 Haitian residents. Ms. Weis shared with the students the impact of the devastating earthquake, the difficulties that can emerge when trying to get healthcare to residents, including navigating treacherous roads, and the current state of healthcare in the nation. The students were captivated as she talked about the small, important things that are often taken for granted in the United States, such as access to clean running water and nutrition, that her organization also works with other groups to help provide to the communities in the region. The students left the conversation with much more knowledge about Haiti and inspired to help create change.

Since its beginnings, Garrison Forest has had a longstanding tradition of global service. Read more about how our students help create positive change around the world.