Our partners in health: Room 1, Ms. Dewey's third grade class

A package of brightly-colored, lovingly hand-drawn pictures recently arrived at PIH’s office in Boston, straight from Room 1, a classroom of third graders at William W. Henderson Inclusion Elementary School in Dorchester, MA.

“When I heard of the earthquake I thought it might be a good idea to help the children respond,” explained Claire Dewey, Room 1’s teacher.  “So they made the pictures.”  She suggested that the students think about what they would wish for the people of Haiti following the January 12 earthquake. The students then used colored pencils to craft pictures that symbolized their “Hopes for Haiti.”  From shelter and food, to medical care, to music, the students’ hopes capture a deep solidarity with people they have never met.

Watch a slideshow of Room 1’s hopes for Haiti below:

The 23 original pictures were sold at a school play as a fundraiser for Partners In Health.  But, recognizing that the pictures were as significant a gift as the money, in addition to a check, PIH also received color copies of every drawing, along with a note: “We in Room 1 want to encourage you and all Haitians and PIH staff with this book and small donation (but big from their hearts) with our best to you.”