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C O T T I N G S C H O O L A N N U A L R E P O R T

C O T T I N G S C H O O L A N N U A L R E P O R T

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In 34 seconds, on January 12, 2010, an earthquake struck<br />

Haiti, killing 230,000, injuring 300,000, and leaving 1 million<br />

people homeless. Wings of Hope, Cotting’s sister school in<br />

Fermathe, was destroyed. Miraculously, no one was killed. Once<br />

communication was reestablished, Cotting rallied to help Wings.<br />

Our extended community provided emotional support, gathered<br />

supplies, and raised funds for rebuilding.<br />

Twice each year, ten Cotting staff volunteer vacation time to<br />

work in Haiti. Each summer, five Haitians come to Cotting<br />

School to train. Cotting and Wings students share ideas, stories,<br />

photos, and their cultures with each other via e-mail.<br />

26<br />

Wings of Hope<br />

After the Earthquake<br />

by David Manzo<br />

The entire Wings of Hope Community and Cotting School<br />

volunteers in June 2010, wearing tee shirts that read, “Cotting<br />

School Falcons Have Wings of Hope.”<br />

Today the children at Wings live in temporary quarters<br />

until funds can be raised to build a new school and home.<br />

New facilities need to be constructed as soon as possible as<br />

the temporary quarters are safe but overcrowded and highly<br />

inadequate. Wings of Hope is a small, effective, focused, missiondriven,<br />

and caring school for 38 children with severe special<br />

needs. When rebuilt, it will be the model facility for children<br />

with special needs in the new Haiti. While it is nearly impossible<br />

to find an encouraging word about Haiti in the U.S. press, our<br />

staff have found plenty to celebrate in the spirit of Wings of<br />

Hope.

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