Imagine you are working in a setting affected by a natural disaster, conflict, or both.  How would you determine the number of liters of water per day beneficiaries need?  How many calories of food per day?  How many latrines for how many people?  What level of malnutrition signals an emergency? Look no further than the Sphere Handbook, a set of minimum standards and indicators that represents the strong consensus of the international humanitarian community on these and other issues.  The handbook is a useful tool for planning, carrying out, and evaluating humanitarian assistance programs.  As of today, it is available in Kreyol.  Please share with your Haitian counterparts. 

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In the weeks to come, I’ll provide updates on recovery efforts in Haiti sector by sector.  Why start with education?  After an emergency or a natural disaster, schools provide an opportunity to protect children physically and psychologically.  It re-establishes a sense of routine, stability, and above all, hope for a better future.  Technical and vocational education will be critical for developing a new generation of skilled workers and leaders. Without educational reform, Haiti’s recovery and long term development will be held back. Read more »

Lens, the New York Times photography blog, recently covered a Zanmi Lakay photography project in Jacmel.  Through Zanmi Lakay, 28 Haitian children were given cameras and asked to document different aspects of daily life in a city trying to recover and rebuild.  A description of the project is below.  The photos are well worth a look and you can view them by clicking here.  Who knows? Perhaps one day, some of these children will become photojournalists themselves. Read more »

Rough roads, sporadic electricity, out-dated ports, and rural areas in need of irrigation.  Haiti needs Haitian engineers badly. The prerequisite is students who understand and have a passion for math and science.  In January 2007, a group of Cap Haitian students (Team Citadel), with the support of Mark Moorman, a Haitian Businessman, and Rotary International, participated in the First Lego League Robotics Challenge in Florida.  In April 2009, they again competed in Atlanta.  Some of these students may one day become leaders in addressing their country's considerable infrastructure needs.  Read more »

The Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP), which provides merit and need based scholarships for Haiti’s top high school graduates, will hold its second annual fundraising event in Washington, DC on Friday, July 10th. The event will feature music, cocktails, Haitian food, and speeches from HELP alumni.  If you’d like to be a part of this event, please register here by July 1st.  Copied below is a recent IPS article on HELP's efforts to recruit talented students in rural areas and attached is an invite and fact sheet. Read more »

If you are (very) interested in Haiti, consider joining Corbett's List, easily the most active Haiti listserv.  The listserv carried an email today about Poto Mitan,  an impressive online repository of educational resources in Kreyol - everything from poetry to proverbs to  computer terminology.  It could be a good resource for Haitian educators or for people who want to learn Kreyol.  Links to several of the items featured on Poto Mitan are listed below. Read more »

Below is an article in the Catholic Sentinel about the Louverture Cleary School, a respected institution in Port au Prince that admits students based  solely on merit, not their ability to pay.  When we think of development, too often we just think about physical infrastructure.  In terms of human development, education is essential.  The graduates of Louverture Cleary, many of whom grew up in the most "hopeless" parts of Port au Prince, have gone on to be doctors, engineers, and community organizers.  Bélimaire Emmanuel's story below illustrates how critical education is to cultivate a new generation of leadership in Haiti. Read more »

In a just world, income level would not be a barrier to an education.  The Haitian Education Leadership Program (HELP) is a top-notch initiative that  provides scholarships to high performing, disadvantaged students.  100% of HELP graduates are now employed, using their education to promote economic progress and to rebuild the Haitian middle class - an essential component of a functional democracy.  The fundraiser will take place at the Haitian Embassy in Washington DC and there will be food, music, and a variety of speakers including two HELP graduates.  Take a look at the HELP website and consider attending this worthwhile event. Read more »

Bourik’s (BOS) recent hoofing to the Citadel was expected to be one quietly spent with the remaining visible history of Haiti and with the phantom winds that cool the mountain fortress. Read more »

It was recently brought to my attention that Florida International University offers a Haitian Summer Institute Course each Summer through its Latin American and Carribean Center.  The course is designed for individuals who would like to speak Kreyol and understand Haitian history and culture.

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