Haiti Partners in Christian Science Monitor
January 28, 2012
Click here to read an article in Christian Science Monitor about Haiti Partners work in social business to improve quality of education in Haiti.
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Bèl Platon Community School, Cabois Community School, Cité Soleil Community School, Henri Christophe Community School, IMN Community School, Lalo Community School, Partner Schools, PARTNERS Program, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Special Projects, STUDENTS Program, Vista Hermosa Foundation | No Comments |
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Two Years After the Earthquake – Video Update
January 12, 2012
Today is the 2nd anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti. It will be marked across the country by services of remembrance for the dead, but also the celebration of life. Meanwhile, the work of building a better future goes on. We’ve filmed a special update video to bring you up-to-date on the situation in Haiti, as well as the progress you’re making possible through Haiti Partners’ work in education. We’re grateful for your continued commitment and prayers, today and in the days ahead.
Posted in DISCIPLES Program, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, LEADERS Program, PARTNERS Program, STUDENTS Program, TEACHERS Program | 2 Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
New Video: Bridge to a Better Life
January 12, 2012
On this somber second anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, we remain hopeful because of all the important work that has been accomplished and all the great partners that have worked together with us to make it happen.
Two extraordinarily committed partners in this work have been Jesse Engle and Scott Henderson. With their help along with funds from Vista Hermosa Foundation, we created this video, “Bridge to a Better Life”. Thank you, Jesse, Scott and Vista Hermosa for all you do, and we look forward to a long, productive partnership helping Haitians change Haiti together!
Posted in DISCIPLES Program, Haiti Partners, LEADERS Program, PARTNERS Program, STUDENTS Program, TEACHERS Program | 2 Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Community Open Space Meeting at Children’s Academy
December 5, 2011
Yesterday’s community open space meeting on future site of Children’s Academy convened more than 300 people. The meeting opened with Haiti Partners Youth Choir singing welcome song and closed with them too. Participants and planning committee were thrilled with the meeting. Notes were taken, will be typed up and will shape philosophy and program of Children’s Academy.
I (John Engle) had two older men, independent of the other, come and tell me, “I thank God that I’ve lived long enough to see this. I never imagined in my life that Bawosya would have a wonderful program develop like this.”
Haiti Partners is thrilled to be in partnership with Architecture For Humanity and their affiliate BAR Architects in design and construction of Children’s Academy. Click here to see the architectural plans and other documents and photos.
We’re also thrilled to be in partnership with Grameen Creative Lab toward creating a social business that generates revenue to help pay the school budget.
Click here to download vision for CHILDREN’S ACADEMY .
Photos from top to bottom: closing circle of open space mtg, small group break-out session, foundation/cistern for first building of Children’s Academy. Click here for more photos.
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Children’s Academy – Community Engagement
December 4, 2011
It’s exciting to see community involvement in construction of Children’s Academy. Below is video and photos of foundation being dug and also of folks clearing land in preparation for a large open space community meeting to discuss “The Role of Education in Development of a Community.”
Below that is a video of a community meeting in November. There are 55 community members (2 groups) participating in Circles of Change training, which helps develop communication and collaboration skills. They are also doing research toward developing a business that generates revenue for the school.
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Fabulous Haiti Video – Tragedy and Hope
December 4, 2011
The Kenbe La Foundation was founded by New Zealander Emily Sanson-Rejouis in honor of her husband Emmanuel (Haitian) and their two small children, Kofie-Jade (5) and Zenzie (3) who lost their lives in the 2010 earthquake. Click here to read this story of tragedy and hope that brings tears to my (John) and my wife Merline’s eyes nearly every time we think of it. Like countless others, we draw inspiration from Emily’s determination to “Kenbe la” (Never Give Up) and to help children in Haiti.
Please, I encourage you to watch this video. It fabulously communicates Haitian talent and also determination in the face of tragedy. My children Daniel (5) and Leila (3) request it be played regularly. They break into dance immediately when hearing it and sing along. Kofie-Jade, Zenzie and Emmanuel, we regret we never met you even though we feel like we know you. We feel your spirits here with us when our family dances together to Kenbe La.
Haiti Partners is honored to be in partnership with Kenbe La Foundation. Three containers filled with school furniture and supplies and a prefab building that will be used as a clinic beside Henri Christophe School are on their way to Haiti. Once they land, the UN (Emily and Emmanuel were UN staff) will deliver them to Darbonne for our partner schools. Emily and a team of construction professionals are planning to come to Haiti in April 2012 to work with community members to erect the building and transform the containers into usable space for a clinic and the school. Emily, Merline and I can’t wait to finally meet you in person.
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Bèl Platon Community School, Cabois Community School, Cité Soleil Community School, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, IMN Community School, Partner Schools, PARTNERS Program, STUDENTS Program | No Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Haiti Partners and WeTopia Spread Joy to Children in Haiti!
December 1, 2011
Haiti Partners is pleased to announce a new partnership with Sojo Studios, makers of the new Facebook game, WeTopia. WeTopia represents an innovative new approach to “social gaming”, where players spread joy in the real world while having fun in the game. As they build their virtual communities, players gather “Joy,” which can be applied to real world projects of their choice in Haiti and the U.S. Players can then track their contributions through pictures, videos and in-game messages. Haiti Partners is one of a number of partner organizations that will execute projects funded through the game.
Funding for real world projects comes through Sojo’s mandate to donate 50% of net profits (never less than 20% revenue) to its charity beneficiaries. Revenue is generated through advertisers and sponsors as well as players’ purchases of social goods in-game.
WeTopia is free to play. We encourage you to try it yourself and to spread the word with friends and family. Click here to play!
For more details, click here for the press release.
Posted in Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program | No Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Daily Haiti Blog by Partner “Scotty Hendo”
November 20, 2011
Friend Scott Henderson, or “Scotty Hendo” is doing a daily blog during his time in Haiti with us right now. Below are first couple paragraphs of today’s with link. Thanks Scotty Hendo for partnering with us and for coming to Haiti with us!
#1 Thing to Learn from This Post:
The community school is the foundation for educating children, parents, and community members, giving the people of Haiti the bridge to a better life.
A More Detailed Exploration:
Waking up at 6:00am, our team hit the road shortly after 7:00am to make the drive to Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 7.0 magnitude earthquake and where the Haiti Partners team first began its work here twenty years ago. On a typical weekday, this twenty-five mile journey from Bellevue can take anywhere from 2-1/2 to 4 hours depending on flooding, traffic, and other factors.
Thankfully, traveling on a Saturday meant considerable less traffic and we made it there in 1-1/2 hours. It also helped that most of the highway is a paved, divided four-lane road. Last year, it was still under construction and considerably more arduous. Having a functional system of roads and highways is vital. (Click here to continue)
Posted in Henri Christophe Community School, Partner Schools, PARTNERS Program, STUDENTS Program, Youth Choir | No Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Axiom News Article about Haiti Partners’ Social Business for Education Initiative
November 4, 2011
Axiom News just published an article about our partnership with Grameen Creative Lab. To read the full article, click here.
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Partners in Music
October 20, 2011
Allan and Mary Pautz Klotche came to Haiti again as planned. In addition to spending time with Wozo choir, they did a music seminar for 22 school directors and teachers on how to use music to improve children’s learning and create more joy in the classroom. It was a great success. Allan and Mary rallied their friends and colleagues and created music kits that for each of Haiti Partners seven partner schools. Each kits include instruments, ipods equipped with music, speakers etc and have a value of nearly $400.
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Bèl Platon Community School, Cabois Community School, Cité Soleil Community School, Henri Christophe Community School, IMN Community School, Lalo Community School, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program | 4 Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
GRAMEEN FOUNDER, Muhammad Yunus in Haiti
October 14, 2011
Nine of my close colleagues and I (John Engle) drew inspiration from Muhammad Yunus today. Hats off to Grameen Creative Lab for organizing this conference of thought leaders, entrepreneurs (all ages) and many like my colleagues and I who are committed to social business. It was wonderful to see the two young people awarded their prizes of all expenses paid to participate in Social Business Conference in Austria.
Later in the afternoon I joined with others working in close partnership with Grameen to discuss with Muhammad Yunus our various plans and projects for social businesses. His insights, questions and comments that come from decades of experience are golden.
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
2010-11 Annual Report Now Available Online!
October 11, 2011
Haiti Partners 2010-11 Annual Report covers our accomplishments from the last fiscal year and our plans for the next. To download the full report, click here.
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Supporting Haiti from from 8,000 miles away
October 11, 2011
I (Jonathan Chan) wanted to take some time today to highlight a partnership that’s been really meaningful for us and the mission of education in Haiti. This past April, our long-time friend and partner Tony Campolo visited New Zealand as a part of his incredibly busy speaking, traveling, and writing schedule. While there, he stopped by Mt. Hobson Middle School to talk to students and staff about Haiti.
Afterwards, the school leadership team had a chance to talk with Tony about the possibility of supporting our educational efforts in Haiti. After brainstorming some ideas, they decided on a creative plan to maximize the financial support they could send us. In partnership with a local garden nursery owned by one of the families at Mt. Hobson, the school is having monthly plant sales in the surrounding community, and donating the proceeds towards Haiti Partners. That money is helping us to provide teacher training, classroom supplies, professional development, and free daily meals to the 250 students and staff at Cite Soleil Community School. As we move forward working with our partner schools to start social businesses that will improve their financial sustainability, we’re excited to be receiving support from a school-business partnership 8,000 miles away!
Check out these pictures of the plant sales!
Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Social Business Meeting
September 27, 2011
Here’s a super quick video (14 seconds) of community meeting yesterday with Philippe Lagrenade facilitating a brainstorming about possible social businesses that could help fund the Children’s Academy and which will also help meet a community need. Philippe is doing meetings like this with all communities where our partner schools are. Today he arrived in the remote community of Bel Platon on the island of La Gonave.
We’re fortunate to have Philippe and to be in partnership with Grameen Creative Lab. Click here to learn more about this partnership and Grameen Creative Lab.
Posted in Annonciation Community School, Bèl Platon Community School, Cabois Community School, Capacity Building 3 Training, Cité Soleil Community School, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, IMN Community School, Lalo Community School, Partner Schools, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
|
Print This Post
Children’s Academy Ground Breaking
September 22, 2011
Local community members were joined by 11 members of major partner Calvary Church, a team from Architecture For Humanity, plus friends from; Haiti’s Ministry of Planning, Hertz, Haiti Allies, and from several Haiti Partners partner schools including CSCS.
It was a beautiful clear day and during the 30 minute ceremony we heard from special advisory to Children’s Academy Mèt Antenor (longtime friend and neighbor and a school principal for more than 20 years), a mother of a child that will attend Children’s Academy, a 14 year old young leader, and Joyce Johnson, Mission Director of Calvary Church. We also of-course heard from WOZO choir, which is made up of children in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Children’s Academy and training center is a big vision. We invite you and your church or organization to partner with us in realizing it. Click here to download 2-page Children’s Academy description.
Click here to see architectural plans on Architecture For Humanity’s website. Haiti Partners couldn’t be more grateful to Architecture For Humanity and BAR Architects for doing the plan.
Click here to view gallery of photos from ground breaking ceremony.
Click here for more photos taken by friend and photographer Eric Graham.
Email This Post
|
Print This Post