The Better Beard At Christmas
December 19, 2011
The following is an excerpt from an article written for InterVarsity USA by Kent Annan
I’ve never donned a beard or red suit for Christmas. So far that’s my personal line.
But something happens when you have kids. Categories of cool, kitsch, hip, or tacky no longer matter much. It’s a short distance from this to mowing the lawn wearing black dress tube socks with sandals and a Santa hat (I live in Florida; this is possible). But mostly the shift is a good, liberating change.
Why? Because you’re freed from caring what others think of you, and even a bit from what you think of you, into concentrating more on how you can love others. In this case, particularly one’s children.
Our hand-me-down Christmas tree, though plastic, has lost half its needles, but I love it because my two-year-old son and six-year-old daughter love it. I hung Christmas lights on the house for the first time in my life, a simple line of colorful LED icicles across the top of the garage. Yet the kids proudly cheered.
Last night I was preparing our kids to go to the town Christmas parade, which pre-progeny I would have avoided. Just before getting in the car I received a text from a family my wife and I remain very close to from our time living and working in Haiti…[read more]
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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
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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.
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Southbank Intl School: THANK YOU!
August 21, 2011
Students, teachers, parents and staff at Southbank International School, members of Pangaea group, we want to extend a very special thank you from Haiti! Thank you Julia McCormick for helping to mobilize your fellow students and school to support relief and educational efforts in Haiti after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. We are grateful!
Southbank Intl School and so many others have helped Haiti Partners to rebuild schools better than they were before and to provide more teacher training and materials so that children are better able to discover their potential.
What a joy to see children fully engaged as they learn new things. That’s what I (John Engle) witnessed yesterday at Henri Christophe School. School doesn’t start officially for weeks but at Henri Christophe School, there’s a lot of learning and activity happening. Thanks to Inveneo, six new Hewlett Packard computers with Microsoft Windows, were installed yesterday. These computers are powered by solar panels, which were also provided by Inveneo along with batteries, inverter and installation. High speed internet connection will come next week.
We’re also excited about our partnership with Grameen Creative Lab which will make it possible for Henri Christophe and other partner schools to start social businesses that generate revenue for the school and help students, teachers and parents learn entrepreneurial skills. Click here to learn more about this initiative.
Click here to learn more about Haiti Partners “partner schools.” Click here for more information about Henri Christophe school.
Click here to view more photos.
Posted in Henri Christophe Community School, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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Thank You, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship!
July 15, 2011
Just finished up a week here in Haiti with our visitors from IVCF, and I (Jonathan) just can’t say enough how encouraged we are by this visit! Maxandre Bien-Aime, director of the IMN school, had this to say about the class put on by Kevin and Kristy:
“For a long time I had been wondering how I could help IMN’s students learn English, this language of such importance today. More than 30 children came to study English over 6 days. It was a beautiful thing…With follow-up the kids will continue to speak English – one of my dreams. This is also a great way for the Partner Schools to make a difference. Thanks so much for helping us in this way. The few teachers who were available were pleased to learn some English, too. The children created a great environment at the school. They played, sang, and danced. Give Kevin and Kristy kudos for me… ”
Check out my last post for a video of some of the dancing and singing at IMN! We’re excited about the possibility of a much longer follow-up next summer.
As you can see below, Helyn and Jen had a great time at the Cabois school (when they weren’t crossing rivers on foot!):
And finally, it was great to hang out with my friends Kristen and Dani, campus ministers in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Yes, coordinating shirts, purses, and water bottles!
We’re looking forward to continued partnership with student groups at universities across Virginia and North Carolina through the Global Urban Trek, and excited about what else might develop in the future. Thank you to friends and family who let this wonderful team leave them during the summer months (especially Peter, Kevin, Ryan, and Tyler). Hope to see you all soon again in Haiti!
Posted in Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, Henri Christophe Community School, IMN Community School, Partner Schools, PARTNERS Program, STUDENTS Program, Uncategorized | No Comments |
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10th Annual Open Space Haiti Gathering
June 29, 2011
This past weekend was the 10th Annual Haiti Open Space Gathering. Every year this gathering convenes 60-80 educators and community leaders for an inspiring learning exchange. This event, which is completely run by Haitians, is among our many efforts to develop professional learning communities.
We couldn’t be more grateful to Open Space Institute, USA, for the generous contribution that allowed numerous committed colleagues who didn’t have the means to participate in this meeting.
Posted in Capacity Building 3 Training, Circles of Change, Haiti Partners, LEADERS Program, Open Space, Reflection Circles, TEACHERS Program, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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MORE XO LAPTOPS AND TRAINING
June 29, 2011
Haiti Partners is thrilled with our partnership with OLPC and Waveplace, and Acadia School that’s making it possible for more Haitian children to receive laptops and training and for more Haitian mentors to build skills in teaching computers and software.
Thanks to these partnerships, more than 700 children either have already received XO Laptops or will receive them soon. In addition to children discovering a new world of learning through this technology, it’s exciting to see a Professional Learning Community develop among Haiti Partners partner schools as well as other organizations that we’ve invited in to be part of this endeavor, including Mercy Corps, l’Athletique d’Haiti, and AMURT to mention a few.
Last week, Tim Falconer with Waveplace, Adam Holt, Country Director of OLPC, and Caroline Hudicourt, Director of Acacia School and Haiti Partners convened with representatives of Save The Children, Maison de Henri Champs, Architecture For Humanity and many other established organizations and schools to discuss ways to keep moving forward in using technology to improve education in Haiti.
Posted in Haiti Partners, PARTNERS Program, Special Projects, Uncategorized, XO Laptop Pilot | 1 Comment | Email This Post
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New National Curriculum Being Developed
May 20, 2011
Yesterday my co-worker Hannah Meadow presented with friend and colleague Caroline Hudicourt, the CARES curriculum at Ministry of Education. Haiti’s Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, is developing a national curriculum for Haitian pre-school children ages 3-5. Haiti Partners, Caroline Hudicourt and other individuals and organizations working in early childhood development have been invited to participate. Caroline heads up an excellent Haitian school called Arcacia. She along with her sisters Dominique and Josianne are world-class educators and have contributed significantly to improving education in Haiti.
Our meeting yesterday took place in a giant modular building which was installed following the earthquake. Many of the Ministry of Educations buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and dozens of employees lost their lives.
CARES curriculum was developed by a team of professionals led by Leslie Falconer. It was translated into Haitian-Creole and French by Fequiere Vilsaint at Educavision. We’ve been piloting this curriculum in our partner schools. Leslie and Fequiere came to Haiti in April and trained more than 70 educators and trainers (from international organization) in this outstanding curriculum. Haiti Partners is honored to be collaborating with such dedicated professionals.
Posted in Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, TEACHERS Program, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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Partnering with Grameen Creative Lab
April 22, 2011
All of us at Haiti Partners are excited about a new partnership with Grameen Creative Lab in Haiti. While social business to advance quality education has been a priority for us since our conception, we acknowledge that we need more expertise and accompaniment.
The professionally done film we did, “Solisyon Natif Natal” (A Haitian solution) about a Haitian success story of communities creating social business to fund education is evidence of our commitment to highlight and encourage using social business to improve education. (Click here to view film)
We need to help our partner school that is already using social business to help fund their operating budget to significantly expand their business. We need to help our partner schools that don’t yet have social businesses to create them. We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Grameen Creative Lab to help with this. We will make sure that successes ripple out to other schools and communities.
The theme of our meeting yesterday was “Creating and Strengthening Schools.” In attendance were representatives from Ministry of Education, local and international organizations including Limyè Lavi Foundation and Beyond Borders, along with CNN Hero, Boby Duval of l’Athletique d’Haiti.
Collaboration is what it’s all about. Haiti Partners is honored to be part of a growing network of organizations working together to help all Haitian children have access to quality education.
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, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, STUDENTS Program, TEACHERS Program, Uncategorized | No Comments | Email This Post
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Reports on Major Grants
April 10, 2011
Haiti Partners has the privilege of working with Vista Hermosa Foundation, which is making possible through significant grants, two important Haiti Partners projects: Capacity Building 3 and Social Enterprise for Advancing Quality Education.
We invite you to review our two-year and 18 month reports, respectively, for these projects.
Click here for Capacity Building 3 Two-Year report.
Click here for Social Enterprise for Advancing Quality Education 18-month report.
Click here for presentation of Grameen Creative Labs Haiti project plan.
We’re excited about partnering with Grameen Creative Labs Haiti!
Posted in Capacity Building 3 Training, Capacity Building 3 Training, Circles of Change, Grants, Haiti Partners, LEADERS Program, Open Space, Partner Schools, Reflection Circles, Social Enterprise for Quality Education, Special Projects, STUDENTS Program, TEACHERS Program, Uncategorized, Vista Hermosa Foundation | No Comments | Email This Post
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Children’s Choir and Lutheran Groups singing together
Here’s some video of the wonderful time the Haiti Partners’ Children’s Choir had with visitors from University Lutheran Church of Boston and Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center at the University of North Dakota. Thanks again for a great week and a great exchange with our students!
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Great Week With Lutherans!
March 19, 2011
This morning we bid farewell to a wonderful group of Lutherans from Massachusetts and North Dakota. They are part of University Lutheran Church (click here for their Haiti blog) and Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center. Pastor Kathy Fick, Minister at Christus Rex is a long time friend of Pastor Shelly Satran, wife of Haiti co-founder/co-director, Kent Annan. Pastor Kathy played an important role in Shelly’s call to ministry.
What a pleasure hosting this group, which has already done so much to support the work of Haiti Partners and is engaged in doing more. We are grateful for all their support along with the incredible joy and life they brought with them. Videos and photos from there time are coming soon.
Posted in Partner Schools, PARTNERS Program, Uncategorized, Youth Choir | No Comments | Email This Post
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Civic Empowerment Groups Continue
December 12, 2010
It’s another calm day in Port-au-Prince and Petion-Ville. Like yesterday, there is very limited public transportation. This means that normal activities cannot happen. People are also concerned about possible sudden eruptions. Thus, most people stay close to home.
But, our Civic Empowerment groups are meeting! I (John Engle) and so impressed by my Haitian colleagues and how they keep pushing on in spite of immense challenges. Yesterday four groups met, two of them are in Sean Penn’s Camp and had 26 and 27 participants. Another in Leogane had 33 participants. Normally, groups don’t meet Sunday but today at least one group is meeting because they were not able to meet last week. Groups that didn’t meet last week are working to find days this week to make up, in addition to doing their regularly scheduled meetings.
Below are photos and video of group that I visited yesterday morning. (Click here to see more photos that can be downloaded in high res)
Using a Haitian adaptation of Touchstones Discussion Method, individuals in these groups are developing skills in listening, thinking critically, and communicating their thoughts. Over time, groups become more conscious of group dynamics: who is talking and who is not and how do we make sure a few don’t dominate and that some voices never get heard? Are we tolerant and respectful of people who see things differently? Are we willing to acknowledge our weaknesses and admit that we could be wrong?
People develop skills that help them to better work out problems, find solutions, and to collaborate effectively. Once the groups spend a number of weeks reading and discussing short thought-provoking texts–Aristotle, Plato, the Bible, Darwin, African and Haitian stories, etc.–they will then begin reading and discussing the Haitian Constitution. During the three months, the groups will also plan and realize two Open Space meetings, which are highly participative meetings that help people to work effectively on issues that they determine to be important.
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Civic Empowerment Project – Update
December 4, 2010
Yesterday the 20 facilitators (photo below) in the Civic Empowerment Project we’re doing in partnership with USAID met to work on logistics and discuss what’s working and challenges. The objective of the project is to have forty groups, each comprised of 25 teachers, community organizers and young leaders (a total of 1,000) to complete an abbreviated three-month Circles of Change training with emphasis on studying Haitian Constitution.
Twenty groups have already completed their first weekly two-hour session. 14 of these groups have complete two sessions and several have already completed three sessions. We expect that an additional 20 groups will form and complete their first session within the next two weeks.
Comments from participants are very encouraging. Among the challenges include finding places for groups to meet and having people arrive on time. Some of the groups so far have less than 25 while quite a few have more than 25 coming to the sessions.
Photos of two different groups below
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Giving Thanks: Inaugural Ceremony at Cabois School
November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving! We give thanks for so many blessings including all the good people that make our work possible and the commitment and determination of our Haitian colleagues.
What a joy to celebrate the new Cabois Community School this past Sunday!
We give thanks for the commitment of teachers, administrators, parents and children at Cabois for making education a priority. We give thanks for Christa Brelsford and her family for wanting to “make good out of bad.” We give thanks for the generosity of Zyman Foundation for making it possible to build and furnish the new school and to fund a credit program for families of students to help them get back on their feet after the earthquake.
Below is a short video taken during the ceremony followed by several photos. Click here to see more photos.
Posted in Cabois Community School, Haiti Partners, Partner Schools, STUDENTS Program, Uncategorized, Youth Choir, Zyman Foundation | 3 Comments |
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