Haiti Partners

Schools Helping Schools Through Service and Learning

Overview

Haiti Partners is committed to building relationships among Haitians and Americans for mutual growth. The “Change for Haiti” program gives students, teachers, and parents in American schools the chance to connect with schools in Haiti. In the process, American students will learn more about Haiti and its people–and also be able to help Haitian students in their own lives and educations.

We’ve created lesson plans and educational tools for elementary and high school students in the U.S. that will be helpful and meaningful for them (and their teachers). Along with this curricula, we’ve also provided a resources to facilitate fund-raising drives that can make a significant difference for students and educators in Haiti.

Thank you for your interest! We’d love to partner with you to make a difference! And while you’re learning here in the U.S., here is how you’ll be able to help students in Haiti:

• 25 cents buys a pencil, eraser, and notebook for one child.
• $1 sends a child to school for a day.
• $5 buys a textbook for a child.
• $58 (one day’s work at minimum wage) sends a child to school for two months.
• $125 provides a teacher’s salary for a month.
• $500 provides supplies for an entire classroom (books, paper, etc.).
• $1,000 provides furniture for an entire classroom (benches, blackboard, etc.).
• $3,600 provides ongoing training for teachers from an entire school for a year
• $12,000 pays for teacher salaries for a year

Ten Steps To Guide You Through:

1. Review all the materials here on the Change for Haiti website, and familiarize yourself with the mission, strategy, and goals of Haiti Partners.
2. Find partners within your school and community.  Talk with your principal, PTA, and sports teams, as well as community groups, churches, and local businesses.
3. Draft letter to parents, teachers, and students introducing the curriculum, the fundraising goal, the timeline, and how and where they can donate .  (We’ve provided a template letter for you Template Letter to Parents).   Send the letter and the factsheets on Haiti and Haiti Partners home with students.
4. Adapt the Change for Haiti curriculum for your classes and students (see toolkit below).  One size doesn’t fit all,  but hopefully we’ve given you some ideas to teach students about Haiti, the importance of education, and the power of service.
5. Prepare collection boxes/cans for each classroom and a larger one for the main office (suggested template here).
6. Create a tracking device for donations received (Suggested template here).
7. Teach the curriculum in conjunction with the fund-raising drive.  Our hope is that learning and awareness will complement giving and service in ways that turn students into responsible global citizens.
8. Wrap up your fund-raising drive and learning program by sending your donation to Haiti Partners.  And of course we recommend that you find a creative way to celebrate what you’ve accomplished!
9. Let us know how teaching the curriculum and doing the fundraising drive went for you. We welcome any suggestions.
10. Receive our thanks!  Specifically, you’ll receive a personalized video from Haiti thanking your school or class  as well as a thank you letter and photo from Haiti.