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 |
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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
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WOZO Youth Choir Commemorates 2nd Anniversary of the Earthquake in Song
January 12, 2012
In this video the Haiti Partners WOZO youth choir sings to commemorate the 2 year anniversary of the earthquake. The song was written and arranged by choir director, Alex Myril, and Merline Engle. Lyrics can be found below.
January 12th, a day of terror and tears.
Eyes and hearts of Haitians filled with pain,
January 12th, a day of terror and tears.
Eyes and hearts of Haitians filled with pain
A horrific disaster, followed by cholera, and misery
take so many to their death
Your blood spilled,
and your souls live on and you are with us,
Giving your fellow Haitians strength
for the work of rebuilding Haiti
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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
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Thank You for All We’ve Accomplished!
January 10, 2012
This month marks two years since the earthquake. The message being broadcasted in the media right now is: there’s little change and Haitians continue to suffer in spite of so much aid.
There is truth to that—but it’s not the whole truth because people like you, who are contributing to Haiti Partners, need to know that your dollars have made and are making a real, tangible, hopeful difference every day!
Thanks to your support and Haiti Partners strong network of schools and partners, together we have:
- Built and staffed 42 classrooms for Haitian children.
- Trained thousands of teachers and grassroots leaders.
- Distributed 15,000 Creole Bibles, and are providing 15 Haitian leaders with seminary scholarships.
- Begun construction on the Children’s Academy, which is slated to receive its first 50 students in September.
Last month, 35 educators and grassroots leaders completed our 3-year Leaders Program. These Haitian leaders talked about how much this training has meant in helping them to create community projects, to find meaningful employment, and to improve their organizations. Their stories are a powerful testimony of how your support is helping Haitians change Haiti.
Thank you for being with us in this work!
John and Kent
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Youth Choir Sings – Happy New Year from Haiti Partners!
December 31, 2011
We finish this year with profound gratitude for our friends and colleagues in Haiti, the U.S., Canada, and around the world. We start the New Year excited about what is ahead in our journey together.
We pray that 2011 is marked by peace, joy, and hope for you and your loved ones. And of course we’re praying–and working–for the same in Haiti.
If you and your friends are still looking for ways to give at the end of this year, please consider a gift to Haiti Partners. Any gifts given by midnight tonight will be doubled, up to $100,000, by a generous grant by our friends and partners at the Vista Hermosa Foundation.
Changing lives through education is a great way to end one year and move into a new one: http://www.haitipartners.org/donate/
So, thank you! The choir sings for you in the video below–as a small sign of our love and gratitude for you.
Happy New Year from all of us at Haiti Partners!
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WORLDBLU Team in Haiti
December 25, 2011
My co-workers and I (John Engle) were thrilled to host in Haiti the WorldBlu team December 10-17. Their training on organizational and workplace democracy for our partner school leadership teams and for 35 people in our LEADERS Program was incredible.
We are so grateful to Vista Hermosa Foundation for making their visit possible. WorldBlu team also participated in Open Haiti Camp open space meeting, that was a follow-up to TEDx Port-au-Prince, and met with business and NGO leaders. Haiti Partners is deeply grateful to be part of the WorldBlu worldwide network of democratic workplaces. Thank you for making time available, WorldBlu team, to spend time in Haiti to help us build better schools and institutions!
Click on links below for albums of photos:
Habitat Santo Visit
Visiting Partner Schools
Seminar for Partner Schools Leadership Teams
LEADERS Program Seminar
WORLDBLU, Miranda Ash’s Photos
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Youth Choir Sings – Merry Christmas from Haiti Partners!
December 24, 2011
At this time of year as we remember God’s love being with us in Jesus, we’re filled with gratitude and hope. It’s also a time for us to thank you for your generous commitment to helping people in Haiti. We’re deeply grateful to have friends and partners like you.
Here is a song from the Haiti Partners Youth Choir, sung for you.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Haiti Partners!
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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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WorldBlu Team in Haiti
December 12, 2011
My co-workers and I (John Engle) are having a wonderful time hosting WorldBlu team in Haiti this week. They’re putting photos and updates on their Facebook page. Click here.
We are so grateful to Vista Hermosa Foundation for making their visit possible. In addition to them participating in Open Haiti Camp open space meeting, that was a follow-up to TEDx Port-au-Prince, they’re networking with business and NGO people and will do seminars for leadership teams of Haiti Partners partner schools and for 35 participants in our LEADERS program. Thank you for being here, WorldBlu!
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Circles of Change Video
December 5, 2011
This 3-minute video provides an explanation of the two methods that we use in our Circles of Change training: Reflection Circles (influenced by Touchstones Discussions) and Open Space Technology.
Posted in Circles of Change, Open Space, Reflection Circles, TEACHERS Program | No Comments | Email This Post
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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