Undoubtedly, we all need not be reminded of the tragedy that struck Haiti on the 12th January. It is a day that will forever resonate in the minds and hearts of Haitians, not only those who live in the poverty stricken country, but also the many across the world who were unable to contact their loved ones at the time. In one way or another, we were all affected by the earthquake, whether it was personally or on a human level, which is why WBFN and the Book Project have come together in an effort to aid the schools and libraries that have been hit as a corollary of this natural disaster.
In light of the earthquake, we have reached out to Hope for Haiti, a non-profit organization based in Naples, Florida. For over the last twenty years, it has strived to enhance the livelihood of the Haitian people. With an emphasis on children, the charitable organization has sought to aid the young by way of improving education, nutrition and healthcare. One of the programs at the forefront of their mission is indeed education, with Hope for Haiti currently supporting 37 schools, 12,000 students and 500 teachers. They believe that education is key in order for Haitians to break free from the shackles of poverty that engulf them, and furthermore, developing the standards of teaching will breed a successful school and contribute toward a stable and vibrant community.
I managed to get in contact with James Lancaster, who is a member of the Board of Directors’ of Hope for Haiti, and he, in turn, managed to put me through to Patrick Ecalitto, Haiti’s Program Director in Les Cayes (southern Haiti). Patrick was kind enough to answer a few of my questions regarding their efforts in the south of Haiti and how the WBFN and the Book Project can help:
Do you have any idea what type of state the various schools and institutions are in at the moment?
Hope for Haiti’s school network has remained intact and operational since the January 12th earthquake. Only one school in Port-au-Prince, St. George’s Primary School, was destroyed completely and is no longer functioning. Three others in the capital and two in the South East province sustained physical damage but are continuing the school year in tents and other temporary classrooms. At this time, all Hope for Haiti supported schools have either finished their academic year, are in the middle of testing, or are preparing for official exams in late July and early August.
Are schools looking for any type of books in particular, for example, in terms of subject area, level and so forth?
Schools are particularly looking for Creole and French language textbooks, workbooks, and library books. Most schools in Hope for Haiti’s network and those of its partners are of the primary level, or Pre-school – 6th grade. Haiti’s main subject areas are defined at the primary level as: Mathematics, Social Science, Experimental Science, French, and Creole. Books in English and Spanish at beginner and intermediate levels are useful for secondary schools. Library books are useful for all schools, with French and Creole languages preferred.
Considering Haiti will take a long time to fully get back on its feet, do you know when would be the most ideal time to send the books?
More and better quality curriculum material will only help schools in Haiti get back on their feet more quickly. Hope for Haiti has been sending and receiving regular shipments from the US and having them cleared through Customs without any increased difficulty since the earthquake.
Furthermore, would institutions be able to handle a shipment of a large scale? Is there a limit to the amount of books that they need? And is there a sufficient amount of space to store the books once they arrive?
Hope for Haiti is prepared to handle the distribution of up to one full container of books (approx 20,000 units). Some rural schools have limited space in which to store books, while others have their own library spaces. Hope for Haiti would be responsible for distributing the books according to each institution’s capacity and need. Hope for Haiti has sufficient depot space in both Port au Prince and Les Cayes, its base of operation in the Southern Department, to store the books upon arrival before distribution.
As it stands, the Book Project has received donations of French textbooks, as well as pre-school English and Spanish books, from various institutions in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. We are hoping to send a large shipment of books, but, conversely, the Book Project has only managed to collect enough books in French to fill just 24 boxes. Therefore, there is a long way to go if we are to send a large container of about 20,000 books. If you have the kind of books specified below, and are willing to make a private donation, we hope you will contact the Book Project.
Your help is urgently needed! The Book Project is primarily looking for books in the French language for Pre-school to Grade 6 for the following subjects:
- Mathematics
- Social Science
- Experimental Science
- French
- Library Books in French for all schools.
The books should be in good condition.
by Henry Kerali