Haiti Educator and Leadership Institute team ready to go!

Over the past month we have carefully followed the news from Haiti and have kept in contact with our partners there on a regular basis. The protests and violence of a few weeks ago have abated - although there continues to be significant challenges and concerns - and so the Educator and Leadership Institute is moving ahead!

For those interested in knowing more about ELI check out this video from 2016 which provides an overview of the vision and structure. 

Our overall goal is to support the professional learning of 1,000+ teachers and 100 principals so that we might impact the learning outcomes of 100,000 students in Haiti.

To see an update on how we are doing to achieve this goal, check out our 2017 video (click here).

In 2018, we will welcome 500 educators to take part in 18 courses! Thirty Canadian francophone educators will be leading these courses (in focus areas: math, science, critical literacy, special education, early learning, and leadership). We are excited that this year some of our key Haitian educators will also be instructing portions of the courses and learning more about how to facilitate instructional leadership as they take on full teaching roles for future ELI sessions. 

A key component of ELI is a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) camp which will be enjoyed by 200 Haitian children. The camp is led by our Laurier university students as well as a number of other Haitian and Canadian young leaders.

ELI is an amazing partnership between Haitian and Canadian educators who are committed to becoming better teachers and globally competent educators. I am so proud of this group! It is a huge undertaking and is only possible through the concerted effort of people committed to a common cause.

I will be providing updates regularly between Aug. 4-12 as ELI takes place in Haiti. Beyond the blog, you can get more frequent updates through Twitter (@drstevesider, #LaurierHaiti) and pictures through Instagram (@drstevesider, #LaurierHaiti).

Update on the Haiti Educator and Leadership Institute 2018: Recognizing our privileges ... and solidarity

There have been some significant issues which have led to large protests in Haiti recently. The issues came to a head when the Haitian government, following pressure from the IMF and World Bank, announced new increases for the price of fuel. This article in the Miami Herald (click here) outlines these increases including "...an increase of 38 percent on gas, 47 percent on diesel and 51 percent on kerosene, which is used largely by Haiti's poor to light up their homes."

The article goes on to say:

"Haiti's reality — double-digit inflation, a depreciating local currency, low purchasing power and little in the way of job creation — was the match that helped sparked three days of civil unrest that left at least three dead, businesses burned and pillaged, and international flights canceled."

Such is the plight of Haiti.

The Educator and Leadership Institute is scheduled to take place in Cap-Haitien from August 5-10. Although there have been protests in Cap-Haitien, it has not experienced nearly the turbulence that Port au Prince has seen. However, at this point, the Canadian government has issued an "Avoid all travel" advisory for Haiti. This puts our work in Haiti in jeopardy for the planned August time-frame.

I am not upset about the potential of delaying ELI until next summer, after all, we certainly do not want Haitian or Canadian participants to feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

I've learned over the years to reflect when confronted with these situations...

... and, upon reflection, this serves as a reminder of my privilege. I can choose to delay a trip. I can afford if there is a financial penalty for having to do so. My life will not be majorly impacted if I do not go.

However, the same cannot be said for many of my Haitian colleagues. They are living in the middle of very challenging circumstances.

Situations like this call for solidarity (solidarite in Creole). We might be able to physically remain in our comfortable homes and work places in Canada but we can certainly join our Haitian colleagues in emotional and spiritual solidarity during this difficult time.