The Haiti Educator and Leadership Institute for 2018 has come to an end. Much work needs to be done to continue to foster the capacity of teachers in Haiti, however, for the moment, we are relaxing as we prepare to return to Canada.
The success of ELI is really due to relationships.
Some of those relationships were established 10+ years ago. In this picture, Thelus Wilson and I have just finished a meeting about his PhD studies. I met Thelus on one of my very first trips to Haiti more than 10 years ago. At that time, Thelus was a vice-principal of a public high school in Cap-Haitien. He is now a successful school principal and nearing the mid-point of his PhD research. His wife, also an educator, has been working on her Masters degree. They have three children, one with a significant special need. They are making a major difference in Haiti.
In this picture, I am with some of our great Haitian university students who have supported the STEAM camp and ESL program this year. Samy Charles and Doody (to my left and right) were the two high school students who participated in Laurier's first ESL program in Cap-Haitien. Doody has now graduated from university and is hoping to pursue graduate studies to be a psychologist. Samy is in med school in Port au Prince. Both are leaders in their communities.
Other relationships are new. We have had new Canadian educators join us this year. Josee is a principal of a French language school in Oakville. She is an amazing leader and teacher. As I have watched her interact with her students, I have been reminded that the basis of good teaching is relationships. In this picture, Josee (far left), Karen, and I are purchasing tin art that we had commissioned from Jean Emile Francois, an artist extraordinaire. There is a Haitian expression: Bonjou se paspo ou (Hello is your passport). Relationships begin with "hello" and we need to remember that everyone deserves the courtesy of a friendly "hello". You never know where that greeting will take you!
Another person I met with a "hello" was Samson. Samson was a teaching assistant for an ESL program we did at a university in Cap-Haitien five years ago. We have remained friends since. He is now a founding partner in a tourist company. His company arranged for a day trip for our Canadian group that took us to Amiga Island. It was a day to celebrate and relax. The work for the week is done ... but we look forward to continued engagement with our Haitian partners as our relationships are solidified and as new relationships form.
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| It's not a sunset picture but it's an appropriate way to wrap up the blog for the week with lots of imagery for the imagination! |
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