Change in Haiti begins by casting light in the darkness

The news from Haiti over the past few days has been disheartening.

Protests, corruption, economic disparity, inflation, schools closed, hospitals without supplies ... and the list goes on.

Beyond the new headlines that have caught our attention are the countless stories that are not deemed newsworthy: People who just want tomorrow to be better than today. People who  want their children's lives to be better than their own. People who want safe and secure housing. People who want a fair opportunity to make a basic income.

I'm hearing these stories through the discussions I'm having online with friends and colleagues in Haiti. People are frustrated. They want things to be different ... to be better.

I continue to be convinced that "different" and "better" will only happen through a concerted effort to improve the education system of Haiti. Children who are literate have greater potential for higher income levels. Young people who develop critical thinking skills will be less prone to corruption. Young adults who are educated will develop the skills and knowledge needed to work for change.

We are supporting education capacity in Haiti for the long-term. The current situation sheds light into some of the darkness that Haitians have to deal with. But if we don't see - and deal with - the "junk" then it will continue to fester. Education provides people with the tools to both see and to take action on these foundational issues of development.

Paolo Freire described a process of "conscientização" (Portuguese for conscientization) ... an awakening or consciousness raising. Haitians are increasingly conscious of the systemic issues at play. Will they resort to the "same old" or will a new era arise?