Shifting practices while changing perspectives: Canadian and Haitian educators teaching together

Our full team of ELI Haitian and Canadian instructors

This is our fourth year of the Educator and Leadership Institute in Haiti and it is the year where we are sharing teaching responsibilities with our Haitian partners. Today, our 18 Canadian team members met their 18 Haitian teaching partners. The Haitian instructors have been participants in the Educator and Leadership Institute - many for three years - and also completed a weekend of leadership training in May. The Canadian and Haitian instructors spent part of the afternoon preparing their classrooms and preparing for the week ahead.

Sr Vierginat, our main Haitian partner

While the instructors were working on preparation, our university students were planning the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) camp. There are six Canadian students or recent Bachelor of Education graduates and ten Haitian university students who are all working together to lead and support the STEAM camp.


In the midst of the preparation, I've been struck by how who we work with can shift our perspective. If we only work with those with whom we are comfortable or who have similar backgrounds as us, then we will never be pushed in our understanding. When Canadian educators work with those who have different backgrounds to our own - such as our Haitian colleagues - then we begin to have a better understanding of the "other." This week, we are excited about welcoming 100s of educators to engage in learning ... but I am really interested in the learning that will occur when the Haitian and Canadian instructors teach together. I am confident that this shift in practice will change our perspectives. And we will all be better for that..