Haiti 10 years after the 2010 earthquake: Reflecting on justice and solidarity

I had been providing leadership courses for principals in Haiti, primarily in the Port au Prince area, for about five years before the January 12, 2010 earthquake struck. I was fairly familiar with the main roads, institutions, and geographical landmarks of the city. What I saw on the television screens the night of January 12 and in the days ahead did not look like the city that I had become increasingly familiar with.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the tragedy - both that which occurred in a few seconds on January 12 and that which has unfolded in the ten years since.

The response to the earthquake has been the subject of many, many articles, documentaries, and books. Three that I would recommend are:

1. Jacqueline Charles, correspondent with the Miami Herald
Read her 10th year anniversary series here: Haiti Earthquake: A Decade of Aftershocks

2. Jonathan Katz's The Big Truck That Went By


3. Paul Farmer's Haiti After the Earthquake


I too have written extensively about Haiti, primarily documenting efforts to foster education in the country. This work has been published in books and scholarly journals but has also received a lot of attention through this blog (see this entry from October 23, 2019 as one example)

Ten years after the earthquake, Haiti continues to struggle. Some have called it a "failing state". But these types of terms fail in describing the complexities of Haiti.

An anniversary such as today provides an opportunity to join in solidarity with our Haitian friends and colleagues. It is a day to reflect on the injustices that have been perpetuated against many Haitians who deserve better.

It's also a day when we can commit to pursuing justice going forward.

One way we - Haitian and Canadian teachers - are striving to pursue justice is by working together to learn from each other and to support each other in improving our teaching practices. The Educator and Leadership Institute (ELI) provides a "meeting place" for where this learning and support can take place. Over 1,000 Haitian and Canadian teachers have participated in ELI in northern Haiti in the city of Cap-Haitien in the five years since it was established. At its core, ELI provides an opportunity for relationships to develop. Relationships are foundational to solidarity, to reciprocity, and ultimately to a commitment to social justice.

Today I will remember my friends and colleagues who have had their lives dramatically impacted by the 2010 earthquake. And I will reflect on how I can work for justice in solidarity with my Haitian teaching colleagues.