Reflection
Circles and Open Space
A
new book of Haitian proverbs and artwork was just published
after an extensive development and piloting process. The
new book, Images and Proverbs, will make the Reflection
Circle discussion method more accessible to people who are
illiterate.
Adult
Literacy
With
our local partner, we have started a new initiative near
Leogane with five centers and about sixty participants.
Our continuing work on Lagonav Island now includes about
five hundred adults learning to read and write in twenty-five
centers.
The
Experiment in Alternative Leadership
This
program continues to promote servant leadership and participatory
education in Haiti. Grants are now being given to enable
schools, organizations, and community groups to receive
leadership training. For information about a new documentary
on this grassroots movement, visit www.circlesofchange.com.
Living
Words
This
new program is promoting a participatory method of small-group
Bible reflection and prayer that is common in the U.S. but
quite new in Haiti. We recently printed two thousand copies
of a twelve-page Creole booklet that explains the method
step-by-step and provides a dozen Bible passages. Seminars
continue to be held, and new groups are being formed regularly.
Child
Literacy
Our
literacy centers for children in southern Haiti are serving
about two thousand children in fifty centers. We are also
preparing to conduct an impact study of this program so
we can continue to improve how we serve these children.
Campaign
to End Child Servitude
We’ve
now launched this innovative publicity campaign to raise
awareness about the practice of child servitude in Haiti.
A primary slogan of the campaign that can be seen on billboards
and banners around Port-au-Prince and Petionville is, “Give
me your hand. Give me tomorrow.” The campaign also
includes radio spots, awareness training, and continued
collaboration between organizations working for children’s
rights.
Schools
Alive!
This
new initiative seeks to link teachers and principals from
many different schools to encourage educational reform.
Due to political unrest in October, some early plans were
disrupted, but we were able to host our second event in
November, which was a great success.
Matènwa
Community Learning Center
This
pioneering school continues to provide a model of education
for its community and for educators in different parts of
Haiti. The school year is underway, and 220 children from
preschool to eighth grade are learning, reflecting, studying,
singing, and working in the school garden.
Lutheran
Leadership Development
Beyond
Borders is partnering with the Lutheran Florida/Bahamas
Synod (ELCA) to facilitate the theological training and
denominational organization of about a dozen Lutheran churches
in Haiti. A Haitian candidate for pastoral ministry began
seminary in Jamaica in the fall.
Transformational
Travel
Political
unrest again disrupted a travel group scheduled for November,
but we hope the situation will allow groups scheduled for
early 2005 to come and participate in this valuable exchange.
Apprenticeship
in Shared Living
In
mid-September we welcomed our newest apprentice, Lindsey
Strauch, who will spend a year in the program. She was warmly
and generously received by her Haitian host-family and community
and is doing well as she learns the culture and language.
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