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Words
for a New World
In Genesis we read that God created the world with words.
God said, "Let there be…" and there was.
While human words may lack such dramatic results, our words
do have creative power. Genesis goes on to say that God
brought all the animals before Adam "to see what he
would call them, and whatever he called each living creature,
that was its name." Thus, the first human task was
to name things and attach meaningful words to the world.
Some theologians argue that this may be part of what it
means for us to be created in God's image, that God creates
the world with words, and we create worlds of meaning or
cultures with our words.
Sadly, formal education in Haiti has led many students to
discount their own language and thoughts. (See interview
with Eddy Sterling in Pèpè Education on previous
page.) Traditional schools often work to uproot Haitian
language and culture, robbing students of the power to use
words to make meaning and bring order to their world.
Beyond Borders supports a variety of efforts to restore
to Haitians the creative power of their own words, words
that will free them to create a better world for themselves
and their children. Here is a brief update on some of these
efforts.
Adult
Literacy Program: Nearly 500 adults are nearing
the end of their second and third year of literacy instruction
in the AAPLAG adult literacy program. In the first year
of the program students learned to read and write in their
own language. Many told us that for the first time in their
lives they felt like they were human beings. In the second
and third years they have been focusing on reading comprehension,
writing stories and letters, improving math skills, developing
some practical applications for their new literacy skills
(like how to write bills and receipts), and learning how
to participate in and lead group discussions. This past
winter, in the latest program-wide evaluation, 91 percent
of the students were making satisfactory progress.
The Matènwa Community Learning
Center has recently started producing a Creole language
newspaper called "The Community Speaks." This
gives community members a place to express themselves and
report issues of importance, and it provides reading material
for newly literate adults. The Learning Center continues
to provide one of the most innovative Creole-based elementary
school educations in Haiti.
The Reflection Circle Project
continues to expand, giving dozens of schools and literacy
centers a tool for introducing open classroom discussions.
More than 2000 people are participating in these weekly
discussions. Interest in this initiative has progressed
rapidly. Efforts are underway to find support for local
teacher development cooperatives that will create regional
bases for teacher training in this methodology. (If you
would like more information on how you can become a partner
with one of these teacher cooperatives, please call 202-686-2088.)
The Child Literacy Program
continues to offer poor children and children living
in domestic servitude (restavèks) the chance
to receive a basic education in their native language. Students
are welcomed into a loving and respectful environment in
these centers, which often is like an oasis from the exploitative
situations many live in. Students in their third and fourth
year of this program have been participating in weekly Reflection
Circle discussions, which provides them with a unique opportunity
to speak and be heard, something that few restavèk
children enjoy.
Children's Rights Campaign:
Additionally, our partner organization in Haiti, the Limyè
Lavi Foundation, is leading an initiative to bring together
leaders and local organization committed to bringing an
end to the exploitative practice of domestic child servitude.
The Experiment in Alternative
Leadership promotes participatory leadership. Through
the use of leadership tools like Open Space Technology,
leaders learn how to create space for all voices to be heard,
for new leadership to emerge, and for responsibility to
be shared. Schools and other educational institutions have
been among the dozens of local and national organizations
that have sent leaders to participate in these seminars
and trainings. Removing the wall that separates leaders
from those they are supposed to serve, creates an environment
where the words of ordinary Haitians can have new power.
The
Transformational
Travel Program continued hosting groups to Haiti,
providing a radical alternative to the typical Caribbean
package vacation or the standard church mission trip. Visitors
stayed in the homes of typical Haitians. Through a team
of translators, visitor learned more about the hardships
faced by the poor and their struggle for justice. By caring
enough to listen to the words of Haitians who have been
ignored by the world and by their own society, visitors
affirm the dignity of their Haitian hosts. Visitors see
the impact of the choices they make and become more engaged
in the effort to build a more just and equitable world.
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