Students Rebuild is about building schools and livelihoods–but it's also about building relationships and communities. A crutial element to the Students Rebuild program is being able to connect participating student teams directly with their peers across the world whose messages deserve more airtime in our everyday media and lives. For Haiti, Students Rebuild developed resources to bring a year's worth of interaction and education to participating teams on the culture and context surrounding reconstruciton following Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake.
- Students Rebuild Haiti Curriculum - guided classrooms through four modules discussing Haiti, architecture and international aid
- Interactive Videoconferences - highlights from real-time video conversations between SR teams their Haitian student peers and funding benefactors
- Webcasts - in-depth discussions of the issues of the day "on the ground" in Haiti
Haiti Curriculum
The Students Rebuild Haiti curriculum "Life from the Field" is designed to help participants foster meaningful interactions with their Haitian peers. Through this lesson plan, secondary students can learn about current social issues and hot topics, as well as how such issues impact their everyday lives. Lessons are intended to be interdisciplinary and experiential to complement your school's existing curriculum.
"Live from the Field" covers four modules and related activities:
- Introduction to Haiti - Student Cultural Exchange
- Education in Haiti
- Understanding School Reconstruction in Haiti - A Process in the Making
- Haiti Today - The Way Forward
Download the Haiti Curriculum "Live from the Field," available in English [PDF], French [PDF] and Haitian Creole [PDF]. Also available: Haiti Discussion Preparation Lesson Plan [PDF]
Interactive Videoconferences
In this 4-part Students Rebuild series, North American and European students participated in a cultural journey speaking with their Haitian peers whose schools had been destroyed by the 2010 earthquake. The participating classes came away from the videoconferences with a reinforced understanding of the complex issues of rebuilding after disaster, international aid, and the empowering realization that they can make a difference helping faraway friends rebuild their livelihoods.
Session 1 - May 2010: Student Cultural Exchange (highlights - 7:08)
This first session focused on "breaking the ice" between North American and Haitian students. GNG introduced the Students Rebuild project at the start of the IVC. Participants from each school site presented their schools/communities to their peers: students from schools Elie Dubois and Baptiste Bon Berger that are being rebuilt with Students Rebuild-raised funds. Conversations focused on sharing one's values, cultures, and interests in relation to the greater Students Rebuild project: check out the highlights reel below!
Session 2 - October 2010: Emergency Education (highlights - 4:29)
This second session promoted the importance of emergency/post-catastrophe/conflict education as a key element to development through gaining background knowledge of Haiti's education system and it's key role in rebuilding Haiti's future. Students cross analyzed how emergency education in conducted in their respective communities.
Session 3 - February 2011: Understanding School Reconstruction in Haiti (highlights - 5:25)
This third session provided students an overview of the complexities of the school reconstruction process: how buildings in Haiti collapsed and what measures are taken to build Haiti back better. A representative of Architecture for Humanity
walked the students through the new designs being worked on at their Port-au-Prince office for the new Students Rebuild schools.
Session 4 - May 2011: Haiti Today: The Way Forward (highlights - 3:15)
During this session, participating classes learned about life in present-day Haiti by hearing stories from their Haitian peers, and why young Haitians may find it difficult to stay in school, even if they are provided a temporary place to attend class. Students discussed topics such as "Ongoing Challenges and Opportunities," "The Political Situation in Haiti–Pre- and Post-Earthquake," and "Haitian Youth Culture."
Live Stream Webcasts from Port-au-Prince
The webcasts provide all Students Rebuild participants a live progress report from Haiti. Architecture for Humanity staff gives update of their work, Haitian students share their journeys with us, and much more! Moreover, the webcasts give you a truly unique interactive opportunity to see how your funds are being used to help rebuild safer, stronger, and permanent schools in Haiti! The webcasts are available to anyone with an internet connection! More details.
Spring 2010: Introduction to Haiti (highlights - 4:58)
Students and relief workers share their stories of the earthquake in
these video highlights of the Students Rebuild Webcast held on March 26,
2010 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Fall 2010: Introduction to École Elie Dubois (unabridged - 54:47)
In this recording of the Students Rebuild Fall 2010 Webcast, get a
glimpse of Haiti through stories of Haitian youth; learn about
Architecture for Humanity's plans to rebuild Haitian schools; and meet
the crew of TeleGhetto Haiti, a trio of talented youth, with a mission
to share the story of the Ghetto to the world.
May 9, 2011: Women Empowerment and Education (unabridged, 1:01:55)
Students Rebuild explores the roles of women and education in Haiti and how the two go hand-in-hand in its reconstruction. A panel of female figureheads discuss the impact and leadership of Haitian women upon society and the role education plays in empowering the community.
May 12, 2011: Haiti Today and the Way Forward
Students Rebuild discusses the recent presidential elections with an
incredible cross section of Haiti's youth. Students from the private
academy Cours Privés Edme, the women's vocational school Elie Dubois and
members of the renegade art collective TeleGhetto share their hopes for
Haiti's future.