AMURT and AMURTEL supports two schools in Haiti. In this article we highlight the Delmas school.

Our local AMURT coordinator has overseen a rapid expansion of the AMURT-sponsored school in Delmas in Port-au-Prince. When he took over in 2000, the school, a kindergarten, had forty children. Today it educates 460 children from poor families and includes both KG and primary classes.

 

AMURT is committed to the healthy development of all children, and provides educational opportunities to as many children as its resources allow.

The quality of the education has also improved, with the twelve teachers attending seminars every August to develop their skills. In particular, the teachers have become more conversant with AMURT’s neo-humanist curriculum that fosters a sense of universalism in the students, and teaches them about the sacredness of all forms of life. It also teaches the children civic responsibility, with them participating in street-cleaning activities once a week.

Recently the AMURT school was one of five schools selected by the World Food Program to receive donations of food. The grain, beans and canned vegetables they provide will enable us to provide meals for all the children (now we can only afford to feed the poorest fifty children).
 

Our schools in Haiti provide a balanced education to children, including fine art, martial arts, dance, yoga, social service and field trips in the regular curriculum.

The political crisis in February 2004 was a particularly difficult period for the school. Both supporters and opponents of Aristide were out in the street, and violence could erupt at any time. Every morning Dada would tune into the radio to learn if it was safe to venture out. By the end of February there was virtual anarchy in the streets and Dada had to be escorted by an armed police officer to buy food.

The food was not only for the school, but also for the people of the neighborhood. With the streets becoming increasingly dangerous, Dada cooked for his poor neighbors, serving 200 people a day for two weeks. People were grateful, some coming with buckets to take food back for their families. No matter how much food dada cooked, however, there was never enough to feed everyone.

The Mexican Embassy supported this neighborhood program, providing ten tons of beans. We supplemented their donation with rice, corn and oil to provide the neighbors with their habitual meal.

Additional plans for the northwest Artibonite call for the establishment of a local radio station and democracy-building initiatives funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the promotion of organic agriculture with a grant provided by the Liechtenstein International Development Agency (LED), and the improvement of educational facilities and curriculum in five village schools, sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Recently in Port-au-Prince AMURT inaugurated the opening of CENEOH (Center for Neo-Humanistic Education) at its Delma’s school. This Center will provide more opportunities for Haitians through its computer-based learning program, journalism courses, art and craft workshops and martial arts classes.
 

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