ON OUR MINDS – OCTOBER 2011

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fae-LOGOAccording to the CIA World Fact Book, literacy is defined by being over the age 15 and being able to read and write. In Haiti only 52.9% of the population is considered “literate” by these standards. [1] Furthermore, Index Mundi (a data portal that gathers facts and statistics from multiple sources and turns them into easy to use visuals) ranks Haiti as #177 in literacy out of 201 countries. [2]

Paul Franz for the Pulitzer Center shares the following:

“Unlike most developed countries in the western hemisphere, Haiti does not have a universal public education system that is funded by the government. Instead, it has a loose network of mostly for-profit private schools.

Nearly 80 percent of these schools lack certification or licensing to teach children. Worse still, the average cost of tuition at these uncertified institutions is about US $135 a year–a significant expense for a country with an annual per capita income of US $1,300.

Of the estimated 70,000 teachers working in Haiti, only about 35,000 of them are properly trained in pedagogy.

At the time of the January earthquake, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) estimated that about half of all teachers had no more than a ninth-grade education.”  [3]

Looking at these statements and truly being devastated by seeing its country with less than half its population being able to read or write, the GB GROUP has joined forces with other reputable Haitian business men and women as well as with the Haitian Government itself to form Fondation Appui à l’Education (FAE).

The Fondation Appui à l’Education is a non-profit organization seeking to promote education in Haiti at all levels (primary to superior) including professional training. These noble actions will give birth to an open, fair and empathic Haitian society aiming for progress and sustainable development.

FAE’s inception was prompted by the need to support public effort to better the conditions of the most humble Haitian students. FAE will also award scholarships to exceptional students as well as build libraries, science rooms and further promote sport activities.

Initially, FAE has a tough task to tackle since after the earthquake schools themselves have been inaccessible for over a year. One of the Foundation’s first courses of action is to overturn some of the earthquake’s damages in order to provide Haitian students with a safe and clean work environment.

The GB GROUP, alongside its FAE founding partners, is hopeful that the FAE will give Haiti’s future men and women the vital tools needed to succeed and together bring Haiti up in rank and out of the shadows.

[1] USA. CIA. World Fact Book. CIA – Central Intelligence Agency. 5 July 2011. Web. 8 July 2011. <https://www.cia.gov>.

[2] “Haiti – Country Profile – 2011.” Index Mundi – Country Facts. 12 July 2011. Web. 13 July 2011. <http://www.indexmundi.com/haiti/>.

[3] Franz, Paul. “Haiti: Education Reform After the Earthquake.” Pulitzer Center. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 06 July 2011. <http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/improving-access-education-haiti>.

ON OUR MINDS – OCTOBER 2011

Posted on

fae-LOGOAccording to the CIA World Fact Book, literacy is defined by being over the age 15 and being able to read and write. In Haiti only 52.9% of the population is considered “literate” by these standards. [1] Furthermore, Index Mundi (a data portal that gathers facts and statistics from multiple sources and turns them into easy to use visuals) ranks Haiti as #177 in literacy out of 201 countries. [2]

Paul Franz for the Pulitzer Center shares the following:

“Unlike most developed countries in the western hemisphere, Haiti does not have a universal public education system that is funded by the government. Instead, it has a loose network of mostly for-profit private schools.

Nearly 80 percent of these schools lack certification or licensing to teach children. Worse still, the average cost of tuition at these uncertified institutions is about US $135 a year–a significant expense for a country with an annual per capita income of US $1,300.

Of the estimated 70,000 teachers working in Haiti, only about 35,000 of them are properly trained in pedagogy.

At the time of the January earthquake, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) estimated that about half of all teachers had no more than a ninth-grade education.”  [3]

Looking at these statements and truly being devastated by seeing its country with less than half its population being able to read or write, the GB GROUP has joined forces with other reputable Haitian business men and women as well as with the Haitian Government itself to form Fondation Appui à l’Education (FAE).

The Fondation Appui à l’Education is a non-profit organization seeking to promote education in Haiti at all levels (primary to superior) including professional training. These noble actions will give birth to an open, fair and empathic Haitian society aiming for progress and sustainable development.

FAE’s inception was prompted by the need to support public effort to better the conditions of the most humble Haitian students. FAE will also award scholarships to exceptional students as well as build libraries, science rooms and further promote sport activities.

Initially, FAE has a tough task to tackle since after the earthquake schools themselves have been inaccessible for over a year. One of the Foundation’s first courses of action is to overturn some of the earthquake’s damages in order to provide Haitian students with a safe and clean work environment.

The GB GROUP, alongside its FAE founding partners, is hopeful that the FAE will give Haiti’s future men and women the vital tools needed to succeed and together bring Haiti up in rank and out of the shadows.

[1] USA. CIA. World Fact Book. CIA – Central Intelligence Agency. 5 July 2011. Web. 8 July 2011. <https://www.cia.gov>.

[2] “Haiti – Country Profile – 2011.” Index Mundi – Country Facts. 12 July 2011. Web. 13 July 2011. <http://www.indexmundi.com/haiti/>.

[3] Franz, Paul. “Haiti: Education Reform After the Earthquake.” Pulitzer Center. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 06 July 2011. <http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/improving-access-education-haiti>.

ON OUR MINDS – OCTOBER 2011

Posted on

fae-LOGOAccording to the CIA World Fact Book, literacy is defined by being over the age 15 and being able to read and write. In Haiti only 52.9% of the population is considered “literate” by these standards. [1] Furthermore, Index Mundi (a data portal that gathers facts and statistics from multiple sources and turns them into easy to use visuals) ranks Haiti as #177 in literacy out of 201 countries. [2]

Paul Franz for the Pulitzer Center shares the following:

“Unlike most developed countries in the western hemisphere, Haiti does not have a universal public education system that is funded by the government. Instead, it has a loose network of mostly for-profit private schools.

Nearly 80 percent of these schools lack certification or licensing to teach children. Worse still, the average cost of tuition at these uncertified institutions is about US $135 a year–a significant expense for a country with an annual per capita income of US $1,300.

Of the estimated 70,000 teachers working in Haiti, only about 35,000 of them are properly trained in pedagogy.

At the time of the January earthquake, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) estimated that about half of all teachers had no more than a ninth-grade education.”  [3]

Looking at these statements and truly being devastated by seeing its country with less than half its population being able to read or write, the GB GROUP has joined forces with other reputable Haitian business men and women as well as with the Haitian Government itself to form Fondation Appui à l’Education (FAE).

The Fondation Appui à l’Education is a non-profit organization seeking to promote education in Haiti at all levels (primary to superior) including professional training. These noble actions will give birth to an open, fair and empathic Haitian society aiming for progress and sustainable development.

FAE’s inception was prompted by the need to support public effort to better the conditions of the most humble Haitian students. FAE will also award scholarships to exceptional students as well as build libraries, science rooms and further promote sport activities.

Initially, FAE has a tough task to tackle since after the earthquake schools themselves have been inaccessible for over a year. One of the Foundation’s first courses of action is to overturn some of the earthquake’s damages in order to provide Haitian students with a safe and clean work environment.

The GB GROUP, alongside its FAE founding partners, is hopeful that the FAE will give Haiti’s future men and women the vital tools needed to succeed and together bring Haiti up in rank and out of the shadows.

[1] USA. CIA. World Fact Book. CIA – Central Intelligence Agency. 5 July 2011. Web. 8 July 2011. <https://www.cia.gov>.

[2] “Haiti – Country Profile – 2011.” Index Mundi – Country Facts. 12 July 2011. Web. 13 July 2011. <http://www.indexmundi.com/haiti/>.

[3] Franz, Paul. “Haiti: Education Reform After the Earthquake.” Pulitzer Center. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 06 July 2011. <http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/improving-access-education-haiti>.