HAITI: Lessons From The Past Need To Be Learned
Leslie John Griffiths is a British Methodist Minister and Life Peer in the House of Lords. Here he sheds light on the history of a people determined from the birth of their country in 1804 to ensure education allows them to be liberated.
I’m delighted to make a small contribution to this journal and to honour the work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation. I became aware of the Foundation’s work through my own work in and for the Caribbean Republic of Haiti. This brought me together with Ann Beatty and, hey presto, we found mutual points of interest and experience that led, without too much delay, to the invitation to write this piece.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) argues for sustainable development and accessible education for all. The trouble with these goals is that they allow us to imagine that they’ve only recently been formulated. Yet my whole life has been focused on this particular goal for half a century and in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. And it had been a challenge for generations before that. Let me bring readers into the picture.
I’m a Methodist minister and my first appointment on leaving Cambridge was to Haiti. I found myself with responsibility for 48 rural communities spread across the southern peninsula of this, the first black republic in the world. Read William Wordsworth’s astonishing sonnet for Toussaint Louverture to get the spirit of the people of this country at the moment of its birth in 1804. The communities I served were almost inaccessible, the people were largely illiterate, and I had no knowledge of the language they spoke.
President Pétion, an early head of state in Haiti, had invited the Methodist people of the United Kingdom to send missionaries with an expertise in education to help in the building of this new and struggling nation. Two men who’d been formed by the British and Foreign Schools’ Society arrived in 1817 and opened a school on the monitorial principle. The President welcomed this development for, he wrote, “L’Education lève un homme ã la dignité de son être (Education raises a person to their full dignity as a human being).” That aphorism was painted over the entry of all the Methodist schools that were built in the following years. It matches Steve Sinnott’s description of education as “the great liberator.”
In the 1920s, a remarkable Irish missionary named Ormonde McConnell recognised that the education on offer in Haiti was taught in French while the population at large spoke their local Kreyòl. He brought in internationally renowned linguistic experts and, for the very first time, developed an orthography for the local tongue. Soon, schools were being developed in the rural areas as well as in the towns and cities and pupils were being taught in their native language.
In the years I lived in Haiti (1970 – 1980), I had some responsibility for a nation-wide network of schools. For a number of years, I was deputy head of our prestigious Lycée in the capital city. The church, under the direction of Swiss educators, had developed an Institute for the training of rural teachers; it was thoroughly ecumenical and prepared teachers for the most remote communities in the land. They were to teach in both French and Kreyòl. Books were prepared on agriculture, hygiene, community development and such subjects. And in both languages. It was cutting edge pedagogy; the Institute is now almost 60 years old.
All of these developments were intended to offer an education to a population desperately in need of it. It was painful to hear a few months ago that, because of yet more political unrest, it had been impossible to re-open schools after the summer break in October 2019. Sadly, not long after being reopened, schools in Haiti, like many around the world, are once again closed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
It has been so encouraging to learn that the Steve Sinnott Foundation has been working in Haiti for the last decade. It’s my hope that we can find a way to bring its work into the same orbit as the work I’ve described above.
Education does indeed raise people to the very height of their human potential. This was the case from the beginning of Haiti’s independent history. It remains true now. And it must surely be key to any future well-being towards which the people of Haiti and their friends around the world aspire.
Article from Engage Issue 20.
BY LORD GRIFFITHS OF BURRY PORT • May 21, 2021
On 23rd January at the Cima Community School of Hope (ECEC), the first workshop was held with the first group of students as part of the STEM program. This activity marks a promising start to the program's implementation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is crucial for children because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity from a young age. It nurtures natural curiosity, helps children understand the modern world, and builds resilience through hands-on experimentation. Additionally, early STEM exposure prepares them for future academic and career success. A total of 20 students participated in this first session. The session focused on a general presentation of the importance of computer programming in today's world. The students were also introduced to the Scratch software interface, an educational tool well-suited for teaching children programming. This initial experience went smoothly and generated considerable interest and strong motivation among the students.
At the Steve Sinnott Foundation, we know that planning for the future is one of the most important things you can do for the people and causes you care about. That’s why we’re delighted to offer our staff and volunteers the opportunity to write or update their will this Spring. Whether you’ve been meaning to get started for years, or you simply need to make a few updates, this is the perfect time to take that important step. Join Our Free Will Writing Webinar To help you get started, we’ve partnered with expert estate planners Octopus Legacy , who will be hosting a free webinar(s) covering everything you need to know about writing or updating your will. Staff & Volunteers 12pm, Thursday 5th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters 12pm, Tuesday 10th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration During the session, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to have an up-to-date will What to consider when writing or updating your will The different types of will-writing services available How Lasting Powers of Attorney work and why they matter How to claim your free will this Spring This webinar is designed to make what can feel like a complex process simple, clear and manageable. Why Having a Will Matters Having an up-to-date will ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed and that may not reflect what you would have wanted. A will gives you peace of mind. It allows you to: Provide clarity and security for your family Appoint guardians for children if needed Make specific gifts to individuals or causes Ensure your estate is handled efficiently Updating your will is just as important as writing one. Life changes marriages, children, property purchases, or changes in circumstances can all affect your wishes. Claim Your Free Will This Spring As part of this initiative, eligible staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to claim a free will-writing service. Full details will be shared during the webinar, including how to access this benefit. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Writing or updating your will is one of the most responsible and caring decisions you can make for yourself and for those you care about. Register Now Spaces are available now, simply register using the link below: Staff & Volunteers - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration We hope you’ll join us on Thursday 5th March and take this positive step towards securing your future.
In my time as an assistant at The Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF), one of my research tasks was looking into how the Foundation contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I really believe in the work of the Foundation and I have also been raising funds as I believe that every child must have the right to education. SSF is a UK-based educational charity focused on promoting quality education worldwide. It plays a supportive role in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4: (Quality Education), but its work contributes to several others as well. Here's how the Foundation supports the SDGs: Goal 4 – Quality education (core focus) The Foundation's main mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It supports teachers and educational initiatives in developing countries. It runs programmes like: The Education for All Campaign – advocating for universal access to education. Teacher empowerment projects – providing training and resources to educators in under-resourced countries. Girls' education programmes – encouraging and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education. Goal 3 – Good health and well-being Through education, particularly health-related programmes, the Foundation contributes to raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. The Foundation has developed a range of webinars to promote health and wellbeing and these can be found on YouTube. Goal 5 – Gender equality The Foundation promotes girls' education, directly addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing and completing school. It advocates for the rights of women and girls, especially in patriarchal or disadvantaged societies. Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth By improving access to education and vocational training, the Foundation helps create employment opportunities. Educated individuals have better chances of securing decent work. Goal 10 – Reduced inequalities It supports marginalised groups, including children in rural or conflict-affected areas, contributing to reducing global inequalities in education. Goal 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Promotes education as a force for peace and conflict resolution. Supports democratic participation and awareness through educational programmes that foster community engagement. Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals Collaborates with NGOs, unions, schools, and governments to deliver and advocate for education projects. Builds international partnerships to achieve the SDGs through education. Summary While The Steve Sinnott Foundation's primary focus is on Goal 4, it contributes to many of the SDGs by empowering communities through education, particularly: Gender equality (Goal 5), Health (Goal 3), Economic growth (Goal 8), Reducing inequality (Goal 10), Peace (Goal 16), and Partnerships (Goal 17). The Foundation’s programmes also contribute to the achievement of other SDGs through the power of the provision of education and life-long learning; 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 13. Climate Action. We believe that all of the 17 SDGs are only achievable by ensuring that all children, wherever they are born, deserve the human right of quality education. Over 250 million children are still out of school and the global out-of-school population has reduced by only 1% in nearly ten years, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024. There is still much work to do in achieving equitable and quality Education for All.
