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Séisme à Haïti - 14 août 2021

Should the gouvernment open schools in southern Haiti
after the August 14, 2021 earthquake?

Emmanuel W. Védrine

Photo courtesy Jean Elie Valcin, L'Asile City.

August 31, 2021 : 31 dawou 2021

Ribrik: “Edike Ayisyen Ayiti, e Ayisyen nan Dyaspora : Educating Haitians in Haiti, and Haitians in Diaspora” (2017 – 2021) --Voicemail trascription of : Trankripsyon vokal E. W. Védrine.

September 3, 2021 : 3 Septanm 2021

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Some other recent texts we published on the Auguest 14, 2021 earthquake • Tranblemanntè 14 dawou 2021 kraze komin L’Azile (Lazil) ak sid Ayiti (enkli resous an liy pou ede Lazil) – English version: Haiti’s August 14, 2021 earthquake destroying the commune of L’Asile (Lazil) and South Haiti (including online resources to help L’Asile, and other communes) • Testimony of L’Asile former mayor and representative, Lemane Premier on the August 14, 2021 earthquake destroying this commune, and other places of Nippes and south Haiti (Temwayaj ansyen majistra e depite Lemane Premier sou tranblemanntè ki frape Lazil fò, lòt kote nan [depatman] Ni, ak Sid Ayiti) • Siklòn, Tanpèt, Move tan, Tranblemanntè: ranje kabann ou avan dòmi nan je w (Hurricanes, Storms, Bad weather, Earthquake: make hay when the sun shines) • Temporary shelter in Haiti : Abri pwovizwa Ayiti

Kèk lòt tèks nou pibliye resamman sou tranblemanntè 14 dawou 2021 • Tranblemanntè 14 dawou 2021 kraze komin L’Azile (Lazil) ak sid Ayiti (enkli resous an liy pou ede Lazil, e lòt komin) – Vèsyon anglè: Haiti’s August 14, 2021 earthquake destroying the commune of L’Asile (Lazil) and South Haiti (including online resources to help L’Asile, and other communes) • Testimony of L’Asile former mayor and representative, Lemane Premier on the August 14, 2021 earthquake destroying this commune, and other places of Nippes and south Haiti (Temwayaj ansyen majistra e depite Lemane Premier sou tranblemanntè ki frape Lazil fò, lòt kote nan [depatman] Ni, ak Sid Ayiti) • Siklòn, Tanpèt, Move tan, Tranblemanntè: ranje kabann ou avan dòmi nan je w (Hurricanes, Storms, Bad weather, Earthquake: make hay when the sun shines) • Temporary shelter in Haiti : Abri pwovizwa Ayiti

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Should the government open schools in southern Haiti after the August 14, 2021 earthquake? : Èske gouvènman an dwe ouvri lekòl nan sid Ayiti apre tranblemanntè 14 dawou 2021 an?

Many people are complaining about the devastation of the August 14 earthquake (for example, school demolition, several houses and buildings have been destroyed, and many communes lost almost everything). Gen anpil moun k ap plenyen de ravay tranblemanntè 14 dawou a fè (pa egzanp, lekòl kraze, plizyè kay e bilding ki kraze, e anpil komin pèdi prèske tout bagay).
It would be more of a moment of reflection for the government, and all other school workers (teachers, principals and school staff), all citizens for example to think at this time (how important it is to learn to prepare for tomorrow for any circumstance, to learn to help ourselves, to learn to produce enough food, and everything else we need during bad weather so that we do not wait for foreign countries all the time to come and help us for everything. Se ta plis yon moman refleksyon pou leta, e tout lòt moun ki travay lekòl (pwofesè, direktè, e pèsonèl lekòl), tout sitwayen pa egzanp ta panse nan moman sa a (kòman l enpòtan pou n aprann prepare pou demen pou nenpòt sikonstans, aprann ede tèt nou, aprann pwodui manje, e tout lòt bagay nou bezwen pandan move tan dekwa pou n pa ret tann peyi etranje tout tan pou vin ede n nan tout bagay.
We don’t believe it would be the best time for schools to be opened; not only students’ homes and schools have been destroyed but also with economic, psychological, traumatic situations that they immediately come to deal with, and whatever problems you might add. Nou pa kwè se ta meyè moman pou lekòl ta ouvri, non sèlman kay elèv yo kraze, lekòl yo kraze men tou ak sitiyasyon ekonomik, sikolojik, twomatizasyon ke imedyatman yo vin fè fas ak, e kèlkeswa pwoblèm ou te kapab ajoute.
So, in our reflection, we say it is important for the government to think well. It’s not just rushing to open schools where many buildings are cracked (for some of which are still standing), and when we look at the mountains of problems come after the earthquake, the Haitian saying comes to our mind, “There are more mountains behind a mountain.” Donk, nan refleksyon nou, nou di li enpòtan pou leta ta byen panse. Se pa jis kouri ouvri lekòl kote anpil bilding fisire (pou kèk ladan yo ki kanpe toujou), e lè nou gade montay pwoblèm sa yo ki vini apre tranblemanntè a, pwovèb ayisyen sa a vin nan tèt nou: «Dèyè mòn gen mòn.»
What else is important to talk about? - We can talk about online materials. We think it's about time for Haiti to look at some countries before the pandemic, how they put everything online where not only schools do not meet physically every day but they meet via zoom. We can take example of countries like the United States, Canada, and many others… where all students can attend school virtually while at home school (in front of their computers). Ki lòt bagay ankò ki enpòtan pou n ta pale? -- Nou ka pale de materyèl an liy. Nou panse li lè li tan pou Ayiti ta gade kèk peyi depi avan pandemi an, kòman yo menm yo mete tout bagay an liy (ou sou entènèt la) kote non sèlman lekòl pa reyini fizikman chak jou, men yo rankontre atravè zoum. Nou kapab pran egzanp peyi tankou Etazini, Kanada e plizyè lòt… kote tout elèv kapab asiste lekòl lakay yo vityèlman (devan konpwoutè yo).
We know it would be a luxury for this to happen in Haiti for each student to have a computer, a laptop or tablet at home taking a class long distance and do their homework. It would be really a luxury but at least many young people have access to a cell phone today where if the national curriculum were published online with all the teaching materials being used schools that they need, copies of all books (in pdf format), so during school closing, students could still work at home. Nou konnen se ta yon liks pou sa fèt Ayiti pou chak elèv ta gen yon konpwoutè, yon laptop oswa yon tablèt lakay yo ap suiv yon klas, epi fè devwa yo. Se ta reyèlman yon liks men omwen anpil jèn gen aksè a yon telefòn selilè jodiya, kote si korikilòm nasyonal la te pibliye an liy (sou entènèt la) ak tout materyèl pedagojik / didaktik k ap sèvi lekòl ke yo bezwen, kopi tout liv (an fòma pdf) ebyen pandan lekòl fèmen, elèv yo ta kapab toujou travay lakay.
Will this ever be in the government’s plan to go back and forth to power who don’t give any importance to education, not only to end an archaic system but also to modernize it, apply technology, and a practical education as well so that students can help themselves tomorrow and the society in which they are living? -- Here, we think of the importance for teachers to organize themselves in every sense (for example, teachers’ organizations – they would have to organize themselves via forums). Èske sa ap janm nan plan gouvènman k ap monte desann sou pouvwa, ki pa bay edikasyon oken enpòtans, non sèlman pou ta fini ak yon sistèm akayik men tou pou modènize l, aplikasyon teknoloji, e yon edikasyon pratik tou pou elèv la ka ede tèt yo demen e sosyete y ap viv la? -- La a, nou panse a enpòtans pou pwofesè ta òganize yo nan tout sans (pa egzanp, òganizasyon pwofesè yo – fò yo ta òganize yo atravè fowòm).
They could have created forums through WhatsApp in each commune where they are located, by connecting with other teachers throughout the republic for example to discuss the subjects they are teaching, assignments’ models, online resources available to them, problems they are facing and solutions that can be found), and so too could they continue to work online even if school continues to function online if it can’t function physically during the earthquake, or during some natural disasters. Yo te kapab kreye fowòm whatsApp nan chak komin kote yo ye, konekte avè lòt pwofesè ki nan tout repiblik la pa egzanp pou diskite matyè y ap anseye, (modèl) devwa, resous ki disponib an liy pou yo, pwoblèm y ap konfwonte e solisyon yo kapab jwenn), e konsa tou yo te kapab kontinye travay, menm si lekòl kontinye fonksyone an liy menm si l pa ka fonksyone fizikman pandan tranblemanntè a, oubyen pandan kèk katastwòf natirèl.
But has Haiti, for example, come out to put things online since before the 2021 earthquake when it has not learned any lessons from the January 12, 2010 earthquake? Many countries do this (preparing the electronic version of all that they need). Everything is already online, all references, books, homework, chatting with teachers, everything... Men, èske Ayiti pa egzanp sòti pou l mete bagay yo an liy depi avan trablemanntè 2021 an lè l pa aprann oken leson de tranblemanntè 12 janvye 2010 la? Anpil peyi fè sa (prepare vèsyon elektwonik tout sa yo bezwen). Tout bagay deja an liy, tout referans, liv, devwa, tyat ak pwofesè, tout bagay...
So, it's time to wake up in Haiti to use this fantastic tool called internet, where we can work from a distance (one can see the other, and communicate at the same time). -- Taking zooming, for example, school can be met via zoom the same it’s being done in many places today. Students can be anywhere; they meet on zoom to assist in class a course they are taking. They see each other. They can talk, and discuss everything while they are in the online audiovisual class. Donk, li lè li tan pou nou reveye nou Ayiti pou itilize kokenn zouti  sa a ki rele entènèt, kote nou kapab travay de distans (youn ka wè lòt, e kominike alafwa). -- Nou pran zoom pa egzanp, lekòl la kapab fèt sou zoom menm jan sa fèt nan plizyè andwa jodiya. Elèv kapab nenpòt kote; yo rankontre sou zoom ap asiste nan klas y ap pran. Len wè lòt. Yo kapab pale, e diskite tout bagay pandan yo nan klas odyovizyèl ki an liy.
What can we, who are in Haiti, do when looking at what is happening in other countries during this pandemic? What do we decide to do with access that you have to technology we have for example where we cannot meet physically (at work, at school, or at many institutions) but there is a way somehow people can meet on zoom where they can see each other, and can discuss everything? Kisa nou kapab fè nou menm ki Ayiti lè nou gade sa k ap fèt nan lòt peyi pandan pandemi an? Kisa n deside fè ak aksè teknoloji nou genyen, pa egzanp, kote n pa ka reyini fizikman (ni nan travay, ni nan lekòl, ni nan yon seri enstitisyon) men gen yon fason kanmèm moun reyini sou zoum kote len ka wè lòt, e ka diskite tout bagay?
Another important thing for Haiti is that we often use this Haitian idiom: "The diaspora is one of the two wings that enable to fly." In other words, it is important for Haiti to connect with the diaspora in all areas (such as technology, not only moneywise or sending money transfers to Haiti for everything, but also how to get in touch with young Haitians who are experts in different areas in the diaspora) where Haitians in Haiti are thirsty for training sessions that can be done voluntarily through videos to help Haiti (long distance) in all areas. Lòt bagay ki enpòtan ankò pou Ayiti, anpil fwa n itilize espresyon sa a: «Dyaspora a se youn nan de zèl zwazo a pou fè l vole». Sètadi, li enpòtan pou Ayiti konekte l avè dyaspora a nan tout domèn (tèlke teknoloji pa egzanp, pa sèlman nan domèn lajan oubyen voye transfè lajan pou tout bagay, men tou kòman nou kapab an kontak avèk jèn ayisyen ki espè nan diferan domèn nan dyaspora (nan domèn teknoloji, e nan plizyè lòt kote Ayisyen ki Ayiti swaf seyans fòmasyon ki ka fèt volontèman atravè videyo pou ede Ayiti nan tout domèn). Yon fwa dyaspora a konekte ak Ayiti, gen yon dal bagay ki kapab fèt nan tout nivo e domèn (a distans).
If you are a writer, an author of some books you have already published or intend to publish, you may want to consider putting a free chapter  online or its summary for students, teachers, and schools to access. -- It can help students who are doing their homework on a subject somehow (whether at the university, high school or elementary level) and those with access to cell phones will be able to read virtually what you make available on the Internet. Si ou se yon ekriven, otè ki gen kèk liv ou pibliye deja oubyen gen entansyon pibliye, ou ka panse mete yon chapit li gratis an liy oubyen rezime l pou elèv, pwofesè, lekòl gen aksè avè l. -- Li ka ede elèv k ap fè devwa  sou yon sijè kèlkonk (keseswa o nivo yo inivèsitè, segondè ou elemantè), e sa yo ki gen aksè a telefòn selilè ap kapab li nòmalman sa ou mete disponib sou entènèt la.
What else can we say? – We don't want to talk much but we know this little information is very important. From time to time we prepare these educative voicemails on different topics. We believe this is important in to strengthen the people, and what information we can share with Haitians in Haiti and in the diaspora in terms of resources available online, where they do not need to pay anything to access them. Ki bagay ankò nou kapab di? – Nou pa vle pale anpil, men nou konnen enfòmasyon sa yo trè enpòtan. Tanzantan nou fè vokal edikatif sa yo sou diferan sijè. Nou kwè sa enpòtan an tèm sewòm ou jèvrin pèp la bezwen, e ki enfòmasyon nou kapab pataje avèk pèp ayisyen ki Ayiti e nan dyaspora (an tèm resous ki genyen) ki disponib an liy, kote yo pa bezwen senk kòb pou gen aksè avè yo.

ANNEXED TEXTS : TÈKS ANEKSE

RESEARCH NOTE : NÒT POU RECHÈCH

• Strategies to develop Haiti’s Communes to decentralize the country  : Estrateji pou devlope Komin Ayiti pou desantralize peyi a • August 2021 earthquake that hit South Haiti : Tranblemanntè dawou (out) 2021 ki frape Sid Ayiti • Developing Haiti’s communes : Devlopman komin Ayiti • Document models that can be published online to help Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora in all areas : Modèl dokiman nou ka pibliye an liy (sou entènèt) pou ede Ayiti e Dyaspora Ayisyen nan tout domèn • Haiti’s communes and civic works needed to be done by locals : Komin Ayiti, e travay sivik moun ki sot nan komin yo dwe fèt • Haiti’s earthquake – August 14, 2021 : Séisme à Haïti – 14 out 2021  • Haitian literature in Kreyòl; Literati Ayisyen an kreyòl • Haitian literature of the Diaspora  : Literati Ayisyen Dyaspora  • Haitian oral literature  : Oraliture; Literati Ayisyen oral /oraliti • Haitian writers workshops : Atelye pou ekriven ayisyen • Online Haitian Teachers Workshops : Atelye an liy pou Anseyan Ayisyen • Online Teaching Materials to help Haitian Students and Teachers : Materyèl Pedagojik /Didaktik an liy pou ede Anseyan Ayisyen e Elèv • Online Teaching Materials to help Schools in Haiti : Materyèl Pedagojik /Didaktik an liy pou ede Lekòl Ayiti • Teaching Materials for Learners of Haitian Creole : Materyèl Didaktik /Pedagojik pou moun k ap aprann kreyòl • Translation (English and, Haitian Creole /Kreyòl) : Tradiksyon (anglè, e kreyòl ayisyen) • Haiti’s earthquake -- January 12, 2010 : Séisme à Haïti – 12 janvier 2010 • Strategy to learn to prepare for tomorrow in all ways : Estrateji pou aprann prepare pou demen sou tout fòm • Teaching Materials for Haitian Literacy Programs in Haitian Creole : Materyèl Didaktik /Pedagojik pou Pwogram Alfabetizasyon an Kreyòl.

E. W. Védrine Creole Project, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts. USA.

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