Just some more thoughts as I was getting some feedback on my first children picture book “ Clever Bouki" from some  forum members.  I’ve referred to that book before and sent the Amazon and Barnes & Noble links and how to get it.  If readers want to get Clever Bouki, write me off line.
 
My point is  I’d like to know who is replacing early childhood pioneers like Jacqueline Turian Cardozo, Marie  Therese  Colimon  or children’s educators (pedagogue)  like Madame Odette Roy Fombrun.  As I was thinking of early childhood work,  the author of “Ti Malice aux Pays des lettres” that many Haitian Corbetteers might have used came to mind.  I did not know that Jacqueline Turian Cardozo  had passed. Thanks for a post that  her cousin Josiane Hudicourt posted when she died in 2004. I was able to find about Ms. Turian Cardozo while reflecting on Haitian women pedagogues (is that an English word, derivation of pedagogy). Marie Therese Colimon also passed. Only Madame Odette Roy Fombrun is alive among the first generation of writers for children.  Who is/are the new generations of children's writers?
 
I know of  Jocelyne Trouillot Levy who left her comfortable life in the United States to educate and write books in Haiti. Fequiere Vilsaint and  Maud Hertelou are doing a superb job at Educa Vision and producing for children also. Margaret Papillon has several young adult books in French.
 
There are a number of kindergarten and pre schools and schools in Haiti, but nothing that followed the path of  Marie  Therese  Colimon and  Jacqueline Turian Cardozo  or  prolific  children’s authors like Madame Odette Roy Fombrun. There are a number of Haitian women educators in good jobs and positions in the United States as well. However I ‘d like to know who is/are in the caliber of these gifted women in terms of producing for future generations.
 
They may have been middle class women, but writing in Haiti with no electricity, no grants, no funding, scarcity of ink, or paper transcends class. It’s more courage, determination and skills. I think a celebration should be held for the few pioneer authors who are left like, Ghislaine Charlier, Odette Roy Fombrun. Paulette Poujol Oriole. Though Suzy Castor could be a decade or two younger, but I think she deserves some recognition for going back to Haiti to prepare other generations, teach, co-founded CRESFED, a research center. I make reference to Emerantes de Pradines when writing about Haitian women in music.
 
In any event, I think all these pioneer women in their 80’s and 90’s should get the message that someone loves their work and appreciates the constraints under which they have produced so much. We don’t want to write nice eulogies. Let’s tell these wonderful women “ We love them” while they are alive.
 
Just one more thought relating to passing on our heritage. We need to pass on Bouki and Malice, Jan sot, Jan lespri, and fanals as well as the work of literary work of prominent Haitians and provide an environment where this younger generation can meet these pioneers while they are alive.

 Viré monté