The Gawou Ginou Foundation, Inc. seeks support for the following projects:

The Gawou Ginou Elementary/Secondary School Program

Since the fall of 2000, the foundation has operated an elementary school whose goal is to introduce young people to a method of learning that encourages an appreciation of academic disciplines, including music and art, in the context of their homeland and culture as well as that of the modern world. Today the school enrolls 150 pupils from Kindergarten to 6th grade. View Photos

The Summer Day Camp for children and youth ages 5 to 12

The summer camp began in July/August 1996, and has since serviced about 40 to 50 children each year. With a local staff of ten, the camp allows the children to spend one vacation month in a progressive and productive milieu learning about science, history, language art, music, dance and physical education. Moreover, the children learn basic preventative health measures that address issues such a personal hygiene, toxicity, diet, and nutrition. Finally, they benefit from educational outings; work on creative writing; enjoy dramatic arts; practice public speaking in their native Creole and French; learn marketable artisanal skills; participate in sport activities, and disciplined game playing. View Photos

The Teachers Education Institute

The institute focuses on education, culture, and development and services 30 elementary and secondary school teachers. The teachers spend a three week period honing on their skills in literacy techniques and practice, social sciences, pedagogy, classroom management, and mastering of their individual subject matter. View Photos

The US/Haiti Cultural Exchange Program

Since the spring of 2000, students from Wellesley College, Brown University, St. Michael's College, Michigan University, and Columbia University have interned at C-CLAK where they have learned about the music, dance, and culture of Haiti under the guidance of leading local teachers and artists. Those students, in turn, have participated in community building activities such as making composts; teaching English to local youth; leading dramatic arts groups. The most recent of those exchanges is a survey about the health needs and knowledge of the people in the community. View Photos

The Haitian-American Cultural Education Seminars/Tours

The foundation plans to organize seminars/tours on community resources. The aim is to introduce Haitian-Americans to educational, cultural, and community resources in the Greater Boston area and in the Northeast, and other parts of the US, such as Florida. Because most Haitian immigrants seldom venture beyond their immediate neighborhoods and community affiliations, they and their children often miss more global educational and cultural opportunities. Haitian contributions to the US economy is evident. The remittance process to Haiti's economy is also well-known; therefore, it is inevitable that Haitians living abroad may have to play a fundamental role in advancing democracy—if they can acquire its notions while living here—in the world's first Black republic. Finally, while immigration is a one-way process, in the sense that most immigrant families may not return to resettle in their home country, Haitian-Americans could play a pivotal role in building democracy in Haiti. The aim should be to help construct a culturally and democratically literate community, informed by the American Creed, and useful to their family, community, and to their adopted land (The US) and country of origin (Haiti). In this regard, Haitian-Americans stand as a bridge to US/Haiti understanding which, in the long run, will be crucial to stability in the Caribbean region.

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