Innovative Technology Must no Longer be a Luxury for Rural Schools

In the 1st rural section of Basse Plaine, commune of Limonade where the Cima Community School of Hope is located, there is no access to electricity. A minority of the people who can afford a mobile phone, much less a smartphone, find it difficult to keep it charged. This is a problem in today’s technology-driven world.


To combat this problem, Cima Community School of Hope (CCSH) joined forces with the Steve Sinnott Foundation to launch The CCSH Resource Learning Center to facilitate education focused on multimedia and information technology. The Center is available to our staff and students from 1st Grade to High School. Today, our CCSH-RLC is equipped for audio-visual language learning. Students can learn English, Spanish, and many other languages in a participatory way, while we encourage the self-study method.


With 25 computer workstations and 19 tablets, powered by a 6-kw solar system, the space is conducive to learning. We promote inclusive education, we have knowledgeable IT and language teachers, and we are user friendly. The Resource Learning Center serves:

  • The staff and students of Cima Community School of Hope.
  • The 21 children of Caring for Haitians Orphans with AIDS (CHOAIDS).
  • More than 50 community youth enjoy interactive weekend courses.


Students are eager to connect to the global village and acquire innovative technological knowledge. A computer Lab is no longer a luxury for our rural school. They use basic software like Microsoft Office, they can navigate the internet and operating systems easily. They learn through audiovisuals and in a very interactive environment. It helps develop their ability to learn by listening, reading, and writing in their language, often through playing fun and engaging games.


In addition to learning a foreign language and navigating a computer, the CCSH-RLC helps to better prepare the students for a successful professional career. It may even serve as their main profession in the future; students can freelance anywhere. They understand this and show interest and motivation to learn at every opportunity. The use of information and communication technologies in education plays a crucial role in providing new and innovative platforms of support for teachers, students, and the learning process more broadly. We encourage students to read through our book club and use social media to their advantage. Students were able to participate in the Virtual Global Classroom Event on June 16th for the Day of the African Child and connected in solidarity with children in the USA, Brazil, DRC, and other African Diaspora countries.


We have initiated a film based project called “Cine Changement”. Every Wednesday students watch a short film or documentary that fosters open debate. They ask questions about current events, issues that jeopardize their future, and propose solutions and alternatives for a fragile country like Haiti. We also took advantage of our CCSH-RLC to integrate our adult literacy parents and community members so that no one is left behind. All 3 Alfa classes (about 93 students) were invited to watch the Maestra documentary about the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign. The literacy students admired the sacrifices made by young students to eradicate Cuban illiteracy within one year. They have a chance to reflect on and evaluate their civic engagement as Haitian citizens. Regardless of their social rankings and age, they can make a difference, be an agent of hope, and their voices count.


Sonje Ayiti recently acquired Starlink for reliable internet capability to boost innovative virtual learning opportunities for staff, students, parents, and the community. The CCSH-RLC now has reliable internet access to promote more cultural and educational exchange activities with other schools in the diaspora, which would be even better for a global connection to the outside world and help teachers to have more content for their lessons.




Biography


Gabrielle is a native of Cap-Haitian, Haiti. Obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University and a background in Business Administration. In Haiti, she was National Director for the Foundation of Compassionate American Samaritans (FOCAS) then as Transition Manager of Food for the Hungry (FFH). She has devoted herself to SONJE AYITI full-time as the President and Executive Director, the organization that she founded in Georgia in 2004 to help Haitians to help each other in order to create their Haitian dream with pride and dignity. As a Social Entrepreneur, she co-founded and serves as Executive Secretary of SAPEN SA since 2009.


This article first appeared in Engage 27.

BY GABIE AURIEL • March 25, 2024

An Education Revolution

By Ann Beatty • April 6, 2025
This week while out and about in Hertfordshire and we visited the British Schools Museum. We discovered the first school opened by Joseph Lancaster, was known as the ‘Poor Childs Friend”, was in 1810. It was his lifelong mission that all children regardless of their circumstances, should benefit from an education. Apparently, Joseph heard a small girl say, “Oh that I could read!” and this inspired him to create a simple education system that eventually would benefit children across the world. Joseph was the tenth son of a poor man himself from South London. His aim was to offer free education for everyone. However, it would be 93 years before the U.K. government finally made education free for all. There are still many countries today where education is still not free to access and it is certainly not compulsory for primary and secondary age pupils. Joseph’s mission really resonates with that of the Foundation, to support access to education for all. We enjoyed our visit and appreciated the tour given by two of the Museum’s volunteers, Angela and Clare. They described some of the challenges faced in the early years of formal education and shared some of the rules that teachers and students had to abide by with us. 

Sparks Bristol

By Ann Beatty • April 4, 2025
Sparks Bristol is a collaborative community project initially envisioned by The Global Goals Centre, (GGC) more of which below. A few years ago, GGC took over an empty Marks and Spencer store and that’s how Sparks was born. Sparks is a department store with a difference, co-created by Global Goals Centre and Artspace Lifespace. On the ground floor is a huge range of shops, installations, events and more. Upstairs is a hub for local artists, it offers affordable studios as well as rehearsal and performance space. The Global Goals Centre is a Bristol-based educational charity inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs). GGC believe the SDG’s or Global Goals as they are sometimes known, can be reached, with imaginative solutions and widespread education and engagement. They work with partners to promote creative solutions and deliver ground breaking projects that work towards these ambitious goals. The Steve Sinnott Foundation supported the Global Goals Centre with seed funding when it first started over 5 years ago. This month we went to visit them to see how they are getting on and we were taken aback by the volume of work they have achieved since they started. It is amazing to see how though working together with other local community groups it has grown into the vibrant centre it is today. All of the creative projects they host are linked to the SDGs. They cover topics that tackle poverty, education, climate change, fashion recycling and upcycling, to name a few.

Spring is Here! Looking Ahead!

By Ann Beatty • March 28, 2025
Spring is definitely here, daffodils, blossom and crocuses are all basking in the bright sunshine. There is still a chill in the air in the shade but it's happening and all the seeds that were sown over the last few months are coming to fruition. At the Foundation, we have been planning the year ahead and our Positive Periods and Prevention of Gender Based Violence programmes got underway this weekend in Haiti and Ghana. These projects will have a long-lasting effect on the lives of the women and girls who take part: tackling the root causes of gender-based violence and enabling girls to attend school every day when they have their period, to feel safe at school and know how to take action when they are faced with violence. These are the first of many projects planned for the year ahead as we continue to work towards Education for All children everywhere.