Did You Know That the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti

The Need is Great!

The people of Haiti need our help! Even before the earthquake, Haiti was the poorest country in the western hemisphere with an average income of $660/ year. And the education situation in Haitian is dismal! Only 62% of adults are literate and 20% of young people attend high school (the number is slightly higher at 50% for children attending school). 

What is the “High Schools for Haiti” Initiative?

In 2010, Dr. Karyn announced an exciting new project.  Uniting her passion for both youth and education, she wanted to create partnerships to build schools in Haiti (even before the earthquake). She decided to partner with World Vision because they are the largest NGO in Haiti, Maple Leaf Foods (one of her long-time sponsors) and Canadian schools (elementary to high schools). Her dream was to engage Canadian young people – (whom she’s worked closely with for 15 years) to help fundraise for these Haitian schools and from this the initiative “High Schools for Haiti” (HSH) was born.

In its first year, and within only a few weeks, nearly $50,000 was raised to help finish off a school project called the “National School of Rang” in the rural town of in Cerca Carajal. The amount raised was a combination between all partners including 4 local schools (1 elementary school called Allan Greenleaf in Waterdown Ontario raised nearly $5000 in only a few weeks!). With this first school finished - HSH is fundraising for another educational centre (called the ‘Center of Hope’) in Hinche, outside of Port Au Prince.

In Dec. 2011 – Dr. Karyn and a team from World Vision will be going to visit the school that was built, visit the area where the next school will be built  and most importantly talk with the Haitian young people and families to hear their stories. Clips of this trip will be posted here in January 2012!

The 3 Phases of “High Schools for Haiti”

1. Raising Funds
2. Building this School
3. Developing A 1- Week Leadership Program for Canadian Students to Visit the Haitian School

To help raise funds for this, we have 3 ways:

(A)  “High Schools for Haiti” Canadian School Challenge
Between Sept.15th – Dec.9th 2011, we want to partner with 100 Canadian schools (elementary to high schools) to commit to raising at least $1000. To learn more about this click here.

(B) dk’s Sponsored Speaking Tour Raising Funds for HSH
In October & November 2011, Dr. Karyn will be speaking at 10 schools in the Toronto area at a discounted rate which will go towards HSH. To learn more about this click here.

 (C) Personal Donations
If people want to personally donate towards HSH, click here to the World Vision website. If you contact World Vision, be sure to tell them it is for the “High Schools for Haiti” initiative.

Phase #2:       Building the School
To build this large educational center and to raise the money for it will take the next 5 years. Our goal is to raise $100,000 this year (with 100 schools raising at least $1000).

Phase #3:       Developing A Leadership Week in
                          Haiti for Canadian Youth!
Once the school has been built, we will be launching a leadership training program in Haiti for Canadian youth to visit the school as well as develop specific leadership skills. All revenues generated from this program will feed back into this Haitian school and / or start the building of the next school. We think it’s extremely important to provide an opportunity for Canadian youth to see firsthand what their fundraising has done – but also give them a chance to meet and learn from Haitian youth. Once we get closer to this phase we will share more specific information.

Click here to download the “High Schools for Haiti” poster