Haiti Christian Development Fund
Secondary School Concept

Contact:

Jean L Thomas

Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti

011-509-3-429-7675 / 954-727-3681

Architectual Concept of the School

Life in Port au Prince since the January 12, 2010 earthquake has been a nightmare and it is not expected to improve any time soon. One of the greatest continuing victims are the students. The academic system in Port au Prince was one of he hardest hit. Schools in the city have been ordered to open, and while some have, others just can't. The students are forced into congested classrooms and return to unimaginable living conditions in the tent cities. This not conducive to academic pursuit.

Most of the chatter about Haiti's future is correct. The common denominator is DECENTRALIZATION –moving away from Port au Prince as the center of everything. But no one, not the government, not the private sector, not the ONG's are doing anything to implement this concept of decentralization.

We at the Haiti Christian Development Fund have been invested in rural community development for nearly thirty years. We've radicalized rural primary education to the point that affluent residents of the Fond-des-Blancs community have stopped sending their young children to Port au Prince but are enrolling them in L'Exode Christian School. We have had similar successes in water purification, livestock production, road improvement, credit union, etc...

In the light of the current crisis, we are coming to the plate to create an alternative choice to urban migration; even a reversal by creating the type of environment here in Fond-des-Blancs that will attract new residents from all walks of life.

We foresee:

1. An economic development zone that will be both profitable and attractive; fueled by new capital invested into the credit union.

2. A residential component that can meet the need of new and growing rural middle class.

3. A public works grid that will deliver the needed services to the growing community.

4. An educational system that exceeds anything currently available in Haiti.

This brief concept paper will focus on the educational system.

1. L'Exode Christian Schools already operate a very successful preschool and elementary school.

2. This new venture will be a secondary school.

   1. 1. 1. It will be a boarding school
            While the need of the community could justify the need for a secondary school operated with L'Exode commitment to excellence (the parents have been asking for such a school from the first day of L'Exode's existence), the plight of the students residing in the the tent cities of Port au Prince cannot be ignored. Hence, the reason for the boarding school. Haiti's future leaders need this peaceful environment for their academic preparation.

      1. It will be a connected school
         The typical Haitian school is still furnished and operated by 19^th century models. No serious investments have been made to connect the students to modern technologies. The entire campus is to be connected to the world; from the library, to the classrooms, to the dorm rooms, to the school grounds. Whether through personal or school supplied computers, every student should have access to the resources available on the Internet at all times.

      1. It will be an intellectual hub
         The school intends to attract some of the best minds available in the country as teachers and lecturers. Through the promotion of excellence in every area of life, academics, sports, social and religious, L'Exode is to be a beacon of hope for all of Haiti.

3. The prerequisite for opening the school

   1. The Campus

   2. Construction of Administrative & Classroom buildings

      1. Construction of Dormitories

   3. The Staff

      1. Tempting package for rural relocation
         As was our experience with L'Exode preschool and elementary school, we have to offer an attractive financial package to the prospective teachers to offset the draw to stay in the city.

      2. Contracting with other academicians whose responsibilities make it impossible for them to relocate to share their insights through guest lecturing.

   4. The Students

      1. Urban relocation
         When I (Jean L Thomas) needed to go to secondary school, my parents who resided in the rural community had to send me to boarding school in Port au Prince. Boarding schools are rare in Haiti now. I believe it is time to bring them back with a focus on the attractiveness of the rural environment for academic pursuit. Fond-des-Blancs already has the reputation as one of the most peaceful communities in Haiti. The restlessness of the city will not be a deterrent to learning. Parents, conscious of the need for the future of their children, will want to send them to a school such as L'Exode; not only for the academic excellence but also for the peace of mind. Scholarship funds will be set aside to assist those who have been directly affected by the January 21, 2010 earthquake.

      2. Local Community Admission
         Every student admitted from within the community is a student who does not need to head to Port au Prince for a quality education. A majority of the local students will not need to reside in the dorms. They will commute and will enjoy all the resources of the school whenever they are on campus. Some academic and need based scholarship will be made available to the local students as well.

4. Projected Needs (these figures are pure estimation)

   1. Construction of the campus                                    $225,000.00

   2. Furnishing the dorms                                              $ 50,000.00

   3. Classroom furnishing                                              $ 50,000.00

   4. Technology acquisition                                           $ 75,000.00

   5. Scholarship Funds                                                 $150,000.00

Total                                                                     $550,000.00