THE HAITIAN HERITAGE AWARENESS NETWORK (H2AN)
FIRST ALL-DAY CHARRETTE
In keeping with the celebration of
Port-au-Prince's 250th Anniversary, H2AN sponsored by the Sun Collective of
Medgar Evers College, organized its first all-day charrette on November 19,
1999. Fifty Haitian students from Middle School 189 and Clara Barton High
School, along with several teachers and volunteer professionals helped in
making the event a success. From 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM, children and
professionals worked together with zeal and enthusiasm. The day started with an
ethnic breakfast, then we sang the Haitian anthem led by one of the students of
Clara Barton High School. Next H2AN members gave a brief presentation on the current
issues the capital is facing. After the introduction, the children were divided
into nine groups with a professional in the lead. Four phases made up the day:
The first phase was brainstorming. The
students, under the guidance of the professionals, came up with many ideas for
what was needed in Port-au-Prince and how those issues could be remedied in the
year 2049. Among the ideas were: improving and adding hospitals, solar power
plants and schools.
The
second phase was designing. After jotting down ideas, groups found developing a
design which would clearly convey their concepts very difficult. In the end
after many discussions, each group came up with a mutually acceptable design.
The
third phase was constructing. One of the groups designed the "highway that
never ends" another group designed a solar power plant to generate
electricity for the entire region.
Last, but not least came the
presentation phase. Each group had the opportunity to present their
two-dimensional model to all others in attendance. The day was a total success.
Everyone went home feeling confident in their ability to make a difference in
the future of Port-au-Prince.
