Home > CtC worldwide > Americas > Haiti > Salvation Army Programme
____________________________________________________________________
Haiti

Salvation Army Programme
Address: Delmas 2 #20, PO Box 2571, Port-au-Prince
Tel: +509 5105309
E-mail: HaitiDivisional Commander@car.salvationarmy.org
Contact: Major Ron Busroe, Divisional Commander, Haiti

Organisation

Child-to-Child activities began in May 1995. Initially there was one centre now there are five. Centres are based in slum areas :  Port au Prince, Fond des Nègres, Balan, Duverger, Gros Morne and next year, Couyot.  Currently, over 400 children are involved in these projects.

Activities take place through the local health centres. Funding has initially been provided by the Salvation Army in Holland. However, once this money runs out, the health centre will fund the activities itself. Most of the children are of primary school age (7-14 years) and include both boys and girls

Child-to-Child Activities

The programme reports “We have created special clubs, 'Scouts for Health'. They receive a badge with the name 'lightbearers'. They bring light to dark areas by sharing their knowledge about hygiene and nutrition, etc. They also try to set a good example in all of these areas. We encourage our 'scouts' to think for themselves and to find solutions to problems that they have identified. We try to encourage the development of practical skills in children through the activities which take place. We also try to encourage thinking skills, though the school system, which places undue emphasis on learning by heart or by rote, makes this difficult. Sometimes the children can be a little unresponsive

The program in Port au Prince works primarily with domestic children (restavecs in Creole).  The program in Fond des Nègres works with AIDS orphans and the remaining programs work through The Salvation Army school program as after- school activities.”

Evaluation and training

At the end of each topic, children are given a test. If they are successful, they are awarded a badge and a certificate. Additionally, our nurses visit the children's homes and areas where they live. They talk to the children's parents and neighbours to ascertain whether messages are reaching people in the community. A number of changes have come as a result of our programme:children have taught local mothers how to make an oral rehydration drink;children have accompanied other children suffering from skin diseases to the hospital; children have brought mothers and their babies to the hospital for vaccination; and children have helped those who have been wounded in accidents.

Training has been given to the nurses (adult workers) in the programme.Training has been provided by other auxillary nurses who are familier with the Child-to-Child approach.

Use, Adaptation, Translation and Production of Child-to-Child Materials

The programme uses French language materials produced by l'Enfant pour l'Enfant in France. They have also adapted and expanded some of the content of the French Child-to-Child readers for their use as teaching materials. They produced some materials which collect together the most important content of the publications we use. These materials are given to children who finish our course and receive their certificates.

Date: 2000. Updated information sought.
Source: Child-to-Child Website Directory 2000