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<title>Education for All in Haiti</title>
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From <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:tontongi@comcast.net">tontongi@comcast.net</a>
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<title>Education for All in Haiti</title>
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<div align="center"><font color="#3F3F3F" face="Arial" size="+1"><b>Education
for All in Haiti-In the One Language Spoken by All</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Arial">For most
Haitian students, learning in Kreyol, as opposed to the
traditional method of learning in French, is the only way to
receive a meaningful education.</font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Arial">A
presentation by : Michel DeGraff</font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Georgia" size="+1"><i>Michel
DeGraff, who was born and raised in Haiti, is associate
professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. </i></font><font color="#000000" face="Apple
Chancery"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"><br>
</font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Fundraising Event: To support</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>the teacher training and education program</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b> of the Lekòl Vizyon Modèn in Laplaine</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Date: Saturday November 19, 2011</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#000000" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Location:</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Harvard Epworth</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>United Methodist Church</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b> 1555 Mass. Ave, Cambridge</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Suggested Donation: $20.00</b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Contact Info: </b></font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"
size="+2"><b>Mel King: 617-578-0597</b></font></div>
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<div>A Haitian Dance troupe from Cambridge Rindge and Latin will
also perform at the beginning of this Fundraising Event for the
teacher training and education program of LekÒl Vizyon Modèn, GEP
Foundation's lab- school in La Plaine, Haiti</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Contact Info: Mel King, 617-578-0597 <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:mhking@mit.edu">mhking@mit.edu</a></div>
<div>Ben Griesinger 718-314-0440, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bengrieisnger@gmail.com">bengrieisnger@gmail.com</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.gephaiti.com/3.html">http://www.gephaiti.com/3.html</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>When Michel DeGraff was a young boy in Haiti, his older brother
brought home a notice from school reminding students and parents
of certain classroom rules. At the top of the list was "no
weapons." And right below it, DeGraff still remembers: "No
Creole." Students were supposed to use French, and French only.
Creole is the only language spoken and understood by all Haitians,
and the majority speak Creole only. To this date, Haiti is a state
of "linguistic apartheid.'' Haitians who speak only Creole are
often treated as second-class citizens. [They can't access
official records such as deeds, medical records, permits, or
participate in parliamentary debate, court proceedings, or NGO
fund distribution meetings]. "Haiti will never be able to rise to
its potential if you have 90 percent of Haitians who cannot be
instructed properly," DeGraff said. "Once you open up that
reservoir, what can happen? So many things can happenŠ.Imagine how
many well-prepared minds you would have to try to solve the
country's problems.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Text above taken from the following two articles in the Boston
Globe:</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/06/16/language_barrier_in_haiti/"><span></span>http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/20<span></span>10/06/16/language_barrier_in_haiti/</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-24/news/29810375_1_language-gap-degraff-creole-language"><span></span>http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-24/news/29810375_1_language-gap-d<span></span>egraff-creole-language</a></div>
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<div align="center"><font color="#000000"><b>If you cannot attend</b></font><font
color="#191919"><b>,</b></font><font color="#000000"> Gep will
appreciate any donation you can make. Please send checks made
out to the Gep Foundation (care of Board President Marion
Gillon) to 92 Devir Street, #110, Malden, MA 02148.</font></div>
<div align="center"><font color="#353535" face="Apple Chancery"><br>
</font></div>
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