The Ohio State University

Haiti Empowerment Project 2012

Written by Lindsay Martin Thursday, 10 May 2012 13:47

Each night of this year's trip was filled with reflections by each attendee about what they did and saw during each day. We dissected the question, "What is our purpose for this trip?" every night. At the beginning of the week, many of the group members had no idea about what the Haiti Empowerment Project was truly all about. Each subgroup was there to pass out KEEP books to children or install solar panels or examine XO computers. By the end of the week and after many discussions and reflections, however, we realized that our purpose for attending was much deeper.

The nightly discussions were based on Paulo Freire's work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, which is the basis of the principles that define the Haiti Empowerment Project. After collaboratively defining the concepts and ideas from the book in meetings that sometimes lasted up to three hours, the entire group learned that this project is more than a mere service trip to help those who are in need. The main goal is empowerment—not just for the people of Haiti, but also for every person who is able to participate.

Attending graduate student, Allyson Leedy, gives her view of the Haiti Empowerment Project:
     "Having worked with the Haiti Empowerment Project for a second year, I have been continually empowered by the work of Dr. Bucci. During both last year's trip as well as this year's project, she entrusted me     with tasks which I believed to be far beyond what I was capable of completing successfully. She not only trusted and believed in my abilities, but she also equipped me with opportunities to test my strength and realize my own potential in ways I never had before.
     Likewise, her efforts to create similar relationships with the people of Haiti (as well as the students and staff from OSU) have encouraged me to seriously consider the type of teacher (and person) I hope to be in the future. The Haiti Empowerment Project has quickly grown to become the "Allyson Empowerment Project" as well. I have been happy to have the opportunity to watch as the ripple effect of this empowerment spreads to everyone who is lucky enough to experience it."

As participants of the Haiti Empowerment Project, each one of the 2012 group members experienced a feeling similar to Allyson's. As we sought to facilitate opportunities for empowerment with the people of Haiti through education of new teaching methods, of solar energy, of micro-financing, and of computer programming, we felt empowered in return. This mutual and collaborative empowerment is the life and energy behind the Haiti Empowerment Project.