Schools in Haiti do not have enough books for children to develop their reading skills. Following the FERF (Fonds Éducatifs Roy Fombrun), which has been distributing school materials to schools since 1997, the FORF, since 2007, has been sponsoring projects in the form of portable mini-libraries for primary schools.
Between 1997 and 2008, the FERF and the FORF donated more than a hundred mini-libraries. Each mini-library contains about 100 small books for children. In 2009, 25 mini-libraries were donated at a cost of more than US$7,000.
In 2009, FORF also created and donated 6,000 educational posters to be displayed in schools and their surroundings. The purpose of these posters is to :
a) to reinforce the notions of citizenship through action ;
b) encourage participation in local and national elections;
c) to inform about the evolution of the flag over the years and to encourage respect for the Haitian flag.
Odette presents her mini classroom library
In May 2010, mini-libraries were donated to Saint-Vincent de Paul School, a presbyteral school in Thomassin, and more than a dozen to Mrs. Michaelle de Verteuil for her many schools in Les Abricots. The same goes for several schools of the Baptist Mission of Fermathe and its surroundings.
Distributions continue to date, especially in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince in Thomassin, Croix-des-Bouquets, Petite-Place Cazeau, Cap-Haïtien, Acul du Nord, etc.. An evaluation and refocusing work is underway with the assistance of Ann-Jessica Beauboeuf, a Master’s student at ISTEAH (Institut des Sciences, des Technologies et des Etudes Avancées d’Haïti).
