• Overview
• Objective
• FPSC and INDESCO
• Summary
• American Initiatives’ Involvement: How Your Donations Help
• Where We Want to End Up 
• Photos

Country/ Geographic Area: Haiti

Local Partner: INDESCO

Project Duration:  12 month

Overview

Haiti is the poorest and the least developed country in the Western Hemisphere. A vicious circle of poverty, political and economic instability, violence and lack of infrastructure are some of the most pressing causes for the country's low-level of preparedness. After the earthquake of January 12, 2010, the international community has pledged to rebuild Haiti, not only its physical structure but also its agricultural, socio-economic, environmental, and reforestation, stuctures, etc. as well. 

Precisely because of these needs, American Initiatives wants to have a presence in Haiti and is willing to help finance the reconstruction and material’s supplies for the School of Picsou by working with a local partner INDESCO, located in the neighboring country of Dominican Republic.

This school was founded in 1990 by Mrs. J. Resell Gerlus, a Haitian teacher who wanted to meet the needs of the area where she lives, the community of Christ the King, and give parents the opportunity to provide their children a high-quality preschool education. The kindergarten had four classrooms, and begins to admit children who are two years old. Teachers are professional and each has an assistant.  The 120 students have adequate security.
In October 1995, at the request of the parents, the school extended its education of students to the 6^th grade.  The Picsou Primary School was born which had 80 students. In seven years only two students of Picsou School failed in the Certificate of National Primary Studies.  Since the start of the elementary school, the institution has been called "Basic School Picsou."

FPSC in Dominican Republic

Since 1996, FPSC has worked with INDESCO on four projects in the educational and microfinance sectors in order to promote the integral development of women and to contribute to the socio-economic development of families in the Jarabacoa area. In 2010 Mr. and Mrs. Gerlus contacted INDESCO in order to ask for help with the reconstruction and scholarships for Haitian girls to study in the Dominican Republic during Haiti’s reconstruction.

Summary

This project seeks to help Haitian children after the Jan 12, 2010, earthquake by funding reconstruction and material supplies for the School of Picsou as well as providing scholarships to students of this school to study in the Dominican Republic while the reconstruction is taking place.

American Initiatives’ Involvement: How Your Donations Help

We will partner with Iniciativas de Educación Superior (INDESCO) to provide funding for the construction and the re-opening of Picsou School. Due to this intervention, it will be possible to contribute effectively in the fight against poverty in Haiti as well as in the enrichment of a country which is re-building itself after a significant natural disaster. Families in the area of Christ the King will have the opportunity to give their children a high-quality education, and therefore, contribute positively to the growth of the future society of Haiti. INDESCO has ample experience in education and in construction of educational centers, and the INDESCO team will work closely to Mr. and Mrs. Gerlus and advise and supervise every step of this project.

Where We Want to End Up

• Complete reconstruction and re-opening of the School of Picsou, which will once again provide high-level education in the community of Christ the King and surrounding areas
• Place the 204 students back in the school to learn
• Provide scholarships to young girls who want to study in Dominican Republic during their country’s reconstruction