COHP
United States
| Children/Education
More information
COHP was founded in response to the devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake which leveled Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. On February 11, 2010, a broad coalition of leading agencies serving international schools and school superintendents met in Boston and established an executive committee (EC) to design and implement with due speed an educational center for the children of Haiti. After considering many suggestions, the EC decided to focus its efforts on serving the poorest children in Haiti, many of whom (50%) were receiving no schooling even before the earthquake. With significant funding and several commitments already in place, the EC sent a three-person team (Task Force) to Haiti on March 5, 2010. Their goal was to seek local and international agency partnerships to establish an education center, with supporting services, to begin schooling as many children aged 4-5 as can be accommodated in rented or borrowed facilities. The broader goal is to find a location and marshal the resources and agency assistance necessary to conduct a comprehensive educational program for children in poverty, with guarantees of long term sustainability and program effectiveness, and support for nutritional and medical needs. Upon our arrival in Haiti in early March to start the Children of Haiti Project, a major resource for this effort, and our primary adviser, was Marie Jean-Baptiste, the superintendent of the Union School of Haiti. At the beginning of our project Marie supported COHP with advice, direct assistance and moral commitment. The project is directed by a Board and an Executive Committee (EC) of international school volunteers.
