GC-DWC Haiti Social and Emotional Learning

GC-DWC Haiti

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial to the development of lifelong skills that children and youth will need to thrive in school as well as in the workforce and civil society. 

 

Our Approach

Recognizing the need for an SEL framework, contextualized for the Haitian context, GC-DWC Haiti, in collaboration with Haitian educators, historians, academics, and practitioners, developed an SEL framework specifically for the Haitian context: Vision of the Haitian Child: Social Emotional Framework in English and French.


This framework is intended to serve as a resource and guide for all those working in Haitian education and related fields, particularly those working in or supporting schools or educational organizations at the pre-primary, primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. The framework provides an overview of key elements of social and emotional learning relevant for the Haitian socio-cultural and historical contexts. Additionally, it offers guidelines and strategies for the use of these ideas, particularly for educational institutions and actors.


The Vision of the Haitian Child has been used to integrate a whole child approach within Haitian classrooms and school environments with a particular focus on fostering students’ SEL. The framework has further served as a basis for curriculum development and interventions including school climate and culture training for school leaders and educators; SEL professional development; Sek Matine (SEL Morning Meeting) activities, SEL curriculum for teachers, and SEL-aligned books and lessons.

 

Progress, Goals, and Impact

In 2019, the endline results from ISELA and DESSA-mini assessments showed statistically significant changes across eight schools who participated in the SEL pilot program in the Nord and Artibonite departments. SEL categories and competencies with the largest gains from baseline to endline were self-management, self-awareness, relationships, and social awareness.

 

Resources

  1. The Vision of the Haitian Child (English and French): This framework is intended to serve as a resource and guide for all those working in Haitian education and related fields, particularly those working in or supporting schools or educational organizations at the pre-primary, primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. The framework provides an overview of key elements of SEL relevant for the Haitian socio-cultural and historical contexts. It offers guidelines and strategies for the use of these ideas, particularly for educational institutions and actors. 

  2. Ana Ak Tiga SEL Children’s Books: The Ana and Tiga SEL books are a series of seven children's books contextualized for Haiti. Written and illustrated by Haitian authors and artists, the books pull on Haiti's rich culture while integrating key elements of social and emotional learning. They also include helpful activities for parents and teachers to do with learners at the end of the stories. Books are free to use and download.

  3. Teacher Training Videos: Our teacher training videos, among many topics, focus on student engagement and positive discipline (classroom management).