Faces of the Read Haiti/Strong Beginnings Radio Program
The Read Haiti/Strong Beginnings Radio program is made possible through the support of USAID, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and an Anonymous Foundation.
When schools shut down in Haiti on March 19th due to COVID-19, the Strong Beginnings team, led by Kate Schuenke-Lucien, was already in the midst of contingency planning for how they would transition their classroom literacy program in Haiti to a distance learning platform. Challenging in any context, contingency planning in light of the low-tech reality of most Haitian households complicated the task even further, not to mention the immediate and accelerated timetable of the crisis. In collaboration with the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child and partnerships with Catholic Relief Services and the National Office for Catholic Education, the team landed on the use of radios, powered with solar panels, and weekly literacy and social and emotional learning programs broadcasted over local Catholic and community-run radio stations as a means to reach even the most remote learners.
With schools officially back in session in Haiti, today we take a look back and highlight the student faces of the Read Haiti/Strong Beginnings radio program and celebrate their dedication and hard work!
