Future Generations University Alumni



JACQUES SAVELA, CLASS OF 2013

Practicum Summary: Using Sports for Social Development and Promoting a Better Image of Cité Soleil

In her research practicum, Savela examines the relationship between sports and other collaborative games and whether or not Future Generations Haiti could use sports to encourage a gradual change in the trends and evolution of prejudices between residents of the community of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Historically, sports games have been used as a method of social integration and unification between people from different cultures and walks of life, as well as a way to instill national pride among citizens. Savela bases her theory that sports can help in unifying the slums in Cité Soleil on the thoughts of M. Ban Ki-Moon, who is the Secretariat General of the United Nations. He claims that sports are an important factor in social change and peace, and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development goals set up by the United Nations. In Savela’s research, questionnaires, interviews, and documentaries were used to access whether the relations between citizens living inside and outside of Cité Soleil could improve due to unification through sports. Savela concludes that while sports cannot be used as a development tool on its own, sports events between communities can foster psychological comfort needed to boost morale, unify citizens and break down sociocultural and economic borders— all circumstances required to pave the way for peace.


ROBILLARD LOUIINO, CLASS OF 2013

Practicum Summary: Konbit: Finding Haitian Solidarity in Modern Times

In Louino Robillard’s research practicum, he examines the tradition of Konbit in Haiti, a system rooted in rural Haiti in which peasants help each other cultivate the earth. Over the years, Haiti has steadily grown more dependent on foreign aid, causing Haiti to become known as the “Republic of NGOs.” Realizing the negative effects that foreign aid has inflicted, including a representation of Haiti as a backward, poor, charity case, Robillard sought to focus his research on a current success in Haiti– the aforementioned Konbit system. This study uses qualitative research in order to determine how people are performing konbit and the ways in which konbit is interpreted and understood amongst practitioners. Using informal consultations with people in different domains and areas across Haiti, Louino discovered that the four areas where konbit is employed are the agriculture, economic, community, and cultural domains. After completing consultations, Louino drafted a questionnaire and developed case studies and informal focus groups to get his results. He concluded that konbit is not just a traditional cooperative, but a “system of solidarity in which Haitians who are motivated by their consciences voluntarily participate in collaborative action that preserves their livelihoods, their cultures, and their interdependence, in any aspect of life.” Louino believes that if Haiti is without a direction, then going back to konbit will restore solidarity among the people. To do this, he recommends entering konbit into the Haitian constitution, teaching konbit in the educational system, educating international aid organizations on konbit, developing politics of konbit, developing a symbol of konbit, and convincing the Haitian Diaspora to collaborate with their hometowns to include the practice of konbit in development.


MCLENNAN KIM, CLASS OF 2011 – (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)

Practicum Summary: Mobilizing the capacity of families and local providers in the rehabilitation in post-earthquake Haiti: A Multiple Case Study Report

McLennan explores the history of Haiti and its relationship with international aid agencies, and analyzes the long-term effects of these agencies in Haiti after the earthquake disaster in 2010. Through her research and personal experience as a rehabilitation worker, McLennan that post earthquake disaster relief efforts in Haiti lack on emphasis on local capacity building, and largely disregards the needs of the disabled population– which increased significantly after the earthquake. McLennan concludes that relief efforts would be more effective and development initiatives more successful if the focus was on building local leadership skills that help mobilize beneficiaries and providers that are not dependent on outside agencies and expertise.

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