Haiti Arts Relief Update

Haiti Arts Relief
Update
BuildaBridge International

May 1/2010

Greetings!

Plans are underway for our first arts relief projects in Haiti. (Read report here.) Now is the time to put feet and action to your enthusiasm of four months ago. We have strong alliances with excellent organizations who have worked in Haiti for several decades. They have high expectations and hopes for your contributions to the people of Haiti. I am Outlined below are our four projects planned for July, 2010.

If you are interested notify ncorbitt@buildabridge.org. Please note that BuildaBridge International is a volunteer organization. We depend upon you to raise funds for your travel costs.

Project 1: Training

Teaching Basic Therapeutic Art

Location: North Haiti Christian University (NHCU)

Date: July 10-19 (This is an estimated date range)

Personnel Needed: Two Creative Arts Therapy Faculty

Assignment:

NHCU Fine Arts Building

The small fine arts program of NHCU (building pictured left) has focused primarily on performance since its inception. With the earthquake, the faculty would like to encourage and prepare the university students for community work that has a healing component. This week-long course would be taught to about 20 students and others and includes psychological first aid, trauma recognition, and basic creative arts therapy (and therapeutic art) techniques that could be used by creative artists in their own communities. Dr. Nix-Early will be leading the group and we are requesting two faculty to work with her in teaching this course. Conditions are very basic.

Cost: Estimated cost $1800 plus airfare.

Project 2: Hospital

Creative Arts Therapy for Amputees In Hospital

Location: Local hospitals near North Haiti Christian University

Date: July 10-19 (This is an estimated date range)

Personnel Needed: Creative Arts Therapists (3-5)

Assignment:

Port au Prince

Following the earthquake a significant number of amputations were performed on people who had been crushed in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Many of these people were evacuated to hospitals in the northern region of the country. NHCU would like to facilitate creative arts therapists in visiting local hospitals and working with amputees. Movement and music seem to be most appropriate, but we are not limited to these art forms. Living conditions are very basic.

Cost:Estimated cost $1800 plus airfare.

Project 3: Elementary School

Creative Arts Camp at Louis Pierrot Elementary School

Location:Ponte Sonde, Haiti. Two and one-half hours from Port-au-Prince

Date: July 15-25 (This is an estimated date range)

Personnel Needed: Creative artists and arts therapists (8-10)

Assignment:

Louis Pierrot School

The creative artists and therapists (music, visual art, dance and drama) will join Haitian artists from Ponte Sonde to conduct a one-week creative arts camp on the theme of hope. Curriculum is provided but requires adjustment to the local culture and context. The BuildaBridge Classroom is used as the structure and is consistent with the formality and structure used by the school throughout the year. Artists will live in tents with mosquito nets and eat local food prepared for them by host staff. Shower facilities are clean and acceptable. Electricity is available with intermittent down times in the evening. There is no access to the internet. French and Creole are helpful. Some translators will be provided. An orientation to local culture will be provided in Port-au-Prince, along with daily Haitian Creole lessons. This is the site for the Eastern University Arts in Transformation Culture in Community Context course (tuition is not included).

Cost: Estimated cost $1800 plus airfare.

Project 4: Orphanage

Creative Arts Education and Therapeutic Art at Madame Luc's Orphanage

Location: Thirty minutes north of Port au Prince Airport

Date: July 15-25 (This is an estimated date range)

Personnel Needed: Two-six Creative artists and therapists

Assignment:

Orphanage

This orphanage sustained significant damage by the earthquake. The classroom building was completely destroyed and the dormitory is uninhabitable. It is likely that many of the 53 children exhibit symptoms of being traumatized. This assignment requires artists with basic survival skills and training in psychological first aid and arts relief. (Training is available June 7 at the BuildaBridge Institute.) Training in first aid is recommended. You will live in a tent and bring your own food for the week. While there may be structured classes, much of the time will be in building relationships, making art and planting gardens. French is needed and Creole is a plus.

Cost:Estimated cost $1800 plus airfare.

Project 5: Fund Raising

So you can't go. Help raise funds for the arts relief work in Haiti

Help BuildaBridge Make a Difference

So what if you can't make this trip? There will be other opportunities. This is a long-term effort.

You can help us raise funds for Haiti Arts Relief. Consider conducting a fundraiser by organizing an event, becoming an ambassador, circulating a request to your friends. If interested, contact Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt at ncorbitt@buildabridge.org for more information.

If you are fundraising for your own travel expenses, BuildaBridge has a template letter for your use along with requirements.

Consider giving to the efforts now through our secure site at Donate Now.

Mission and Services
The mission of BuildaBridge is to bring hope and healing to children, youth and communities in the tough places of the world through creative arts education and intervention. We engage artists, educators and creative art therapists in service to others. The Arts Relief and Development program focuses on Education, Healing and the Environment. Since 1997, our services have included creative arts camps, extended internships, special arts-based projects in all art forms, creative arts therapy, consulting, and training in education methods, therapeutic art and psychological first aid, and arts-based community development.

Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt
BuildaBridge International
215.842.0428