Partnership 2008: First Student Trip to La Gonave
As part of an ongoing international effort to restore the island of La Gonave, Haiti, to its former environmental abundance and social prosperity, the International Partnership for La Gonave (IPLG) is proud to announce its first student trip to the island.
This trip to the island will occur March 1-8, 2008, and is affiliated with the Alternative Spring Break program of James Madison University (JMU). According to Caitlin Boyer, one of the organizers of and participants in this effort, seven JMU students will accompany Dr. Mary Tacy and Gina Kudrav of the Office of International Programs to Pointe-A-Raquette the second largest town on the island. They plan to monitor and further the projects that the IPLG already has in place (solar water-pumps, cisterns, and sustainable housing), provide environmental education regarding sustainable fishing practices, and host a Women’s Conference.
Work on La Gonave follows the United Nations Millennium Development Goals framework. The International Partnership for La Gonave plans to promote Goals 1 (“Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”), 3 (“Promote gender equality and empower women”), and 6 (“Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases”) through education efforts during the Women’s Conference. The JMU team and guest speakers will present on these topics:
- Women’s Health
- Caring for Children
- Job Creation
- Community Development
The JMU team has arranged for housing and meals for attendees of the two-day conference. A closing celebration will provide JMU students with the opportunity to learn konpa, the national dance of Haiti, and enjoy the hospitality of the Haitian people.
For more information, please contact Dr. Tacy.
