HTH for Haiti
HTH for Haiti is the face of the relief assistance project started by several High Tech High teachers and myself following the earthquakes of January, 2010 that devastated the island nation of Haiti. Our group found life immediately after the disasters when, at our first staff meeting in January, a Haitian friend and colleague asked the simple question, “Who will help?” Without a clear vision of how to realistically assist earthquake survivors, only basic ideas about fundraising, and a quite plain understanding of the ways in which the disasters had impacted Haitian society, our group gathered and quickly decided that helping was a challenge we would devotedly approach. The responsibility to, and opportunities in, reacting as both teachers and human beings were evident; like the projects that we strive to put before our students, we embarked on one with clear real-world relevance and demands for a great deal of learning along the way.
Based on the recognition that Haitians would require sustained long-term support to begin mending their lives in the wake of this disaster, and that this would be an incredible opportunity for our community to come together, learn about, and offer assistance to another community in a time of tremendous need, we established the foundation of our new group within the following mission statement:
HTH for Haiti is a High Tech High based group committed to raising money and awareness for the ongoing needs of Haitian people resulting from the devastating earthquakes in January of 2010. Those affected by the earthquakes will require short and long-term assistance; therefore, HTH for Haiti is inspired to positively impact the lives of as many earthquake survivors as possible.
With a formal name and an articulated goal, HTH for Haiti initiated a fundraising effort that included social functions, t-shirt sales, online donations, and an initial peak at the Walk for Haiti. In tandem, HTH for Haiti also embraced the embedded learning experiences for ourselves, our students, and our community members that have ranged from the nuts and bolts of event planning to larger lessons about social responsibility and efficacy. HTH for Haiti holds a tremendous amount of pride in the way that the common goals of this relief effort have built community amongst the staff and students across the different schools in the High Tech High village.
As we have widened our own perspectives and tried our best to offer real support for the people of Haiti, the diverse individuals that constitute HTH for Haiti are excited that this project, existing beyond the margins of letter grades and classroom walls, has offered opportunities for widespread & diverse involvement, personal growth, and broad impact; there is no doubt that the to-date success of our work is rooted in the collective motivations and contributions of an entire community.