CAFT :
Background
History
CAFT is a registered foundation with the Haitian Ministry of Social Affairs and is authorized to function as a training agency by the Ministry of Education. Through training and the application of innovative and transformational educational programs, both formal and non-formal, CAFT strives to foster positive change in the knowledge, attitudes and capacities of Haitian educators and thus contribute to the well-being of the Haitian population, especially the underprivileged.
The Centre d’apprentissage et de Formation pour la Transformation (CAFT) began in 2000 with Plan International, a child-centered development NGO that works in 48 countries. In 2005 – 2006 CAFT began working with YELE Haiti, a foundation established by musician, Wyclef Jean, to provide scholarships to children and an overall objective to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of their heritage. In 2006 – 2007 CAFT began working with UNICEF, and from 2008 – 2010 managed the training component of the Rewriting the Future project of Save the Children, an international organization helping children in need around the world.
The Education Ministry has developed a compact curriculum for out-of-school and “over-aged” students, but no comprehensive accelerated material for teachers and students exists yet to help these children to learn reading, writing, arithmetic, science and social studies. CAFT provides teachers with improved methods and has been developing integrated materials to respond to this special need, hoping that they will eventually serve to help children in regular schools learn more effectively and rapidly as well.
CAFT is becoming recognized for its unique, effective approach. It now needs to revise modules and complete its accelerated learning materials to help the large population of out-of-school youth, estimated at over 500,000 in Haiti.
Growth
Training in Interactive Methods of Teaching Math
This training in innovative math teaching methods took place from June 30th – July 4th, 2008 at the Anis Zunuzi School. A total of 36 CAFT, Anis Zunuzi and other teachers from hard-hit conflict areas of Port-au-Prince, plus four teachers from the Anis Zunuzi satellite schools in the Artibonite area and three teachers from an innovative school on La Gonaives Island in a training for teaching math using Cuisenaire rods.
CAFT Reports on Trainings to Enhance the Learning Environment for Primary Teachers
CAFT, Anis Zunuzi teachers and teachers from hard-hit conflict areas of Port-au-Prince, plus four teachers from the Anis Zunuzi satellite schools in the Artibonite area all participated in teacher training led by well-known facilitator Alex Christian of the Badi Foundation (from Beijing) who also conducts this same training, “Enhancing the Learning Environment”, in Tanzania, Africa at Ruaha Secondary School, in the Central African Republic and in China.
These trainings took place from July 7th through August 22nd, 2008 covering various topics such as the training of mentors for a pilot program for out-of-school children. Rose-Gabrielle, the Anis Zunuzi School’s kindergarten director, instructed participants of Save the Children schools in the use of effective reading techniques and tried out CAFT’s supplementary materials.
top