UNIFA Academic Year 2017-2018 in Review Newsletter July 5, 2018
University of the Aristide Foundation
Tabarre, Haiti. On March 18, UNIFA graduated its first 138 students in a ceremony attended by more than 1,300 people. It was broadcast live on the Foundation’s children’s television station, TeleTimoun, and covered widely by major national news outlets. A delegation of UNIFA supporters from California traveled to Haiti to attend the event. It was a momentous occasion for these 138 students and in the life of our university, coming 7 years – to the day – following Dr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s return from exile in South Africa.
In his address, Dr. Aristide extolled the virtues of science and 
conscience: “May your professional conscience contribute to the awakening of the social conscience… Dear Brothers and Sisters, Haiti could not prevent the January 12, 2010 earthquake. But we must absolutely avoid and repulse this social collapse or social earthquake and then honor Haiti in Dignity. Science and conscience lead to social cohesion, economic solidarity and of course education without exclusion.”
MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES are currently fulfilling their one-year government mandated social service residency in health care centers across the country. In many instances, these young professionals are the only health care providers for the entire community.
Unifa students in Arniquet and Chateau, both in the Department of the South
Three of the 13 UNIFA Law School graduates successfully defended their theses before a 3-judge panel in May. This qualifies the students for admission to the bar:
Jacques Hebreu Joseph, The Right to Food in Haiti
Angly Ferand, Parliamentary Oversight of Ministerial Accounts
Abigail Dorlian, Socio-Judicial Consideration on the Presence and Action of NGO’s in Haiti
OPEN HOUSE MEETING FOR PARENTS. The academic year began with UNIFA’s first open house meeting for parents. It was an opportunity for parents to visit the campus and dialogue with deans, professors and members of the staff. Over 400 parents were in attendance, exceeding expectations and demonstrating once again the central role of education to Haitian families. A committee was established to maintain lines of communication with parents.
COMMUNITY SERVICE – CIVIC EDUCATION. In line with UNIFA’s commitment to community service, its Law School, in cooperation with the International Bar Association, developed and implemented a Civic Education Program. The primary goal of this initiative is to increase awareness and understanding of basic principles of law and rule of law to Haitian youth. A secondary goal is to enhance legal knowledge, leadership skills and the sense of professional responsibility in law students.
Over the course of the academic year, 15 students visited 36 area high schools where they engaged juniors and seniors on topics ranging from the rights of children, the law on migration, health care, education, citizenship and adoption. Over 1,000 high school students were reached directly and the 2-hour presentations were re-broadcast on TeleTimoun.
KLINIK MOBIL AND POLY CLINIQUE FONDATION DR. ARISTIDE. This year UNIFA made the strategic decision to reinforce health care services available at the Foundation headquarters, as we continue to strategize for the construction of a university hospital. A sizeable investment was made to add two new services: ophthalmology and dentistry. There are 5 physicians and one nurse on staff with regular consulting hours. A physician, from the Medical School’s Office of the Dean, has oversight over the functioning of the clinic.
For the year, 1,041 patients were seen in the clinic. In addition, the clinic serves as a training site for UNIFA medical and nursing students, while student participation in the regularly scheduled mobile clinics insures the fulfillment of UNIFA’s critical commitment to community service.
SEMAINE SCIENTIFIQUE – SCIENCE WEEK. UNIFA hosted its 4th annual weeklong series of conferences and special lectures this year under the unifying theme of Science and Economy (formal, informal/solidarity). With the
rising cost of living and the specter of yet another increase in the cost of gasoline, the topic is urgent. As one speaker (an economist) insisted, the Haitian economy must be rooted in principles of solidarity and support, support for the poorest.
In a presentation on the rapid urbanization of the country, it was revealed that within the last several years, Port-au-Prince has seen an annual influx of approximately 120,000 new residents – with no near comparable increase in infrastructure and services needed to accommodate these new arrivals.
Among other speakers were the deans of the State University schools of medicine and agriculture; an engineer who spoke on Henri Christophe’s public health policy; a finance specialist who advocated financial inclusion of the poor in the banking system; and the former president of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association who spoke on pending changes to the criminal procedure codes.
Former Minister of Health
Students
This year’s lecture series included a demonstration by medical students in the anatomy lab. Here are students practicing what they learned in class.
VISITING INSTRUCTORS. UNIFA continues to recruit and welcome international professionals to guest lecture in its different specialized schools. This year, the Medical School welcomed back Dr. Amelia Burgess. Dr. Burgess spent 4 days, during each of both semesters, teaching a class on toxicity to 4th year medical students and offered a university-wide lecture on lead poisoning.
During the spring semester, Kathy Roberg, a registered nurse from Wisconsin with over 40 years of experience in her field, guest lectured for students in the Nursing School. Ms. Roberg spoke on the important and rarely discussed topic of palliative care (end of life care).
Terry Haag, RN, is also from Wisconsin, and has an impressive career in nursing education. Ms. Haag is currently in private practice as a cranial-sacral and acupuncture practitioner. Ms. Haag guest lectured at the School of Physical Therapy where she presented a class on stress and demonstrated a technique called SEVA acupressure.
SNAPSHOT OF STUDENT LIFE. UNIFA marked the end of the fall semester with the Celebration of Dignity presenting Haitian culture with music and dance. It was an opportunity to showcase student talent. The special guests were former dancers from the Lilianne Gauthier foundation and the St. Trinité Orchestra.
The UNIFA football squad had a busy and successful year: in June they reached the finals of the inter-university league.
In commemoration of Toussaint Louverture, students planted a royal palm tree on campus.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Hymn to Education. Words and Music by Dr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide
UNIFA, our alma mater, our love!
May the joy of knowledge shine in your eyes!
May the heart of your youth be innervated by love!
UNIFA, you who loves the perfume of our dreams,
Lights our steps on the path of happiness.
When the flags of our Ancestors,
And the blue and white bi-colors of our University float,
Oh! Let us march, united towards a new Haiti.
The Haiti where education without exclusion will reign.
When the flame of scientific knowledge is lit
In the hearth of our University community
Oh! Let us proclaim in unison: Yes to science,
No! No to the virus of mental colonization!
When education and liberty embrace
Where justice and fraternity intertwine,
Oh! Let us all be lovers of Dignity:
If we do not rescue our Dignity, our Dignity will leave us.
UNIFA, our alma mater, our love!
May the joy of knowledge shine in your eyes!
May the heart of your youth be innervated by love!
UNIFA, you who loves the perfume of our dreams,
Lights our steps on the path of happiness.
UNIFA used its 2018 graduation to premier its new school song, Hymn to Education, and its official seal.
We thank all our friends and supporters for continuing to stand with us as we enter our 8th year – renewed, reenergized and prepared to expand quality higher education to all Haitians.
