The project aims to enhance English skills among Haitian and Dominican youth while fostering mutual respect and understanding between the two cultures. It involves 20 students, 9 teachers, and various support staff participating in a structured program over two weeks, with activities centered around English classes, community building, and cultural exchange. Participants expressed that they discovered commonalities and valued friendships over differences, emphasizing equality among all individuals.

1. Making ConnectionsWorking together!

3. Hispaniola

4. The context and the rationale

6. Goals of the project:to improve the teachers’ and students’ English skills and to promote understanding, mutual respect, and good relations between Haitian and Dominican youth andEnglish teachers.

7. FundersEnglish Specialist ProgramOffice of Public Diplomacy, Port-au-Prince, HaitiOffice of Public Diplomacy, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

8. OuanamintheOuanaminthe

9. Dajabon

11. The bridge at the border crossing Massacre River

14. Participants20 Haitian and 20 Dominican students, aged between 14 and 17 from the border region.English levels from false beginner to low intermediate. English was the only common language, studied in schools in both Haiti and the DR. 5 Haitian and 4 Dominican English teachers from the border region.

15. 4 teacher trainers from the U.S.A.

16. 1 Conflict transformation specialist, assisted by 6 Peace Corps Volunteers

17. 1 Arts and Craftsvolunteer.

18. 2 parents/ chaperones (1 Haitian, 1 Dominican)

19. Support staff from Plan International, Ouanaminthe and DajabonWeek 1 – Dominican Republic

20. Los Piños

21. Week 2 - Haiti

22. Institution Univers

23. Daily Schedule of Activities7:30-8:30 Breakfast8:30-12:00 English Class12:00-12:30 Free time/Debriefing with teachers12:30-1:30 Lunch1:30-3:00 Siesta, quiet activities 3:00-4:30 Community/Group Building Activities(Teacher-training sessions/lesson planning, prep)4:30-6:00 Free Choice Activities: sports, arts and crafts, mask making, etc.6:30-7:30 Dinner7:30-9:00 Evening Fun Activities10:00 Lights out

24. Teacher training/coaching

25. English classes

26. Community/Trust building activities

27. Arts and CraftsFriendship bracelets…

28. and papier-mâché masks!

29. Sports and games…

30. Cultural evenings…

31. and fun!

33. Self and family

34. Things in common 4 Corners

35. Interviews: What do you eat for breakfast? What do you wear to school? What’s your favorite music, sport, etc?

36. Self-portraitLine 1: your first nameLine 2: 4 words that describe youLine 3: relationship to someone, (mother of __, son of __, friend of_______)Line 4: speaker of _____ (languages you speak)Line 5: who loves (name 3 things)Line 6: who dislikes (name 3 things)Line 7: who would like to see (name 3 things/places/people)Line 8: your professionLine 9: your last nameSusanShort and stout, open-minded and friendly,Mother of Daniel and Stephanie,Speaker of English, French and a bit of Creole,Who loves friends and snow and grandchildren,Who dislikes mosquitoes, liver and presentationsWho would like to see Cuba and the TajMahal and Nelson MandelaTeacherRenaud

38. LEA: Our trip to the River

45. InterviewsMap making

46. Home communityCamp communitySelf & family

47. My favorite place…

49. A blank sheet of paper

51. Songs: Three Little Birds

52. A Love Story….

56. Graduation Day