Recovery from natural disaster in Haiti is still ongoing, and UT students are designing a better future.
A nine-member group of UT students and faculty with the UT Haiti Project traveled to the Caribbean country from May 29th to June 1st to aid the country, which has been in disrepair since its devastating 2010 earthquake.
The 14th trip of its kind, the trip included the group checking up on the status of a school designed by Tennessee students as well as monitoring the installation of a solar array provided by UT.
Working in conjunction with the Haiti Christian Development Fund, a non-profit organization focused on bringing community aid to Haitians in need, the UT Haiti Project was created in 2010 as a means of addressing the varied issues brought about by the natural disaster. Since its magnitude 7.0 earthquake that left over 200,000 dead and over a million displaced or inaccessible due to destroyed infrastructure, Haiti has received humanitarian aid from across the world.
Mallory Barga, a graduate student in the College of Architecture and Design, stayed in a house designed by former CAD students and saw firsthand the contributions made by Tennessee students to the Haitian community.
She has hopes the upcoming design and development of the Nutrition and Childhood Development Center will ensure children are receiving proper nutrition and developmental interaction.
“We are happy to provide insight and the tools to teach Haitians how they themselves can improve their communities, and rebuild more efficiently,” Barga said.
Additionally, the team spent two days in Fond-des-Blancs making plans for the school’s future, including the design of an early childhood development center that will focus on food nutrition and education for community youths.
Professor John McRae was a key member in planning the trip. In regards to the team’s attempts to introduce LED lighting to the school, he referenced Haiti’s dismal infrastructure.
“There are no public utilities, lighting, or other services in the community,” McRae said. “Virtually all power in the community is provided by generators, or in a few cases solar.”
This fall, another team with 15 members is anticipated to return.
“We are all grateful for the opportunity which we have in the college, to collaborate with our Haitian colleagues in offering support for their needs,” McRae said.
Contributions to support future student travel and documentation of Haitian sites can be given at volsconnect.com.
