becoming fluent in English and French, each student completes a 1700-hour social work field placement and a publishable research project.
Teaching in Haiti has some stark contrasts to teaching at UM. Haitian students sit at long wooden benches in a concrete room with filtered light and chalkboards.
ETS grew out of Kolbe’s collaboration with Haitian social workers in conducting research and interventions on crime and public health in Haiti after the 2004 coup. Focus groups with Haitian social workers, who have little or no formal social work education, revealed that most social services in Haiti are provided by foreigners and outside NGOs who often provide services based on funding streams and foreign priorities rather than on the needs of ordinary Haitians.
“In Haiti, we can’t rely on PowerPoint to teach. The students do have access to a computer lab, which is powered by gas-run generators,” Kolbe said. “It’s more challenging to teach in this environment, but it’s also rewarding to see that the students are working toward the same goals as Michigan Social Work students, they want the tools and skills to improve their community. They want to help people overcome difficulties with mental health or poverty, and they want to improve the everyday lives of ordinary Haitians.”
“We started a BSW and MSW program with SOPUDEP to raise up a group of leaders who can change the provision of services in Haiti so that social work is indigenously led,” Kolbe explained. The first class will graduate in 2015.
Students meet in outdoor classrooms in Haiti.
Kolbe expects to complete her PhD next year when she hopes to continue her research and work in academia.
“In Haiti right now the government is unable to take responsibility for social services, for mental health, or for elder care, and I hope our students will be the catalyst for the change.”
Ongoing · Winter 2013 · 29