Sacramento State University is holding a community forum today on ways Americans can help Haiti after last month’s major earthquake. Panelists include Hatians, CSU representatives, and online participants from around the country. Topics include education, charitable efforts, technology and awareness-building.
Jean-Pierre Bayard is a native of Haiti and one of the forum’s organizers. He says education is the key to propelling Haiti forward.
Bayard: “Haiti has sixty to seventy percent illiteracy, so my personal feeling is that to focus on basic literacy should be the first goal of any educational objective, any educational reform.”
Bayard says areas of study like nursing and civil engineering are especially well-suited for Haiti.
The forum will begin at eleven AM in the Hinde Auditorium of Sacramento State’s student union. It will also be available through an online web conferencing system – and participants can submit questions by email.