Some may remember how visibly and unabashedly upset I was immediately after the Haiti earthquake (see: “Devastation“). I also reported that a few students convened to talk about both a short-term and a long-term strategy for participating in the rebuilding of Haiti (see: “Students in Action“). I’m happy to report that after weeks of working with faculty, administration, and non-profit partners, we’ve developed a long-term strategy with legs. We held an information session yesterday for first years and second years interested in participating and we were pleased with the response. See below for text of an article, co-written by a few of us students involved, that was posted to the Darden homepage today. Go Darden!
Devastation. Sadness. Compassion. All of these words describe emotions the world felt as it watched the destruction from the Haiti earthquake unfold. The Darden Student Association (DSA) moved quickly to mobilize a team of students interested in developing a community response to the catastrophe. The team announced both a short-term and a long-term strategy. The short-term plan for “10k in 10 Days” produced $17,691 in funds, coming from the Darden community.
Then, the DSA channeled its energy toward a long-term strategy to rebuild Haiti. They didn’t have the skills to lay concrete, nor the medical knowledge to save lives, but they had their MBA knowledge and skills, which they could put to use on the project.
First, Second Years Ritu Jain and Jackie Grace and First Year Jamaica Wood asked Professor Greg Fairchild to be their faculty advisor. He challenged them by saying a long term commitment would be difficult to establish when everyone is so busy with classes and other activities at Darden. The students say he probably thought their enthusiasm would fade away, given their busy lives.
As it turns out, they did not give up and the perfect opportunity, they say, fell into their laps. Building Goodness Foundation (BGF), Darden’s partner from Building Goodness in April (BGiA), contacted some students about a radical proposal they had. Working with their Non-Governmental Organization partners on the ground, BGF had found that the biggest need after rebuilding houses and community churches is to bring back healthcare and education.
During BGF’s initial visit to Haiti after the earthquake, they determined that their first step was to build an economic engine to fund an existing medical clinic. This clinic was just 45 minutes from the epicenter of the earthquake. However, the clinic is only open three days a week due to insufficient funding. BGF’s plan is to build a revenue-generating hostel to support the operations of the medical clinic.
Similarly, BGF noticed that more than 5000 schools had been destroyed in Port-au-Prince, killing hundreds of teachers and thousands of children. Building and operating a trade school would be the best way to help Haitians rebuild. Not only would it provide education, but it would also produce skilled labor to enable a sustainable economy.
Working with Darden faculty and staff, the DSA has designed an addition to the curriculum, the “Darden Haitian Development Project” (DHDP). Partnering with the BGF, the DHDP will entail consulting, analysis, and business planning for the two BGF construction projects.
How can you get involved?
- First Years: 4-5 students are needed for a 4.5 credit, business planning, cultural immersion class
- Second Years: 1-2 students are needed to serve as advisors through Q4
Selection Process
Please contact Ritu Jain (JainR10@darden.virginia.ed) for a copy of the application. The application will be reviewed by a panel of faculty. Application deadline is Friday, March 26th.
The DSA is excited about the opportunity to participate in the rebuilding of Haiti. Darden’s mission is to improve society by developing principled leaders for the world of practical affairs. We all know the mission; students are saying – “let’s live it.”
How can I “like” this post?
Honestly, I think you guys have done a great job pulling this together. And I’ve spoken to a couple of FYs and they’re so excited about getting involved – they were going to fill out their applications when I ran into them.
Good job ladies!
your blog is too good.Thanks For sharing Information with Us.Waiting for future updates.
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