Esther Chung, a recent UA graduate with a French and Political Science major, participated in the service learning in Haiti in January 2016. The following is a brief description of her experience.
"Zips for Haiti is a wonderful opportunity to serve and to break out of one’s comfort zone. A week is hardly ever enough, but it can still have a significant impact. Our team consisted of 25 members and our week at Institution Univers in Ouanaminthe was spent constructing mosquito net frames for the mission houses, building a new basketball hoop, and teaching English from 3rd to 13th grade. In addition to serving, our team was able to explore the community and its surroundings. We also experienced Haiti’s rich history by climbing the path towards the Citadelle, which was constructed to protect Haiti from France after Haiti had declared its independence.
Haiti is a francophone country, so I had many opportunities to use French. I was able to provide instructions for the younger students in the classroom. I could effectively communicate with the older students if they did not understand a word or phrase in English. Surprisingly, knowing French also helped me to learn a little Haitian Créole. Haiti is so much more than the common misperceptions one tends to hear about in regards to developing countries. I learned from the students I spent time with that Haiti is a resilient country filled with young, intelligent people who one day aspire to make a difference. I encourage anyone who is willing to be challenged in thought, in skill, and in life to consider joining Zips for Haiti."