PRESS INQUIRIES
FOKAL Press:
Tequila Minsky (212) 431-5609
Library of Congress press person:
Ms Erin Allen, Writer Editor (202) 707-7302
On June 10th, 2008 the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress (LoC) will present an all-day symposium devoted to the history and accomplishments of FOKAL entitled:
“Libraries and Human Development in Haiti: The Work of Fondation Connaissance et Liberte (FOKAL).” It will be held in the LoC’s historic Thomas Jefferson Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Proceedings of the symposium will subsequently available (in approximately 6 to 8 weeks) online from the library of congress website www.loc.gov.
Why FOKAL? FOKAL is an independent foundation in Haiti supported by the Open Society Institute, and other international and local organizations. Since 1995, it has provided a range of education, human development and economic activities to local communities and civil society organizations. Haitians are committed to building a better future and FOKAL is working by their side to achieve this goal. Their story is that of partnership, that of integrity and accountability.
From the humble beginnings of a library program, the organization emerged to create a web of 35 libraries, an early childhood program, an educational grants program, a dynamic art and culture program, a debate program, grassroots initiatives, and targeted water projects. About two years ago, it added two special projects to its core programming: a water and sanitation project in Labadie (north of Haiti) with the support of Royal Caribbean, and after a formal governmental accord was named lead agency in the struggle to rehabilitate a historic national park (Martissant Park known formerly as Habitation Leclerc) with support from The Open Society Institute, The European Union, The World Bank, and many other national and international partners.
Beating the odds and impacting sustainable change in Haiti is a formidable task. The Executive Director of FOKAL, Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis, the leadership of the Open Society Institute, Michele Montas, Spokesperson to the UN Secretary General, Lorraine Mangones, Deputy Director of FOKAL, among others, will be on hand at the Library of Congress to address distinguished members of Congress, state department officials, representative from Embassies, foundations and corporate leaders, those genuinely interested in the plight of Haiti. They will share their story of how FOKAL dared to hope and make a difference in the day to day lives of Haitians in spite of the odds.
For sponsorship inquiries contact:
Friends of FOKAL, Linda Mellon (212) 548-0332 lmellon@fokal-usa.org
Rachel Moscoso Denis (786) 290-9718 racheldenis54@aol.com
© 2008 All rights reserved
www.loc.gov; www.fokal.org; www.fokal-usa.org
|
