Public Diplomacy
The Cultural Section
The Cultural Section works with Haitian civil society, cultural, academic and governmental institutions, as well as indigenous NGOs, to share U.S. society, values and expertise with interested Haitian audiences through professional, academic and cultural exchange programs. These programs, which are at the heart of the Cultural Section's work, seek to promote the free exchange of information and ideas and to increase understanding between the citizens of the United States and other countries.
Professional Exchanges
Each year, the Cultural Section brings U.S. professionals to Haiti so they can share their expertise with a broader Haitian audience. Programs highlighting these speakers are organized by the Cultural Section and vary from small, invitation-only meetings to large-scale public events. In recent years, invited U.S. professionals have included Haitian-American elected officials from Florida, conflict resolution/mediation trainers, and English-language teaching specialists.
In addition to bringing U.S. professionals to Haiti, the Cultural Section oversees the International Visitor Program, a series of professional study tours that brings Haitian participants to the U.S. to meet and confer with professional counterparts and to experience firsthand the U.S. and its institutions.
Cultural Preservation/Educational Advice
The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, established by Congress for the fiscal year 2001, aims to assist less developed countries in preserving their cultural heritage and to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures. Through two grants to ISPAN administered by the Cultural Section, the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation is improving the experience of tourists to Haiti's Citadelle near Cap-Haitian. Signs in French, Creole and English that explain the armament collection at the historic fortress are the result of the first grant and will be installed in May 2003. The second grant is funding the purchase and installation of public-use telescopes that will enable tourists to see important sites surrounding the area, including the location believed to be Christopher Columbus' first landing point in the Western Hemisphere.
Academic Exchanges
Fulbright Program
The flagship international educational program sponsored by the United States Government, the Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The program is designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries..." With this goal, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 250,000 participants - chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential - with the opportunity to study and teach in each other's countries, exchange ideas, and develop joint solutions to address shared concerns.
Approximately eight grants are awarded annually to American and Haitian teachers and scholars to lecture, study and conduct research in Haiti and the United States. Through an annual open competition process, individuals are selected based on academic and professional qualifications, commitment to community, and ability and willingness to share ideas and experiences with people of diverse cultures. Fields of study and research include political science, law, business, environment, public health, and American studies.
LASPAU, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Harvard University, designs, develops, and implements academic and professional exchange programs on behalf of individuals and institutions in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. LASPAU has collaborated with the Fulbright Program since 1975 in the administration of the Faculty Development Program. A majority of the grantees study at the master's level. Faculty are selected for their potential to contribute to their disciplines as well as to their academic institutions. After their studies in the United States, grantees resume teaching, research, and, in some cases, administrative positions at their home institutions, sharing the benefit of their educational experiences.
The Fulbright-OAS Ecology Initiative is also administered by LASPAU and offers grants for master's and doctoral level study at U.S. universities for individuals working at institutions of higher learning and at research organizations, government ministries, and nongovernmental agencies devoted to environmental concerns in Haiti. These institutions are invited to nominate candidates for the highly competitive selection process. Grantees in the natural sciences, social sciences, and public policy study multidisciplinary approaches to environmental preservation and sustainable development with the goal of developing a well-prepared cadre of environmental professionals who, upon completion of their studies, will return to their institutions to share their expertise with colleagues while maintaining contact with each other. Applicants are expected to have outstanding academic credentials, at least three years of professional experience related to environmental preservation and sustainable development, and the potential to take a leadership role in addressing environmental issues.
Humphrey Fellowship Program
Founded in 1978 in honor of the late Senator and Vice President, the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program brings accomplished mid-level professionals from designated countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Eurasia to the United States for a year of study and professional experience. Fellowships are awarded competitively to candidates with a commitment to public service in both the public and private sectors, specifically in the fields of natural resources and environmental management, public policy analysis and administration, law and human rights, finance and banking, economic development, agricultural development/economics, human resource management, urban and regional planning, public health policy and management, technology policy and management, educational planning, communications/journalism, and drug abuse epidemiology, education, treatment and prevention.
English Language Teaching
There is a great demand for improving the training of English teachers from governments worldwide. The Cultural Section supports the English language teaching efforts of selected Haitian organizations through dissemination of information related to training, methodology, and curriculum development. In recent years, the Cultural Section has also brought to Haiti American academics who have conducted workshops on English for Specific Purposes (ESP).