Leadership for Social Capital and Change: A Case Study of Haiti

• In Event: Comparative Research Perspectives on Educational Reform Initiatives in Developing Countries and Indigenous Peoples in Developed Countries

Abstract

There are few countries which share a similar, challenging history of social change to Haiti. The first Black republic, which declared universal primary education in its first constitution over 200 years ago, has seen dramatic ebs and flows in the development of its social capital. We begin the paper by providing an overview of the tumultuous experience of Haiti with social change (Lundahl, 2011; Farmer, 2005). A consideration of how education and schooling has contributed to this history (Manigat, 2011) also provides the opportunity to consider how educational leaders can contribute to social capital development and societal change in Haiti and beyond (Sider & Jean-Marie, 2013). In this paper, we examine case studies of school leaders in Haiti who are engaged with localized educational projects which are contributing to national social capacity-building. Drawing on a framework of social change (Coleman, 1988; Collier 1998), we examine key educational leadership factors which contribute to sustainable, steadily-improving societal culture in fragile states such as Haiti.

Authors

• Steve Sider, Wilfrid Laurier University

• Gaetane Jean-Marie, University of Louisville

• Charlene Desir, Nova Southeastern University