Cite Soleil Library
We are supporting the mission of our Haitian friends from Cite Soleil to build a modern, community-supported library in Cite Soleil, the poorest slum of Haiti. The approach is to be completely community-led and transparent. The vision of this project is not only to build a library in Cite Soleil, but to build a first-class, modern library and community service center.
Some people have balked at the plans, saying it seems too nice and too expensive. The co-initiators of Konbit Bibliyotèk Site Solèy are trying to shake this conception and ask: why don’t the young people of Cite Soleil deserve first-class facilities? After decades of people in Cite Soleil being treated like second-class citizens, this project aims to raise the standards of what people in Cite Soleil can expect and what they feel they deserve.
The project may take time to complete, but we will not compromise our view of what our young people deserve. The library and community center, upon its completion, will have the following spaces and services:
• A library that includes a children’s section, which will host book clubs, debates, and tutoring sessions
• An informatics center with computers, which will teach computer classes and offer internet access and online learning opportunities
• An auditorium, which can be used to host cultural events, conferences, and community meetings
• A playground for young children
• Other support facilities, such as restrooms, a cafeteria space, and an administrators’ office The library was designed by Jennifer Andou Charles, who was born in Cite Soleil. The following are her designs for the library complex :
The Gift Of Life Tarot
Created by photographer Alice Smeets, this 78-card deck features real life scenes from real people from all around the earth in world class documentary style photos (Some of these photos even won international photo-awards). None of the photos were staged, these are decisive moments captured in daily life scenes, different religious practises and rituals or festivities.
The 78 photo-cards are rooted in classical tarot interpretations that delve into the mystical occurrences and stories from different countries of our earth such as Haiti, India, Panama, The United States, The UK and more.
Takes real life scenes of real people that express themselves as the different archetypes and meanings of the tarot cards of the major and minor arcana of traditional Tarot. The 78 cards are slightly bigger than traditional tarot cards (3.5×5 inch or 89x127mm) andprinted on premium heavyweight 330 GSM card stock (and once we reach our first stretch goal, it will be 400GSM).
Each deck will come with a 70 pages booklet explaining the story of the scene, the country, the people featured in it, and the meaning of each card. There will be a section explaining how to get acquainted with the cards and a suggested tarot spread to find your hidden gifts and life’s purpose with the deck. With the proceeds of the crowdfunding campaign of this deck we are going to support regenerative projects to heal the wounds of mother earth.
Why a tarot deck?
Using a tarot deck can be a powerful tool of self-reflection and discovery. A tarot reading often forces us to look inward and connect with our feelings. The tarot is a set of 78 playing cards, with each card representing the life experiences and lessons that we encounter.
The cards are divided into the minor arcana, which represent the smaller day to day lessons we face and the major arcana, which represent the larger long term soul lessons we encounter.
Each card has its own name and traditionally features an in-depth illustration to portray these lessons and experiences. Tarot readers use the tarot to perform “readings” by asking a question and interpreting the cards that come up in a spread. This allows them to find answers to personal questions and evaluate their current life path.
The tarot cards are often seen as a mirror of what you are experiencing in your life. When a card comes up in a reading, it encourages you to look inside yourself to look for areas where this may resonate. In this way, the cards are a tool but all the answers come from inside yourself.
By practicing tarot for self discovery you’re building your levels of self-awareness and developing your intuition. When you do this regularly, you get to know yourself on a deeper level and you feel more connected to the choices you make and the path you take.
Nou Pou Nou
From 2011-2014 Consciousness Rising pioneered a new method to bring forward the evidence of Haiti’s community-led efforts to create positive change. The project consisted of working together with the Haitian Media outlets (newspaper, television, radio) to travel around the country to find positive stories and successful initiatives. We searched for communities that proved that development can be done without international help and reported about them. During one year, one story a week appeared in the media and was well received.
The goal of the project ““Nou Pou Nou”” was to bring back inspiration and initiative to the Haitian people via examples of successful projects established by other locals. A considerable amount of Haitian people have become dependent on the help of western countries. This project allowed these people to gain back confidence, empowerment, independence and pride. Project “Nou Pou Nou” aimed to be a vital tool for both domestic and international actors.
At the domestic level, it served as a hub where Haitian changemakers could explore the actions and lessons of their peers in other communities, allowing for community-to-community collaboration and positive synergies, while giving inspiration and motivation to communities that are not yet active. Project “Nou Pou Nou” was also relevant for international actors as it sheds light on successful community change processes, serving as a reference as to how to build upon local capacity and follow local models of change. Furthermore, for those cases that have involved outside assistance, it served as a guide to creating and maintaining sustainable partnerships with Haitian communities as well as stand as an example for other countries.
Instead of looking for problems to solve, the project ““Nou Pou Nou”” concentrated on successes and people that have proven their potential to bring their country forward aiming to strengthen their leader capacities.
Read an article about the project in the Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste in French.
Eyes on Haiti Photo workshop 2011
Eyes on Haiti ‘Consciousness Rising’ which was then still called Viv Timoun organised a six-month photo workshop, between August 2011 and January 2012. The workshop aimed to help 20 adults aged the 16-29 find their way out of hopelessness through photography, to deal with their trauma via their own creativity and to learn how to become professional photographers. At the end of the workshop the group of Belgian volunteers organised the very first photography festival in the capital Port-au-Prince. Many of the former Haitian photography students still work as professional photographers today.
Rebuilding a school after the earthquake in Haiti
After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Consciousness Rising, which was called Viv Timoun at that time, supported the rebuilding of a school that had collapsed during the earthquake with 70.000 Euro. The school was rebuild by the organisation Haiti Care.
Apaoka
APAOKA is an environmentally aware initiative that during the length of 10 years has organised sustainable agriculture courses in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. The project was launched in 2009 by Marie Bontemps and the Belgian organisation “die Raupe” and later transferred to Consciousness Rising. Together with a group of Brazilians, Marie has implemented the project and taught Brazilian farmers about environmental protection measures, permaculture as well as holistic living. Read an article in German about the project in the newspaper Grenz-Echo.
