SAVE DESSAIX-BAPTISTE MUSIC SCHOOL

Music flows down from a second-floor balcony in downtown Jacmel on Haiti’s south-east coast and fills the lives of those creating the sweet sound. On Ambroise-Magloire Street, hundreds of children are learning to play music and gaining confidence in their ability to exceed their expectations, fulfill their aspirations and become better citizens.

The leaders of Dessaix-Baptiste Music School know that nurturing a child’s musical talent will not just improve their academic achievements but augment their whole development. The school is determined to train generations of musicians in this city considered the cultural capital of Haiti.

They now need your help to keep this dream alive.

1 Teaching to children no matter their social class The school opened its doors 16 years ago after a local initiative aimed at promoting culture got help f r o m U N E S C O w h o donated the first instruments. The founders wanted to create a music school that would not only provide solid music training for children from all backgrounds, but also help young people choose a constructive way to find their voice as an alternative to drugs, crime and violence.

Scholarships are given to encourage students from lower-income families to attend. Some of Jacmel's street children who have been abandoned by their families to fend for t h e m s e l v e s a r e encouraged to attend and have their musical education subsidized.

2 Teaching Music for Generations to Come

The school which attracts between 800 to 1000 students each year provides instruments for every child. It provides instruction in a variety of string, wind, brass, and percussion instruments as well as music theory. Children are learning different musical styles from classical, to latino and Haitian music, to Kompa or jazz. Students attending class can be as young as six years old and many will continue to attend into their mid-twenties. Some have gone on to b e c o m e i n s t r u c t o r s t h e m s e l v e s a n d a r e d r a w i n g i n c o m e a s professional players.

3 With a growing number of musicians, the school has helped create many “ensembles” and groups, including a chamber music ensemble, t w o p h i l h a r m o n i c orchestras, three fanfares and two jazz bands. Counting on a Network of Devoted Professors The school hires a dozen Haitian teachers through the year. It benefits also from the collaboration of volunteer teaching staff from North America, Cuba and Europe to provide master classes. They come for a few weeks or a few months at a time.

Dessaix-Baptiste Music School also offers an intensive summer music camp that draws students from all over Haiti.

4 Jacmel, the Cultural Capital of Haiti The school is a vital contributor to the city's vibrancy, attractiveness, and identity. Jacmel is nested on the south-eastern coast of Haiti. It is among the cultural jewels of the country with its exceptional vernacular architecture, its famous carnival and its vibrant arts and crafts sector. Its historic center is on the Tentative List for UNESCO’s World Heritage.

© Anna Giolitto Safeguarding these assets forms the basis of the tourism development strategy that the Haitian government is working so hard to implement.

5 Supporters from Haiti and the International Community The school operates thanks to a network of faithful contributors. The Barbancourt Foundation and FOKAL are among the Haitian institutions that are giving a helping hand. International organizations and NGO’s, such as UNESCO, Save the Children, Plan Haiti or Luthiers Sans Frontières have also provided through the years a steady flow of donations. Other supporters include the European Union, the French Alliance of Jacmel, Artists for Peace and Justice, Blume Haiti, and the Embassy of Japan in Haiti, to name just a few.

6 Building a New Arts and Culture School For 16 years now, the Dessaix- Baptiste School has been renting space. But with the lease ending in 2015 and with no possibility of renewal, the situation is critical. Years of hard work and accomplishments are in jeopardy. Time is running out. The Dessaix-Baptiste Foundation has bought a hectare of land and is resolved to build a new school and continue to foster the creativity of the youth of Jacmel by broadening its artistic program to include theatre, dance, sculpture and craft.

7 The $2.5 million project includes a modern concert hall that will benefit the whole community, dormitories for the visiting professors and a cafeteria. All necessary components to guarantee a conducive learning environment. Dessaix-Baptiste Music School has fostered hope, dignity and opportunities for the youth of Jacmel. We ask for your help to make sure that this legacy continues to thrive for generations to come. Be part of the new School of Arts and Culture Dessaix-Baptiste.

Office of The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti 550, Cumberland St, room 364, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5 Tel: 613-562-5223 [email protected]

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