UUCSJ in Haiti: Beyond Just Recovery

June 12, 2015

The Papaye Peasant Movement (MPP) of Haiti has been a UUSC partner for the past five years. Since the UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) was founded in 2012, MPP has also been a cornerstone partner institution as we have grown our way into dynamic experiential learning programs designed to inspire new justice initiatives.



As UUCSJ expands our work on climate justice, we are excited about some new directions for this partnership! Since its founding in 1973, MPP has focused on empowering small farmers in Haiti to improve their living conditions. Today, with more than 60,000 members, MPP’s major goals include helping Haiti regain food sovereignty, sustainably manage natural resources, and build people-centered rural communities.



These priorities intersect perfectly with the urgency of shaping our own continuing actions in response to climate change. UUCSJ’s immersion learning journey to Haiti is focused on the critical issues of food sovereignty and climate justice, with the goal of helping participants act locally while understanding the issues in a global context. Participants will learn firsthand about the impacts of climate change on the Global South, the environmental damage caused by decades of colonial exploitation, and the leadership of rural peasant movements in advancing climate justice and global sustainability. In the words of Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, founder of MPP:

“Peasants are making a new road for humanity.”



Be a part of the road forward, and join UUCSJ for an experiential learning journey to Haiti! All programs run for eight days, including travel; contact UUCSJ by e-mailed info @ uucsj.org today to choose dates for your congregation or cluster in 2015–16.