Graduate student from Haiti faces dilemma

UW-Madison student from Haiti faces dilemma

Gergens Polynice has a decision to make: Stay at UW-Madison and finish graduate school, or return to Haiti immediately and put his skills to use? Polynice, a 41-year-old master’s student in Caribbean and African studies with an interest in sustainable development, is the only student from Haiti at the UW-Madison, according to the Office of International Students.

He had been back in Haiti since Dec. 23, visiting family and supervising a family-owned water purification plant managed by his brother. He left Port-au-Prince hours before the earthquake. “We are hearing there is a great need for water, and we have a capacity to produce about 50,000 gallons a day at our plant,” Gergens said in an interview from St. Louis, where he has been staying with his sister.

He said Haiti has great resources, yet people have been leaving the country for decades because of bad government and poor education choices. While quick disaster response is important, he said, finding a way to develop his country in a way that ensures proper use of the aid is also necessary.

“The international community should know that money does not solve all problems in Haiti. Giving money to the government will not solve the current situation and will not provide long-term, sustainable help,” Gergens said. “The key is to have a concerted effort between institutions to provide guidance with a long-term vision that can take this horrible situation and turn it into something good for the country.”

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/university/article_9f1009a6-015a-11df-ad87-001cc4c002e0.html

:kick:

finish his education and return to his family and community?

Just a thought.