SUNY Global

OAS letter

Organization of American States
17th S1. & Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington. D.C. 20006
United States of America
P. 202.458.3000
www.oas.org

Washington, D.C. January 22, 2010
OASG 016-10

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware by now, on January 12th 2010, our OAS member country, Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake that left millions of people homeless and many families in despair. The international community immediately responded and is now focusing on rescue and relief efforts and humanitarian aid to Haiti. Due to the tremendous impact of this disaster on the education system in Haiti, the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture of the Organization of American States (OAS-DHDEC) has begun thinking of short and medium term solutions to assist Haiti with the revitalization of its education system.

We realize the urgent need for human resource development and are, therefore, creating an OAS Emergency Human Development and Scholarship Program for Haiti. The objective of this Program is to provide capacity building and capacity strengthening for the immediate reconstruction of Haiti.

The OAS would like to partner with educational institutions willing to assist in Haiti's reconstruction. We are asking you if your institution could contribute through any of the following:

• Free language training prior to commencement of the students' program of study at your Institution;

• Full scholarships;

• Partial scholarships to be complemented by the OAS and other donors;

• Faculty exchanges;

• Full tuition waivers for on-line programs.

The OAS Scholarship and Training Program is one of the oldest in the Americas. Our experience in the recruitment and se lection of scholarship recipients for placement in Higher Education institutions extends to 34 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. For Haitian students in particular, our dedicated staff of the OAS-DHDEC in Washington, D.C. and our OAS Office in Haiti are able to offer the assistance these students need to get through the application process during these difficult times.

The OAS is, therefore, the ideal partner for educational institutions in its member countries that are willing to offer capacity building and scholarships to Haitians.

Please inform whether and how your institution will contribute to this Program. Do not hesitate to contact Jeanelle van GlaanenWeygel of the OAS Department of Human Development, Education and Culture:

jvanglaanenweygel@oas.org or tel. 202 458 3890, if you have any suggestions or questions for the successful implementation of this Emergency Program for Haiti.

We look forward to your response.

Albert Ramdin
Assistant Secretary General
Organization of American States