Times of Crisis – Youth Perspective

Following is an excerpt from the spring semester 2013 session of THE SPARK of Le Flambeau program, now in its fifth year.  Featured below is  one of the topics and the resulting comment made by student Tamiyou who lives in Haiti – this is her first time in the program.  Tamiyou was voted by her peers and our Grader for the top award, THE SPARK of Le Flambeau for her comments throughout the session.

TOPIC:  What measures can be undertaken by a national government in times of crisis, whether it be a natural disaster, an economic or a political crisis? Justify your answer.

Comment from Tamiyou – Natural disaster and economic or political crisis are different fields. Each requires different measures. For each one affects deeper than the other. Government means ability and power to forsee. Because, government also means strategy and plans. And measures are not to be undertaken in the period of crisis, they are forseen. A national government’s ought to have a mechanism to absorb crisis thus, to be in possibility to respond to hard situations specially to natural disasters. Those are the worst for they can destroy the base of society : Human kind.

For natural disaster, a national government should always have a plan B. A lot of ressources, like food, clothes, drinking water, sanitary and psychologic assitance and above all: An Emergency Funds that could help people rebuild what have been destroyed, this could facilitate people to restart a new life as quick as possible. And for sure this shall have consequences on the economy, whatever how small it might be.

For economic or political crisis, a national government should always have a plan B too. For the economic part, people must be alerted and should know what the must do and how they can help fix problems. Because that’s how things work. they should work together if they want success.

And for the political part, transparency is demanded. Leaders must proove integrity and honesty to preserve the trust of people and facilitate them to react in a reasonable manner.

About THE SPARK of Le Flambeau
THE SPARK of Le Flambeau language exchange program is in its fifth year.  With a focus on extending  educational opportunities to bright underserved youth in and from Haiti while also adding significant value to the development of U.S. youth; THE SPARK of Le Flambeau aims to improve fluency in reading and writing in English for students in Haiti and in the U.S.  while fostering the exchange of culture and new friendships, and mentor-ships.   The top performer in Haiti receives a Dell notebook laptop computer and English learning software.  This recent session was a mini four week version held exclusively for students in Haiti.  The next full session of eight weeks, including students in Haiti and in the U.S. will be launched in September.

To see full list and pictures of winners from spring 2013 semester click here