Five questions to Bathelemy Bolivar, author of Mots de terre

Cendrine Marrouat: Hello Bathélemy, thank you for answering my questions. Who are you and what do you do?

Bathélemy Bolivar: I am a teacher, poet and essayist living in Winnipeg since 2002. My publications include Manguiers têtus (Éditions du Blé, 2005), for which I received the Prix littéraire Rue Deschambault in 2007, and Rebondir (Éditions d’art Le Sabord, 2007). I am currently enrolled in a doctoral program in the teaching of science and mathematics at the University of Manitoba.

CM: Your latest poetry collection, Mots de terre / Voices of the Earth, deals with the January 12, 2010 earthquake that shook Haiti, killing more than 300,000 people and leaving more than a million homeless. Tell us a little more about it.

BB: This book paints a moving picture of Haiti and the chronic suffering of its people in the form of a long poem. It constitutes an appeal on behalf of a country struggling to carry on, stirring the conscience of a world that has become all too accustomed to hearing about disasters. It describes the horror of January 12, 2010 and the cries of an entire people who continue to face the anguish of a nightmare that will not end. Mots de terre / Voices of the Earth traces the dramatic moments in the fate of a nation whose vulnerability has been so clearly exposed by this unprecedented catastrophe.

CM: Where can people purchase the book? Where will the sales proceeds go?

BB: All proceeds from the sales of this book will be used to create a distance education program that will offer free, high-quality courses for students whose schools were destroyed in the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

The book can be purchased through Amazon and CreateSpace. 

CM: How can people get involved and help?

BB: Those who are interested in fostering the Haitian dream of Education for All can help by doing one of the following:
1. First of all, buy Voices of the earth and/or send to friends and relatives.
2. Promote the book and the related Project: Haitian School without Borders through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Hi5, etc.
3. Make a donation to Haitian School without Borders: All donations are tax deductible.
4. They can provide us with open source instruction materials, teachers’ guides in math or in other subjects like science, and English; curriculum materials,
5. They can adopt a student, that means pay a small annual student fee to keep our virtual school running, Internet subscription for students, laptop, or provide the project with Internet dedicated servers.
6. In fact, we accept shares, bequest, life insurance, etc.
7. Above all, we welcome people, ideas, and their precious time. We are looking for volunteers in the following areas: teachers, website designers with Flash, website programmers, video editors, writers for the web, administrative assistants, grant writers, public relations manager, reviewers, etc.

CM: What, according to you, are the most pressing needs that must be addressed in Haiti right now?

BB: Sure shelter constitutes the highest priority because the earthquake victims are still living in a quite precarious manner, meaning without proper food, hygiene conditions, and basic health care. However, in the long run, an accessible and free quality education is the best gift we can provide to this country. I am referring to this kind of education that fosters change, real change that can permanently and positively affect the physical and the human environment. That way, we are meant to promote the new Haiti with a brighter future for the next generations.

Feel free to contact Bathelemy Bolivar:
cotexte@gmail.com
204-230 8017

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