The
Sant Teknoloji Shada (Shada Technology Center) was established in 2008 with the local youth group, UJDS. The center is a place for community organizing and technological outreach projects ranging from water treatment, to sanitation, to trash recycling.
SOIL began working in Shada in 2006 when we developed a friendship with a dynamic community leader named Madanm Bwa. Those of you who have visited us in Shada will remember her fondly for her endless energy, strong embraces and fierce devotion to her community.
When we first began visiting Shada we were always greeted by a gregarious group of 20-40 kids gathered in front of Madanm Bwa’s house who would sing to us and sit in our laps. We fell in love with Shada from the beginning and have worked closely with Madanm Bwa and hundreds of kids who call her “Big Mama” ever since.
In 2007, 16 youth participated in the
Looking Through Their Eyes project. The kids took incredible photos reflecting the reality of their daily lives in Shada and began to collectively discuss their fears and hopes. These were all put into a
beautiful music video.
After the completion of the photo project the kids decided to create their own organization called Union des Jeunes pour le Développement de Shada (UJDS- (Youth for the Development of Shada). Since their founding UJDS have collaborated with SOIL on a number of projects, from constructing several public dry toilets, to participating in the
Garbage Doesn’t Exist contest.
In 2008 the group had increased its membership to over 100 kids and outgrown the small space in front of Madanm Bwa’s house inspiring SOIL to rent a small room on the second floor of a house nestled in the narrow alleyways of Shada. This small room turned into the Shada Technology Center (STS). The center has one part-time employee, hundreds of youth participants, and 20 active youth volunteers. Since 2008 this small room has been the organizing center for youth activities in Shada.
SOIL is pleased to announce that with the support of our friend Nadine Mentor we were able to purchase a 5 room building in Shada where we will soon be moving the technology center. The house is a little run down and we plan to begin repairs in January 2010. Stay tuned for updates and photos in the new year.
Sant Teknoloji Shada Accomplishments
- Helped to build and now manage a neighborhood dry toilet.
- Held school sit-ins to protest the cost of education. Only one UJDS member was in school last year. Many of our visitors to Shada heard their story and raised money to send 50 UJDS members to school for the past 2 years.
- Established 4 rap groups and a Konpa band that practice at the tech center.
- Established a soccer team.
- Organized neighborhood garbage clean-up days. They designed their own hats to designate the clean-up team using cardboard and material from the garbage and work together to pick up trash.
- Help run a weekly health clinic at the tech center. Youth volunteer to take names, look up files, and help the doctor.
- The tech center (mostly an empty room right now) already provides space for the clinic, youth group meetings, music practice, and a weekly spiritual reflection
- Started a sewing program for 38 kids. The group is now working on using recycled materials in their sewing projects.
- Installed a UV water treatment system
Sant Teknoloji Shada Dreams
- Establish urban gardening/raised bed planting projects to reclaim lots used for garbage dumping.
- Begin making sandals out of recycled materials
- Offer training in sewing and shoe repair for youth (as part of the garbage transformation project).
- Establish a library of school books and Kreyol reading materials.
- Offer peer education on water/sanitation/hygiene, using raps, theater, or songs.
- Help to manage an indoor toilet project that SOIL and SOL are working on in Shada.
