Category "News"

Blue Butterfly responded quickly to the spread of coronavirus. In March 2020 we began producing COVID-19 PSAs for our Haitian audience and created and distributed a distance learning program known as Ti Lekòl Lakay (“Little Home School”).

Ti Lekòl Lakay is a 10-week audio-based program that we distributed via WhatsApp to over 1,000 families and educators while schools were closed in Haiti. Many of the educators forwarded it on to additional families. The program kept children engaged in learning throughout the school closures with fun, engaging stories and lessons. Each lesson was accompanied with a PDF that provided educational support and activities.

The response to Ti Lekòl Lakay was very favorable. Parents found that their children looked forward to the audio lessons each day. One parent said “My children are eager to receive each day’s lesson. They break up the routine of the day and are a special message just for kids.” Another parent said, “My children are eager to receive each day’s lesson. They break up the routine of the day and are a special message just for kids.”

One educator said “These audios not only will educate the children, their families, and teachers but the audios are providing professional development for the teachers. [They] are good examples of alternative ways to teach the students. Thank you for making a huge difference in Haiti.”

For more information on Blue Butterfly’s COVID-19 response, read our report of activities as well as our “lessons learned” document.

Due to civil unrest, schools in Haiti have been closed since September. That means children have been out of school since last June. Blue Butterfly is keeping children engaged in educational activities through our educational media project, LAKOU KAJOU.

Businesses, schools, universities, and government offices are closed. People are not leaving their homes, both from fear of violence and because transportation is limited due to fuel shortages. The country is in crisis.

Imagine what it’s like for families whose children are unable to go to school. School leaders are saying that even if the crisis ends soon, schools will not be able to open until January at the earliest. Whatever is happening in the world around them, Haitian children continue to deserve a high-quality education. And when the crisis is over, education is a key to long-term change for Haiti’s future.

Lakou Kajou is a bridge to learning

Blue Butterfly’s innovative LAKOU KAJOU educational video series is bringing high-quality educational experiences to Haitian children, even during this crisis. Thanks to our loyal following on social media, we are reaching Haitian parents with messages that help them engage their children in educational activities. Twice per week we send messages to Haitian parents reminding them of ways they can keep their children learning, even when school is closed. Here are some of the tips:

• Have your child practice writing his/her name. Name each letter.
• How many letters are in his/her name? Count the letters.
• Use a special notebook for practicing school things every day. You can start even if you don’t have a notebook.

Looking to the Future

Like everyone in Haiti, we hope this crisis will end soon. And we will be there when it does, continuing to deliver high-quality educational experiences like the LAKOU KAJOU videos, because we believe helping children reach their highest potential will bring positive change to Haiti for the long term.

Donate Now

Producing high-quality educational programming costs money. Your support—in any amount—will help us bring educational experiences to children in Haiti during the current crisis and beyond.

Check out this coverage of Lakou Kajou, Blue Butterfly’s innovative educational video series for young Haitian children, in Le Nouvelliste, Haiti’s premier newspaper.

Lakou Kajou is an educational video series in Creole for Haitian children and their families. Animated seven-year-old twins Lili and Tilou have adventures in and around their neighborhood that help children develop important skills in math, science, literacy, problem solving and more. The series is developed by a team of Haitian educators, artists, animators, and film professionals. Research on the program’s educational impact has found positive effects on children’s learning.

Lakou Kajou is produced by Blue Butterfly in collaboration with InnovEd (an educational institute at the Université Quisqueya) and Muska Group (a video production company based in Port-au-Prince). The program is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, FOKAL and individual donors. Lakou Kajou’s offices are at Université Quisqueya.

DreamWorks Animation’s new Where’s Waldo? TV series for children launches today on Universal Kids. The show sends the popular character and his best friend Wenda on adventures around the world.

Blue Butterfly provided cultural advising for the shows’ scripts, helping to ensure that each episode represents the local cultures accurately and appropriately. We worked with local advisors from each of the locales “visited” by Waldo and Wenda, from Austria to Zimbabwe.

Lakou Kajou‘s latest videos are now available on YouTube, bringing a new set of fun, educational videos to children all over Haiti. This series focuses on three themes: exercise, transportation, and landmarks. The season includes videos that teach core skills in math, science, Kreyol literacy, along with socio-emotional learning such as how to effectively cope with feelings and caring for others. Check out a few from this season (with English subtitles) or go to Lakou Kajou YouTube channel for the full series.

Lakou Kajou is an educational video series in Creole for Haitian children and their families. Animated seven-year-old twins Lili and Tilou have adventures in and around their neighborhood that help children develop important skills in math, science, literacy, problem solving and more. The series is developed by a team of Haitian educators, artists, animators, and film professionals. Research on the program’s educational impact has found positive effects on children’s learning.

Lakou Kajou is produced by Blue Butterfly in collaboration with InnovEd (an educational institute at the Université Quisqueya) and Muska Group (a video production company based in Port-au-Prince). The program is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, FOKAL and individual donors. Lakou Kajou’s offices are at Université Quisqueya.

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald‘s Caribbean correspondent, took a close look at Lakou Kajou, Blue Butterfly’s innovative educational video series for young Haitian children. Calling it “a first for Haiti,” Charles review the genesis for the show, which started when Linda Costigan, a Haitian-American film producer toured Haiti with  Dr. Charlotte Cole, Blue Butterfly’s co-executive director for programs. As head writer Gilbert Mirambeau Jr said, “Why it’s unique? Because it’s so Haitian. We don’t have that here.”

“It’s not Big Bird. Meet Tilou and Lili in this Sesame Street inspired Haiti series.” Miami Herald, December 20, 2016

Lakou Kajou is an educational video series in Creole for Haitian children and their families. Animated seven-year-old twins Lili and Tilou have adventures in and around their neighborhood that help children develop important skills in math, science, literacy, problem solving and more. The series is developed by a team of Haitian educators, artists, animators, and film professionals. Research on the program’s educational impact has found positive effects on children’s learning.

Lakou Kajou is produced by Blue Butterfly in collaboration with InnovEd (an educational institute at the Université Quisqueya) and Muska Group (a video production company based in Port-au-Prince). The program is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, FOKAL and individual donors. Lakou Kajou’s offices are at Université Quisqueya.