Birmingham: Former Haitian PM to address Newman University College
Nine months after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the country’s former Prime Minister, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis will address an audience at Newman University College, Birmingham, highlighting vital lessons that can be learnt by the international community from the destruction.
Bishop William Kenny, one of the Auxilliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Birmingham and Chair of the Board of Governors at Newman University College, will host the forum during which Mme Pierre-Louis will pinpoint ways in which the international community can help address Haiti’s struggle to overcome the devastation of the earthquake, poverty and injustice and work for its longer-term development.
Newman University College Chaplain, Margaret Holland, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis to Newman. The event promises to provide a fascinating insight into the long rebuilding of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake and its existing struggles.
“The disaster saw a huge outpouring of public goodwill, both on campus and further afield. However, while Haiti may have moved from our TV screens, it will be enlightening to hear how development is progressing and what steps we can take to help.”
Mme Pierre-Louis assumed a pivotal role in the rebuilding of Haiti after the Duvalier dictatorship fell. She is now a world advocate for the just regeneration of Haiti following the earthquake at the beginning of 2010.
This event is free to attend and takes place at Newman University College’s chapel at 12.30pm on Wednesday 13 October.
Newman University College is a Catholic higher education institution based in Bartley Green, Birmingham and enjoys one of the highest graduate employment rates of any higher education institution in the country. Founded in 1968, Newman was awarded University College status in 2007, giving it the power to confer its own degrees. With a strong reputation for teacher training, the college also offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation degree courses covering a range of subjects, primarily in the fields of humanities and social sciences.