O Haiti também é aqui: estudantes haitianos na Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS)

Abstract

The earthquake that struck Haiti, in 2010, had left thousands homeless, dead and injured; one of its consequences has been the emigration, and Brazil is one of the destinations, to be more accurate, the city of Chapecó. At this city, a group of Haitian immigrants searched for UFFS officers and demanded the creation of an education program, so, as a result, in 2013 has been created the Program of Access to Higher Education of Federal University of Fronteira Sul to Haitian Students (PROHAITI). Interviews, bibliographical research, documental research and field diary were used as tools of data production, via qualitative and descriptive approaches to understand the process of insertion and permanence of Haitians on UFFS, campus Chapecó. By this way, we are able to know about Haiti’s history, besides verify how is the acceptance of these immigrants in UFFS. We also compiled information concerning the Haitians’ perceptions about their new life to provide data to PROHAITI. Preliminary results indicate that is necessary to create programs to the Haitians students. As we found by the interviews, efficient strategies of permanency are necessary to support these immigrants that face many difficulties in learning a new language, working all day long and suffering race discrimination, among others.