April 26, 2025
UNESCO delivered new equipment to Haiti’s Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage (ISPAN) on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to support a project aimed at digitizing its archives. This initiative, funded by France with a €40,000 contribution, seeks to protect and enhance access to Haiti’s historical documents. The handover ceremony was attended by Antoine Michon, the French ambassador to Haiti, and Eric Volibi, UNESCO’s representative, both of whom emphasized the project’s significance in preserving the nation’s cultural heritage.
Volibi highlighted the impact of the initiative, which will safeguard invaluable documents from deterioration while making them accessible to researchers, students, and the general public. He also praised France’s commitment to protecting Haitian heritage and commended ISPAN for its ongoing efforts in this critical mission. Digitization represents a major step forward in documenting and preserving key elements of the country’s history and culture.
The equipment provided to ISPAN includes computers, scanners, and other essential tools for digitizing archives. Michon noted that this support is part of France’s broader strategy to aid Haiti’s cultural preservation, citing ongoing collaborations with the Centre d’Art and FOKAL to conserve Haitian artwork. This initiative reinforces a longstanding commitment to safeguarding Haiti’s rich cultural legacy.
With this funding, ISPAN will be able to modernize its archive management system and improve accessibility, giving new momentum to the preservation of national heritage. By digitizing these documents, the institution ensures their transmission to future generations while facilitating research and the dissemination of knowledge on Haiti’s history and cultural heritage.
