Older Haitian children who haven't had the chance to begin school are excluded from ever starting school. Schools reserve 1st grade for young children. These older kids not only grow up illiterate, they are at great risk for being sent away into domestic servitude where they face abuse and neglect. Beyond Borders helps schools develop accelerated education classes where students complete two years of school each year. Parents often retrieve children from slavery to enroll them in these classes.
There just aren't enough schools in rural Haiti. The few schools that exist are often too far away for young children to reach by foot, delaying their enrollment. But once children reach ten without beginning school they rarely get the chance to ever start school because most schools restrict enrollment in 1st grade to younger kids. These unschooled youth not only grow up illiterate, they are also at great risk for being sent away to the city to live in a modern form of slavery called restavek.
Beyond Borders helps schools develop accelerated education classes designed just for over-aged children. Students complete two years of the national curriculum in a single year and are eventually mainstreamed with children their own age. Parents not only decide not to send their children into servitude, they retrieve children they've already sent away and enroll them in these schools. This is part of our effort to help villages guarantee every child an education and stop their flow into slavery.
Children who would otherwise be left behind in their education can catch up to their peers and eventually mainstreamed with students their age. Some children who would otherwise be sent away to work for other families remain with their parents, and some parents retrieve children they've already sent away. Education programming prepares students to build better lives and stronger communities.
Accelerated Education reaches the most disadvantaged children, children who wouldn't otherwise have a chance to go to school... but now become quickly literate and then catch up with their peers.
- Christmas Barjon, Director, St. Jacques Episcopal School, Brezilyenn
Total Funding Received to Date: $10,164
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $1,836
Total Funding Goal: $12,000
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