Change Lives with English Education

Your on-going support of the English in Mind (EIM) Institute continues to change lives in Haiti. The school thrives because of your generosity – but you aren’t the only ones supporting EIM.

A group of international supporters continue to travel to the school and help the Haitian staff and students. For this project report, we asked international team leader – Stephanie Price – to write an update on how EIM is developing:

“2014 has been a big year so far for English in Mind Institute!

In the spring we transitioned to a new, temporary building, which gives us more space to hold our classes simultaneously. We also have our own computer lab at the new school complete with six newly donated laptops with WiFi connection. In addition, we received a grant, which allowed us to outfit our teachers with iPads and projectors for their classes.

These advances in technology enable us to provide more English resources to our students that go beyond the textbook. In June, we also welcomed Jonathon Ende, the founder of several tech-start ups in New York who offered web coding classes to our Advanced students. Learning English is about connecting ourselves with the larger world and being more tech savvy will give us a true advantage moving forward.

Jonathon was not the only foreign volunteer to visit EIM this year. As of July we’ve already welcomed six new groups of American and Canadian volunteers to Haiti! These new friends taught us extra classes and administered additional test prep for our final exams in September. We also enjoyed extra time socializing outside the classroom, to further a cultural exchange that goes beyond English. Many of our students have noted that getting regular exposure to native English speakers is a true advantage of EIM, as it’s an opportunity rarely granted at other institutes.

What’s next for us? Last month we opened up registration for new 2015 students and were overwhelmed by the response. We had over 100 applicants on the very first day of sign ups and had to stop accepting names. Come November we’ll be able to decide how many we can afford to admit.

We also have two exciting new announcements: First, as of this month we’ve officially put a deposit down on our very own piece of land in Clercine! Construction won’t begin until late 2015 but it’s extremely exciting (and relieving) to have our own property and no longer be dependent on renting, which in Haiti can be unstable.

Secondly, after a long two-year process, our Haitian principal Brunel is proud to announce that EIM received its registration from the Haitian government. We’re official!”

All these developments wouldn’t be possible without your support – thanks so very much!

As always, if you ever have any queries about how we’re using your donation, please don’t hesitate to email Emma@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to hear from you.

We’re delighted to report that the English in Mind Institute just keeps growing!

Today, the school has 190 students. One of the school’s very first teachers is Omega. Omega learned English as a child, and, long before this project was posted on the internet, Omega realised that when he taught his friends and neighbours English, their lives improved.

So Omega teamed up with the school’s founder, Brunel, and began to hold classes wherever they could find the space. They didn’t have books, chairs, even a roof over their heads.

They did what they could. 10 students memorised basic phrases copied onto a piece of paper. Most of the time their only roof was a tarp which leaked in the rain, so they sat in the rain and studied. But despite the difficult conditions, every week students came to class, so Omega and Brunel persevered.

Their force of will built EIM’s foundations – and your generosity turned it from a dream into a thriving school.

Omega always had it in him to be a fantastic teacher, but without you he never would have had that opportunity. Thanks for investing in the school which allows him to change lives every day!

As we celebrate the school’s success, we also have to keep an eye on the future. And, as always, funds are essential to keeping the school open.

Happily, Microsoft is making it easier than ever to fund the school. In a month, Microsoft will double every donation you make! That means that, while it would normally cost $300 to send a student to school for a year, on June 25th you can fund a year’s education for just $150.

That makes June 25th a fantastic day to give! 

Thanks again for everythign you've done to help Omega. As always, if you have any questions about how we use your donations, please don’t hesitate to email Emma@IDVolunteers.org. I would love to hear form you!

Did you know that you’re not the only international support EIM receives? A few weeks ago a team of international volunteers traveled to the school to support EIM’s Haitian teachers.

The volunteers help the advanced students perfect nuances like pronunciation and provide extra classes on topics students find difficult.

Most importantly of all – they expand the network of EIM supporters worldwide who make is possible for students like Osnard to find jobs.

While the volunteers who recently joined us overseas are important, they wouldn’t have anything to do if it wasn’t for your generosity. Today, Microsoft will be matching your gifts by 50% - and that makes today a great day to give!

Normally, you would have to give around $300 to fund a student’s education for a year. Today you can fund a year of school for a student like Osnard for just $200.

We hope you’ll give what you can today and spread the word about how far your donations will go today!

Thanks so much, and – as always – if you have any questions about how we’re using your donations please don’t hesitate to email Emma@IDVolunteers.org.

First and foremost – thanks so much to everyone who gave on GlobalGiving’s most recent matching day! Your gifts on February 12th went 30% further to change the lives of 150 students at EIM.

Your generosity is making so many success stories possible that we can barely keep up!

We recently heard from a student named Davidson. You funded Davidson’s education right here on GlobalGiving. In that project we described how Davidson’s education would help him find a job and support his family.

We’re delighted to report that, with your support, Davidson has done exactly that! He's now working at a local non-profit tutoring vulnerable young people in English.

Not only does Davidson’s job help him, but his work enriches the lives of teens who would otherwise lack the education they need to build a secure future.

Thanks so much for making Davidson’s success and the success of all of Davidson’s students possible!

If you ever have any questions about how we’re using your donation, please don’t hesitate to email me directly at Emma@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to answer any questions you might have.

Thanks again, and we wish you all the best!

2014 at HTDC is off to a fantastic start. New teacher Alex is settling in with his new class and his students say he’s a fantastic intermediate teacher.

The New Year has also begun with new successes for EIM’s students. One story we particularly love is from a student named Eldie.

Last year, Eldie found work as a primary school teacher, but instead of leaving EIM, Eldie stayed on and continued to study hard. Recently, we learned that Elide’s hard work has resulted in her being given a promotion at work. Now, instead of just teaching a class, she’s been asked to take a role as the school’s head English teacher.

Not only does this help Eldie support her family, but it also means that the children in her school will learn English and be more able to find work in the future. Eldie’s fantastic success shows how teaching one person English can have positive effects much further down the line.

Eldie’s ability to support herself and her family while helping kids build a bright future wouldn’t have been possible without you – thanks so much!

We hope to help many more students follow in Eldie’s footsteps in 2014 but we can’t do it alone. We need donors like you to fund the school so that students like Eldie can keep learning.

This Valentines day, we’re hoping that you’ll show the school some love by giving on February 12th. Why February 12th and not 14th? Because on February 12th, GlobalGiving will match your donation by 30%!

That means that if you give just $10, GlobalGiving will add $3 to your gift, and we’ll have the funding we need to but books for a student. Please give what you can on February 12th.

Thanks so much for all you’ve given, and if you have any questions about our work please don’t hesitate to email Emma@IDVolunteers.org.