Head Start for 230 Pre-School Children in Haiti

Much remains to be done to ensure full implementation of the Head Start for 230 Pre-School Children in Haiti project as outlined in our most recent report  sent to donors two days ago.

This past year because of the unexpected and abrupt suspension of the School Feeding Program, subsidized by the Government of Haiti since 2008, Our Lady of Perpetual Help primary school was not able to provide each child with a nutritious daily meal--for many  the only meal of the day. About half of the children suffer from hunger, abdominal pains and/or headaches, conditions that adversely affected their cognitive and educational performance during the school year 2014-2015.

To sustain progress achieved so far through implementation of the early education initiative project, it is urgent, at the onset of the 2015-2016 school year, to resume giving  a daily nutritious meal to each child.

Your support for nutrition and education will increase the  probability of success  in primary school and beyond for preschoolers like Vanessa, Jeremie, Rose and Mayck whose stories were told in previous reports. 

One great day to support education and nutrition for the preschoolers and enhance their learning will be WEDNESDAY JULY 15TH starting at 9:00:01 EDT when GlobalGiving will provide a 40% match to donations made on line until available matching funds are spent.

The children and the Sisters pray daily for their benefactors.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or ideas at: info@p-h-ch.org

On behalf of the children MESI ANPIL! (BIG THANK YOU IN HAITIAN CREOLE)

Monique P. Garrity

The 2014-2015 school year ended in June for the 200 K and pre-K children at Ecole Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours in Petite-Riviere de l’ Artibonite.

Thanks to the support of our generous donors during this past year, pedagogical materials were again made available, teachers were better trained and remunerated, and two additional teachers were hired. This brought the total number of teachers and teachers’ aides to 8 and resulted in a student- teacher ratio of 25:1 compared to a high of 37:1 prior to the launch of the project.

Normil, head teacher of the pre-school, summed up her assessment of progress achieved: “ Because of the training we received last year and again at the beginning of this school year, for example on how to introduce the French language into communications, pre-numeracy and hygiene, among other topics, we were able to better educate the children. The children's academic level has improved and they are now more forthcoming and able to keep up with most activities. This past year was exciting for the teachers, the children, and their parents”.

Thank you very much for your interest in and support for our project. For next school year 2015-2016, please help up sustain progress achieved and continue bringing quality early childhood education to those at risk Haitian children.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or ideas at info@p-h-ch.org

Gratefully

Monique P. Garrity