Head Start for 230 Pre-School Children in Haiti

The 200 preschoolers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Petite-Riviere de l’ Artibonite/Haiti have now excitedly

returned to school for their second trimester. Sister Christiane, principal of the school, reports that the first semester was

successful as measured by the attitude and learning of the children in all three sections: Kindergarten , Pre-K 1 and Pre-

K 2. More and better-trained teachers, renovated and more cheerful classrooms as well as greater availability of

pedagogical materials made a big difference in the children’s learning and well being.

Another key development that is having a huge impact on the children’s well-being and capacity to learn during 2015-

2016 school year is the provision to the children of a daily nutritional hot meal as well as morning snacks.[1] 

We are most grateful to our generous donors for reaching out to the children and giving them the transformative gift of education.

Top priorities for the Pre-School include : hiring additional teachers and bring the teacher student ratio from            1:34 to 1: 20 and,  increase teacher’s yearly salary from US$850 to US$1,000.

We invite you to visit our new website:www.partners-for-haitian-children.org and send us ideas and thoughts for meeting the challenges faced by the Pre-School.

MESI ANPIL for your support and for keeping faith in our mission.

[1] The previous school-feeding program managed by the Government of Haiti was suspended for school year 2014-2015. The lack of a daily hot meal had a huge negative impact on the children’s capacity to learn. Many of the children came to school hungry and suffered from headache and/or stomachache.

Since the start of school year 2015-2016, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School participates in the National School Feeding Program financed by foreign aid.