By Monique P. Garrity | Project Leader
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is located in the town of Petite-Riviere de l’ Artibonite, where economic conditions have worsened over the past year for the disadvantaged families of the more than 200 children in the school’s early education program.
Against this backdrop, the GlobalGiving Head Start for 230 Pre-School Children in Haiti project launched in 2013 has been a game changer. Magalie, one of two teachers in charge of 50 three-year olds in Pre-School Class I shares below her thoughts on how the early childhood education program is benefiting Pre-School students at Our Lady of Perpetual School.
In her words:
“ When I started working with the pre-school program, there were only 80 children in pre-school and the three teachers in charge had limited prior training and no pedagogical materials to speak of. Before the project began, the student- teacher ratio was1: 45; now it is1: 25 -- an important step forward but a ratio which is still too high. We now have pedagogical materials, albeit not enough. The children are engaged in a whole range of activities focusing on creative expression, physical as well as social and emotional development. Our early childhood education program, with 210 students this school year in three classes, three teachers and four teachers’ aides, is considered one of the best in town.”
Magalie also shared with us the story of three-year-old Djoulina, one of the children in this year's Pre-School class I.
“ Djoulina is very intelligent and very attentive and is thriving in her first year at school. She gets along well with her classmates and participates with enthusiasm in all activities. When asked what are her favorite activities she answered: sports, singing, dancing, drawing and coloring or just playing during the recreation period.”
We are grateful to each and every one of you, generous donors , whose support financed the training of teachers, the provision of pedagogical materials, and adequate school furniture. Thanks to you, the children are benefiting from new educational opportunities and given a chance to contribute to the building of their communities. Educating these children is helping ensure the future of Haiti.
Please help us sustain the progress achieved so far in all areas including, inter alia, teacher training, additional teachers’ aides, pedagogical materials, and games. Moreover, building sanitary facilities adapted for three, four and five year olds as well as an adequate playground are also priorities.
We appreciate your suggestions on how to better reach out.Without your support none of this would have been possible.
The Sisters and children pray daily for the intentions of all their benefactors.
MESI AN PIL! Thank you in Haitian Creole.
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