Send a Child to School

In September we were faced with a heartwrenching decision.  We had a child whose mother could no longer afford to send him to our school.  She was going to be forced to move the child to another school where the tuition was much less.  The child cried and cried, told his mom he didn't want to go to school at the other school, he even became rebellious and told his mom he would not go to the other school.

He knew having been to other schools before he would not do well at the other school.  The classrooms had 35-40 children in a class, he knew he wouldn't do well in this environment.  He knew he would be bullied and he would not get the attention he needed to succeed.  He knew Ambergris Caye Elementary was where he needed to be.

As a school, we were faced with a real dilemma, we had no scholarship money to offer this child.  We already had 14 children on scholarships and all money set aside for the purpose of sending children in need to school had been allocated.  All we could do was pray the money would come from somewhere to help this child. 

Finally, two weeks before school was to start we reached out to a professor we knew in the States who also knew the child.  We talked at length about the child and his needs. We discussed what it was going to take to make sure he was successful. We agreed it would take 2 to 3 years to make sure he was ready to attend High School.  Being the amazing person she is, she said, "Let's do it.  I will raise the money to keep him in ACES for the next 3 years if necessary!"  

What an amazing commtiment! Today, this child is here, he is happy, and he is trying his hardest! Our professor friend has been true to her word and through Global Giving and a couple dozen of her firends and family they have donated enough money to keep this boy in school for almost two years!  They have been able to accomplish this in less than a month's time.  I know they will be able to keep this child in school until he is ready for High School.  Now, the ball is in our court, we, as a school, will do our job of getting him ready!

Not every child has this opportunity, not every school offers what ACES offers, with low student to teacher ratios and one on one attention for all students. Not every school is a safe haven where a child will not suffer with bullying. It is through people like this professor, people just like you that sometimes a child's wants and needs are met.  Please help us help children...be generous, give now.