Our students and teachers are turning the page to a new school year, and we couldn't be more excited!
This November, more than 1,650+ students enrolled in our ESPWA schools and other educational programs and are finally returning to the classroom. After an unconventional school year that started late because of political unrest and ended early due to COVID-19, we are counting down the days until the 2020-21 school year begins. That’s why we’ve set a goal of raising $125,000 between now and October 31 to support our students preparing for the new school year.
It's a clean slate for our students and teachers, and we're committed to making it count for children like
Jefté and Rose-Mirlanda!
One of our ESPWA social workers recently paid a visit to a family living in a local community. The Rosembarts have two young children: Jefté (age 5) and Rose-Mirlanda (age 6). When our social worker first met this family, they noticed the kids were wearing dirty clothing, had no shoes and were also at home at 10 am on a school day because their widowed mother could not afford to send them to school.
They were living in a dire housing situation, malnourished and with minimal economic means. After their father’s death in 2018, the family’s situation deteriorated severely and caused them to live in a vulnerable situation with little opportunity for education or economic advancement. The mother herself cannot read or write and had resigned to keeping her children at home, where they would wander around the community in search of food.
Our ESPWA workers intervened, determined to still keep the family together, and Jefté and Rose-Mirlanda started at a local school in January 2020. Unfortunately, their educational experience was short-lived, as schools quickly closed down in March due to COVID-19. That’s why this November will be such a milestone for the Rosembarts: these two little ones will have the opportunity to start their first year of school – the opportunity for a fresh start.They recently shopped for their uniforms and are excited for what lies ahead!
As tragic as their story was, it's not unique. There are many more families who cannot afford the opportunity to provide their children with an education.
Together, we can change that!
So will you join us in raising $125,000 to fund 250 tuition scholarships between now and October 31st?
“Haiti's school children missed class this year first due to months of violent unrest, then the coronavirus pandemic. Now, as schools are finally reopening, many parents can no longer afford it, raising the prospect hard-won gains in education could be lost...”
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