Help us bring Special-Ed to Haiti!
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In Haiti children with intellectual disabilities are often seen as incapable of living normal lives. Rarely do they attend school and they often spend their days sitting at home or helping out with household chores. Let's help change that . . .
Last year, we visited St. Charles Borromeo School, a well-run private school in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. The school offers children in the community a full curriculum that covers core subjects such as math, grammar, and social studies. In addition to classes, the school also encourages physical fitness and supplies ample clean water, as well as a nutritious meal and snacks. It was obvious to us that the students were happy, and that St. Charles Borromeo looked like a fun place to go to school - for all kids.
During our visit, we spoke with the principal, Sister Gloria, about the possibility of helping children with intellectual disabilities get into St. Charles Borromeo. While the school did not yet serve this population, Sister Gloria was intrigued at the idea of bringing children from the community with intellectual disabilities to the school, and our journey began.
We spent the last year strategizing with Sister Gloria and local stakeholders, taking another trip this past May to visit the St. Charles Borromeo School. After much hard work and planning, we have identified 16 children with intellectual disabilities from the community who will participate in our first kindergarten class this fall!
Four of our children are coming from a local orphanage, and their names are Stevenson, Linda, Benjino, and Gerline. We have an amazing special education teacher for the kids, named Madame Rony! The St. Charles Borromeo school will supply our new students with the same positive and lively environment that the other children receive in addition to clean water, and two full nutritious meals a day. We are also partnering with Special Olympics Haiti (click here for more about this!), to ensure that these children enjoy the benefits of exercise, sport, and teamwork!
Harold is another of our soon-to-be students for this pilot class. We first met this cheerful child on our visit to the school in May 2012. Harold was sitting quietly in the shade on that warm afternoon, waiting for his siblings to finish their day of classes. Since then, we have gotten to know Harold a bit. Harold non-verbal but very sociable and lovable with a great sense of humor and a beautiful smile. On October 2nd, 2013 he left the shade and joined his siblings and friends at the school!
The cost of the project is $13,500 which will include an entire year (10 months) of tuition and fees for all 16 children ($1,200), the salaries of the teachers and three aides plus bonus ($6,125) the Special Olympics coach and program ($1,000), a nutritious breakfast and lunch ($4,000), and three educational class trips ($1,000).
A little bit goes a long way in Haiti and every donation will be appreciated! Also, please copy this website, and share with your friends and family! Let's fund these children's education, let's help give them and their families hope for the future; and best of all, let's help drive change in the attitudes and perceptions of people in Haiti toward those with disabilities!!
By the way, if it is easier for you to mail us a check, kindly make it out to "Tarik Khan," in the Memo section write "Enabling Minds Donation" and send it to us at:
Enabling Minds
12 Kings Oak Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19115
Thank you!!!!!!
PS If you didn't get a chance earlier, kindly click here for a piece about our partnership with Special Olympics Haiti . . .
Last year, we visited St. Charles Borromeo School, a well-run private school in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. The school offers children in the community a full curriculum that covers core subjects such as math, grammar, and social studies. In addition to classes, the school also encourages physical fitness and supplies ample clean water, as well as a nutritious meal and snacks. It was obvious to us that the students were happy, and that St. Charles Borromeo looked like a fun place to go to school - for all kids.
During our visit, we spoke with the principal, Sister Gloria, about the possibility of helping children with intellectual disabilities get into St. Charles Borromeo. While the school did not yet serve this population, Sister Gloria was intrigued at the idea of bringing children from the community with intellectual disabilities to the school, and our journey began.
We spent the last year strategizing with Sister Gloria and local stakeholders, taking another trip this past May to visit the St. Charles Borromeo School. After much hard work and planning, we have identified 16 children with intellectual disabilities from the community who will participate in our first kindergarten class this fall!
Four of our children are coming from a local orphanage, and their names are Stevenson, Linda, Benjino, and Gerline. We have an amazing special education teacher for the kids, named Madame Rony! The St. Charles Borromeo school will supply our new students with the same positive and lively environment that the other children receive in addition to clean water, and two full nutritious meals a day. We are also partnering with Special Olympics Haiti (click here for more about this!), to ensure that these children enjoy the benefits of exercise, sport, and teamwork!
Harold is another of our soon-to-be students for this pilot class. We first met this cheerful child on our visit to the school in May 2012. Harold was sitting quietly in the shade on that warm afternoon, waiting for his siblings to finish their day of classes. Since then, we have gotten to know Harold a bit. Harold non-verbal but very sociable and lovable with a great sense of humor and a beautiful smile. On October 2nd, 2013 he left the shade and joined his siblings and friends at the school!
The cost of the project is $13,500 which will include an entire year (10 months) of tuition and fees for all 16 children ($1,200), the salaries of the teachers and three aides plus bonus ($6,125) the Special Olympics coach and program ($1,000), a nutritious breakfast and lunch ($4,000), and three educational class trips ($1,000).
A little bit goes a long way in Haiti and every donation will be appreciated! Also, please copy this website, and share with your friends and family! Let's fund these children's education, let's help give them and their families hope for the future; and best of all, let's help drive change in the attitudes and perceptions of people in Haiti toward those with disabilities!!
By the way, if it is easier for you to mail us a check, kindly make it out to "Tarik Khan," in the Memo section write "Enabling Minds Donation" and send it to us at:
Enabling Minds
12 Kings Oak Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19115
Thank you!!!!!!
PS If you didn't get a chance earlier, kindly click here for a piece about our partnership with Special Olympics Haiti . . .
Organizer
Tarik Khan
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
