Espwa pou Demen – “Hope for Tomorrow”
While many only hear about gang violence, hurricanes and earthquakes in the news, there is a bright light in the midst of the current chaos. Children in one remote region, in the village of Sonis, part of the Nouvelle Touraine region, are receiving an education because of the participation of individuals who believe that education is the catalyst needed for lasting change.
There is no public education available in Haiti. Private schools around the village serve students up to 9th grade, but the quality of this education is quite poor by international standards. Currently students must travel to Petionville near the capital of Port-au Prince, for high school, which is very far from the village of Sonis. The village is about a 3 to 5 hour walk from the nearest road for vehicular traffic. The adult literacy rate is about 30%. With no clean water, limited access to markets and healthcare, the people of Sonis really need our help.
After starting to rebuild the Church in Sonis, we opened The Royal Institute School on November 4, 2019. This has been a tremendous blessing to the community. We started in 2019 with 35 students. Today by God’s grace, we are currently serving over 150 children in preschool through 5th grade. Achievement exam results show 86 percent of current students are meeting national standards for being promoted to the next grade.
While we make do with what is available, a dedicated school building is desperately needed. Developing a high school in the community to offer a full education without the need to travel long distances is another goal.
Through sponsorship and mentorship, we help the kids to move forward in their learning process. While we are helping them through education, we also use a life mentorship program (AFC Kids program) that can help them develop leadership skills. This can bring positive change into their lives and their community. We teach them to be responsible and to be in charge of their duties and freedom. We start by helping them to use what they have around them in their community to meet their needs.
Vocational training is very much in need in the area. For students nearing completion of high school, we strive to support at least five students each year in five different domains of advanced studies: veterinary medicine, carpentry, nursing, and agriculture. As a part of this program, students will be required to return to the village for a period of time upon completion to share what they have learned, so they can help others in the community.
Espwa pou Demen – “Hope for Tomorrow”
While many only hear about gang violence, hurricanes and earthquakes in the news, there is a bright light in the midst of the current chaos. Children in one remote region, in the village of Sonis, part of the Nouvelle Touraine region, are receiving an education because of the participation of individuals who believe that education is the catalyst needed for lasting change.
There is no public education available in Haiti. Private schools around the village serve students up to 9th grade, but the quality of this education is quite poor by international standards. Currently students must travel to Petionville near the capital of Port-au Prince, for high school, which is very far from the village of Sonis. The village is about a 3 to 5 hour walk from the nearest road for vehicular traffic. The adult literacy rate is about 30%. With no clean water, limited access to markets and healthcare, the people of Sonis really need our help.
After starting to rebuild the Church in Sonis, we opened The Royal Institute School on November 4, 2019. This has been a tremendous blessing to the community. We started in 2019 with 35 students. Today by God’s grace, we are currently serving over 150 children in preschool through 5th grade. Achievement exam results show 86 percent of current students are meeting national standards for being promoted to the next grade.
While we make do with what is available, a dedicated school building is desperately needed. Developing a high school in the community to offer a full education without the need to travel long distances is another goal.
Through sponsorship and mentorship, we help the kids to move forward in their learning process. While we are helping them through education, we also use a life mentorship program (AFC Kids program) that can help them develop leadership skills. This can bring positive change into their lives and their community. We teach them to be responsible and to be in charge of their duties and freedom. We start by helping them to use what they have around them in their community to meet their needs.
Vocational training is very much in need in the area. For students nearing completion of high school, we strive to support at least five students each year in five different domains of advanced studies: veterinary medicine, carpentry, nursing, and agriculture. As a part of this program, students will be required to return to the village for a period of time upon completion to share what they have learned, so they can help others in the community.
