Church School Graduation

This is our first year of having a church school. It is separate from the school at HCH, and is affiliated with the church that we attend here in Haiti. This school is supported by a church that is pastored by Mike and Corrine Mannes, a family who recently brought their two boys home from Haiti. The project is being run by Steve Johnson, Canada side, and I am what you all the go-between for them. The school started with first and second grade, and the children that attend this school are those who would NOT have been able to attend school this year due to their parents not having the funds to send them. The church that supports the school also funds their uniforms, books and everything else they need for their education. It costs about $150 to send a child to school in Haiti, and this is a large amount when your annual cash flow for the entire year is about $300. So, this school is a blessing for many children, as for most of them it is the first time they have ever had the chance to atttend school.

They also provide a hot lunch every school day. Graduation day was really exciting for the children. Lori and I were very happy to be able to attend and see what they accomplished. There was a prize given to the child who made the highest grades over the whole year, and also a prize given to those children with perfect attendance. There were 11 children who were not absent, out of 54, which was a high percentage!! The church that supports them gave each child a homemade backpack stuffed with school supplies, toys, toothbrush/toothpaste, facecloths, and other wonderful surprises. The children with perfect attendance recieved a monetary gift and a small toy to encourage them to study more and attend school regularly. For the first graduation from this school, it went very smoothly and even started on time!! The parents were so appreciative of the support this school provides and the gifts that were sent from so far.