1. Overview In spite of the importance of education in the development of a healthy society, the successive governments of Haiti – as a result of continuous economic, social and political crises – have not invested adequately in this key sector. Consequently, the majority of disadvantaged children have received limited or no schooling at all.
Although the Haitian constitution states that primary school is free and guaranteed, the public school system has not been able to keep up with the rising number of students due to insufficient funding. As a result, private schooling is unfortunately the only choice for most students in Haiti , including disadvantaged children. With the rise in tuition rates and the difficult economic situation, it has become ever more difficult for parents to send their children to school. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for children to attend school only part of the year or worse once every few years.
In order to help alleviate the current situation, the Sporting Chance Foundation, the foundation J’Aime Haïti, and the foundation VOILA plan on providing educational opportunities to youths in difficult economic situation through the « L’Espoir par l’Education » initiative.
Unfortunately, underprivileged youths do not always have the possibility to attend learning institutions. The most important culprit is the difficult socio-economic environment in Haiti . It is quite ordinary for tuition rates to be higher than the income of the breadwinners. At times, parents are even forced to borrow money at hefty rates in order to send their children to school.
As a result, many children do not attend school full-time, paralyzing the future of the country. As can be expected, this educational crisis has magnification in other sectors as well. Businesses are unable at times to find qualified professionals locally, even though the rate of unemployment is very high. Patriotism and morality are seriously faltering in the country as very few develop a sense of belonging and moral responsibility towards Haiti , their motherland.
In the end, more and more youths believe hope and opportunities lie beyond the nation’s borders, increasing the problematic as a large percentage of those emigrating are endowed with a higher education or some professional training. Furthermore, with the existing challenging social, economic, and political situation in Haiti , the young people of the country are at a continuing risk of being mired in a cycle of violence and poverty. Regrettably, many at-risks youths join the ranks of gangs and never develop to their full potential, becoming in the long run a menace to the fragile stability of the country.
Providing educational opportunities to underprivileged youths is an essential groundwork to bring about sustainable and permanent positive change in Haiti . It offers young people the financial aid that will permit them to believe, follow, and create a better tomorrow for themselves and their country.
To tackle this educational challenge, the « L’Espoir par l’Education » initiative intends to provide financial aid to young disadvantaged pupils, for the long-term, using two approaches:
• Accelerated Scholarship Program
Through this program, underprivileged children will be given the opportunity to attend select schools in Haiti .
The program will also ensure that the children have all the required school materials, including books, notebooks, and uniforms.
If funds are available, some children, depending on needs, may also receive an allowance that will be used to pay for transportation to and from school and also to purchase one-meal during the day.
• Community School Scholarship Program
Through this program, disadvantaged youths will be given the opportunity to attend a modest community-based school.
If funds are available, the program will also ensure that the children have all the required school materials, including books, notebooks, and uniforms.
If funds are available, some children, depending on needs, may also receive an allowance that will be used to pay for transportation to and from school and also to purchase one-meal during the day.
To select the beneficiaries for the accelerated scholarship program, two different methods will be followed:
An aptitude test will be undertaken by children originating from several disadvantaged neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince.
The children with the highest scores and greatest financial need will be provided with the scholarships.
The children that show the highest intellectual capacity and aptitude will be enrolled in the elite program.
As an alternative, a psychologist could be hired in order to undertake an IQ test with the children.
The scholarship program will also target volunteers and contractors of the « L’Espoir par l’Education » initiative with high financial difficulties.
In return, these volunteers and contractors will be required to continuously help out in all community activities undertaken to further the objectives of the program and its sponsors.
C. Selection Process for the Community School Scholarship Program
The program will identify promising community schools and work hand in hand with them by selecting as beneficiaries for the scholarships enrolled students that are not able to pay the tuition fees.
5. Education Center
The « L’Espoir par l’Education » initiative intends to launch an Education Center . The goals of the Center are as follow:
- Facilitating the monitoring process of the children by providing adequate space where meetings with the children and parents can be held;
- Providing an environment for the children where learning is encouraged through the development of a small library and other initiatives;
- Offering tutoring services to children enrolled in the accelerated scholarship program that are struggling with their grades or need extra help to prepare their exams;
- Inviting guest speakers that have been successful in a particular field and can serve as role models for the children;
- Providing a small office space where the administrative work for the « L’Espoir par l’Education » program can be regularly performed.
The objectives of the program are manifold and include:
- Providing educational opportunities to underprivileged youths;
- Developing civism and moral responsibility among the beneficiaries;
- Building a common bond, solidarity and exchange among the youths;
- Inspiring the children to continue with their formal education by continuously monitoring their progress in school;
- Creating ties and affinity with the immediate family of the children enrolled in the program in order to ensure parental cooperation and encouragement.
All sponsors of the « L’Espoir par l’Education » initiative will be empowered by the resulting positive change to their image in the community.
This empowerment will allow sponsors to:
- Better position their institution around a noble theme: “ Providing Educational Opportunities to Underprivileged Youths;”
- Identify their institution to a program with high social impact and a long-term view;
- Improve the image of civil society as a responsible partner and promoter of collective interests.
The total budget for the « L’Espoir par l’Education » initiative is estimated to be US $ 67,881.72 per year, with a US $ 16,141.72 contribution by Sporting Chance Foundation.
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