Haitian Education & Literacy Program
Every child has a dream.....
Every child needs someone to believe in them.....
Every child needs someone who will walk beside them.....
The primary goal of the Haitian Education & Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.) is to connect students and sponsors so that children can realize the dream of an education. The nation of Haiti can be hugely impacted through your generous sponsorship of a child.
How does the program work?
Students are chosen by a committee in Pignon based on the family’s financial situation and chooses only those children who could not otherwise attend school. The H.E.L.P. program volunteers match a child with the sponsor and provide the sponsor with regular reports of student progress and information about the families.
What does my sponsorship provide?
Your annual scholarship provides tuition for your student as well as money to buy the required school uniform, books and school supplies. Children also receive a meal at noon three days each week.
How do I know my student is attending school?
Stateside HELP volunteers maintain accountability and follow up for all students in the program through yearly visits to Pignon and collaboration with the education coordinator in Pignon. Sponsors also receive a report card, updated photos of their sponsored child and other information as it becomes available.
How do I sponsor a child?
There are four ways to sign up as a sponsor
1. Fill out the on-line form.
2. Download the H.E.L.P. brochure and send in
3. Contact the H.E.L.P. office at 641-628-9353
4. E-mail
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The stateside Education Coordinator will assign a child from the waiting list compiled by the Comité Bienfaisance de Pignon. You will receive a photo and information about the child as soon as payment is received.
$125/year - Primary School
The official primary school cycle requires children to spend 6 years in school before becoming eligible for the state exam granting them a certificate of primary education (CEP).
$290/year - Secondary School
The official secondary education cycle requires students to spend 7 years in secondary school before sitting for the national exams in two consecutive years. Successful students receive a baccalaureate
If I cannot sponsor a child are there other ways to support students through the Haitian Education and Literacy Program?
HELPMATE FUND: Your donation will help fill in the gap for students who do not have a sponsor or whose sponsor has failed to renew their scholarship. Picture at right show students checking "the wall" to see if they have a sponsor. Many students are forced to drop from school while we are trying to find them a new sponsor so the HELPMATE fund pays their tuition and expenses until a new sponsor is found. Donations of any amount are appreciated.
FEEDING PROGRAM: Each of the eight primary schools supported by the Comite Bienfaisance/Promise for Haiti provide a meal three time a week for students. The meal consisting of rice and beans or pasta and may be the only meal the students have that day! Our goal is to feed the students and teachers every day and we are working with Meals for the Heartland to provide the additional meals 2X per week. You can help us meet that goal with your generous support! When students have proper nourishment and full tummies, their concentration improves , retention of information increases and they tend to be in school more consistently. Many teachers walk miles to get to their school. One teacher we met begins walking at 5:00 am to be at her school by 7:00am! So our program also includes meals for the seven teachers/principals at each school. The cost to feed an entire school 3X a week (250-300 students) for the year is only $5,000! (that's around 25 cents a meal!) Your contribution big or small can help us reach our goal.
BIBLE CURRICULUM: Students in our pre-school and kindergarten classrooms recieve religious instruction using a specially written Bible Curriculum developed for use in Haiti. This curriculum covers Old and New Testament stories from the Bible with life application, reinforcement activities and Bible memory with sign language. Grades 1-6 study the Bible with CRECH religious education materials written to reinforce Christian values and perspectives for students in Haiti. Everychild, even if they are not on scholarship, receives a Christian Education Book each year and teachers are trained on how to use the CRECH curriculum materials. Your donation of $25 can help us provide these materials on an annual basis and help students learn about the God who created them and invites them be be His children. Won't you please consider a one time gift to provide HOPE for children in Haiti?
To learn more about our eight Christian Schools click here.