Getting to Know Your International Contacts - Part 3

There has been a lot going on at the orphanage.  There is only 3 more weeks until the children go back to school, and they are hoping that their new building we be complete by then.  They seem very focused on the issue of quality.  This summer, a volunteer has been developing child assessments based on Haiti's Ministry of Education Learning Objectives for each level.  The goal is to assess each child, take the results of the assessments (taking into account: trauma, education level, past quality education, and developmental delays), and formulate individual life plans for each child.  These life plans will include three short term educational goals and three short term like skill goals.  It is hoped that the children will meet their goals in six month time increments.

They rely heavily on volunteers from the United States.  Professional development comes from the knowledge of the volunteers.  Their professional goals include training teachers the importance of developmentally appropriate practices for the varying age groups and the importance of play developmentally and socially.  They have been adjusting their play spaces to accomodate these goals.

The hopes and dreams are for quality education for all children of Haiti, but the biggest challenge is the poverty!