Q & A

 What is the typical day for a school age child? Joan DeGraff

Joan, I am so glad you asked this question.  Just today I was thinking about all the children that attend school here at the Church were we are staying.  Pere Val is the Rector for four parishes and each has a school attached.  The largest is St. Simeon’s.  When I first visited Haiti, the school only was kindergarten through 6^th grade.  They have fundraised the money to open the school through the 12^th grade and they are in the progress of completing the classrooms.  The children wear nice uniforms that their mothers make for them.  The smaller children wear read and white gingham uniforms and the older children wear blue uniforms. 

The children attend school from 7:00am-1:00pm and receive breakfast while at school.  The reason they go to school so early is because of the heat.  It is currently in the 90’s here.  St. Simeon’s recently completed a cafeteria and has a well for clean water.  I just learned today that most Haitians eat two meals a day, breakfast and dinner around 3:00 in the afternoon. 

The children are learning both French and English in addition to their native speech of Creole.  I took some pictures this afternoon of some of the students that live at St. Simeon’s and they are posted below.  They studied, helped with chores, helped take care of some of the smaller children, and had some time for play.  I just witness a mother going over homework with her son and daughter. 

We have had an opportunity to play cards with some of the children that live at St. Simeon’s.  They seem to understand English and can ask a few questions.  The most interesting thing that I have observed is that they are included in annual pledges for the Church.  Even though their parents pay their pledge, it is way to instill in them giving at an early age.  They have a pledge card with their name on it that they must turn in every year. 

Thanks for your question and let us know if we can answer anything else!  

Blessings,

Mary Balfour