L'Ecole du Village is an elementary school welcoming children to get them ready for basic reading, writing and math. L'Ecole du Village ensures a place for the children who are under privileged in the small community of Canobert at Ile-a-Vache, Haiti. EDEM Foundation invites you to join us and begin a caring and long lasting relationship with a child in need. 

Welcome to Ecole du Village

The children of Ile-a-Vache live in a particularly difficult situation. Some even at the age of 4 have to walk over an hour to get to the nearest school. Some parents can not afford the mere $1.25 registration fee required by the school. But this does not discourage the kids from waking up every morning looking for a place to learn. EDEM Foundation works together with HOPE Foundation to help cover the basic needs of the school and the salary of the teachers and the director. Your support helps us turn this remote location into a little paradise where education is key to the future of the children.

OJECTIVES:

  • Provide basic education to the children. 

  • Create a stimulating environment for the children to promote their physical, mental and social growth.

  • Develop programs that fit with the local environment of the school and the island.

  • Provide the school with the necessary tools to facilitate a good learning environment.

  • Encourage the involvement of the parents and the community at large in the education of the children.

 

Click here for more photos

Sponsor a Child
Make a friend for life

A small tax deductible donation of $60  is what it takes to cover one child for a year.  Please fill out the form below and list the child(ren) you wish to sponsor.  Please scroll down for a list of children.

First Name
Last Name
Street
City/State/Zip
         **Phone
Email
# of Children
List Children

**Phone Number not required
After submiting the form, please make your donation online by clicking here. or mail your donation to: 
EDEM Foundation
P.O Box 3313
Framingham, MA 01705

HISTORY OF ECOLE DU VILLAGE

On October 2005, L'Ecole du Village opened its doors  at Canobert, a small community in the island of Ile-a-Vache with the support of the Association " Solidaires de l'Ile à Vache-Haïti " of the Schools of Steiner-Waldorf, France. Myriam Silien who earlier moved from France to Ile-a-Vache took control of the school with the support of Florence Tessier, who volunteered to stay for 10 months. The kindergarten welcomed 13 children lead by Florence while Myriam ran the first grade class. Myriam and Florence were inspired by the Waldorf School system which they attended and applied the system to fit the environment of the children.  They limited the school to 16 students but the demand was so great that they could have welcomed over 100 children.

Starting the school was no easy task. Rain and storm delayed the construction of the school.  Myriam had to start the school under a tree. The children had a hard time focusing, they were passive and were not paying much attention. Most of the children never held a pen or a pencil in the past and showed no interest in the games. But the school finally took off and children showed up everyday with a smile.

Unfortunately by the end of 2006, Myriam had to leave the island. Florence completed her 10 months and returned back to Europe. Upon hearing about the closure of the school, Jean-Patrick and Bernadette Lucien of EDEM Foundation contacted some leaders in the community and offered to help reopen the school. Meetings were held by some leaders and parents and all agreed to reopen the school. H.O.P.E, an organization based in Chicago and supporting education in Haiti quickly committed to cover the salary of the teachers.  A committee was put in place by the members of the community to manage the school. Today, the school counted 26 students, 2 teachers, and a principal. The community of Canobert wishes to thank Myriam for her inspiration and initiative. 


SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

A committee made by members of the community (see picture left) assures the management of the school. The committee includes a president, vice-president, a treasurer, and a secretary. The school is run by Jean-Sauny Pierre. Jean Sauny has years of experience in the education sector and has ran other schools on the island.

The classes are taught by experienced teachers chosen by the school committee, all members of the community.

EDEM Foundation, located in Boston, Massachusetts togehter with HOPE Foundation provides financial and logistic support to the school. The committee gives a special attention to the involvement of parents in the activities of the school.


ABOUT ilE-A-VACHE 

Ile-a-Vache is a beautiful island located in the south of Haiti at 6 miles of the coast of the city of  LesCayes. Ile-a-Vache has a population of  about 22,000. The island is known for its beautiful environment, great history and friendly people.  The population and relies mostly on fishing and agriculture. Please visit  www.ile-a-vache.com for more info.


 ECOLE DU VILLAGE: CURRENT PROJECTS 

School Construction:
Ecole du Village is in an urgent need to move to a new location.  Within two years, the school has gone from 26 students to over 80 students adding one grade every year.  This year (2008), the school will reopen with 5 grades.  With the support of the community and the mayor, we are embarking on the construction of a new school.  Mayor Yvres Amazan of Ile-a-Vache and René Sillien provided the land for the school.  We also had the support of some friends from New-Hampshire, Dorise kowalewski and Nicholas Scalera who have volunteered 2 months of their time to go to Ile-a-Vache and help with the construction. Nicholas has been instrumental in helping fix some of our benches.
Our goal is to build 4 classrooms this year with your help and move some of our students to the new classrooms by March 2009. If you would like to join us in helping make a difference in the community, please
contact us or call us at 508-904-7491

The Ile-a-Vache Book: "J'aime Ile-a-Vache", "I Love Ile-a-Vache":
In order for provide the children of the island with a better education and a chance to discovery their won identity; EDEM Foundation has worked with the community to develop a children book about Ile-a-Vache.  The book has been reviewed by teachers and principals on the island and they all have agreed to incorporate it in their curriculum.  Children will learn the history, culture and geography of Ile-a-Vache through real life stories reflecting the daily life of people in the community.  Our goal is to make the book available not just to the students at Ecole du Vilage but to every school in the community.   If you would like to learn more about our book project please contact Jean-Patrick Lucien at 508-904-7491 or email at patlucien@yahoo.com


Thank You - Merci -  Mèsi

Please consider sponsoring a child.
Not sure who to picK? 
- Find a child who's birthday matches a special day in your life (birthday, anniversary, your child birthday)
- Sponsor a child who shares your first or last name.
- Have your children set aside a piggy bank to support a child.

Last Name

First Name

Birthday

 Sponsor

Sifleur

Jhonny

Oct. 17

Max Theodore

Silien

Noe

April 20

 

Silien

Rose Taina

Dec. 13

Carline Gelé

Gerve

Orinette

July 29

 

Gerve

Johnny

April 15

Charlot Lucien

Boyer

Davidesson

Agu. 13

Rachel Mangones

Merand

Wadson

Mar. 14

 

Archil

Deve

April 3

 

Laguerre

chelnord

Sept. 11

Joseph Brunel

Bernard

Rose dania

Jan. 13

 

Eliscar

Wedesline

Aug. 26

 

Geneste

Peterson

Nov. 24

 

Bernard

Kenly

March 10

Bernadette Lucien

Ilmo

kevens

Sept. 24

Edouard Mangones

Eliscar

wedesly

Aug. 26

 

Alexandre

kervens

Augut. 8

 

Jean

Olienne

Oct. 13

 

Archil

Dieunise

Oct. 12

 

Charlot

Mikelson

April 14

Sarah Lucien

Ariste

Jean Sony

Dec. 5

 

Silien

Dieunie

Jan. 21

 

Galletant

Julienne

Dec. 25

 

Sincyr

Germain

OCt. 3

 

Bauvais

Lise

Feb. 8

 

Alexandre

Kendiana

Oct. 15

 

Lamisere

Stephanie

July 5

 

Laguerre

Slanda

Jan. 11

 

Mesidor

Milora

Nov. 17

 

Bernard

Fabrice

Feb. 6

 

Justin

Ros Mayson

Sept. 27

 

Beleston

Jimmy

Mar. 19

 

Douyon

Schalency

Nov. 13

 

Dumas

Faliere

Sept.1

Anne Dagmara Monfort

Azaine

Erilienne

Oct. 25

 

Sylien

Joanne

Feb. 5

 

Leonard

Rose Berlie

Sept. 29

Doris Doney

Laguerre

Frantzso

Jan. 01

 

Azaine

Rebecca

Jan. 30

 

Sainvil

Wathson

Oct. 9

Patrick+Cheryl Spoletini

Pierre

Richadson

Aug. 8

 

Marceille

Marc Donald

Aug. 2

 

Mesidor

Marie sonia

Jan. 9

 

Alexanxdre

Alexander

May 10

Charles Monfort

Jn Louis

Wismick

Nov. 7

 

Lima

Jhon Kely

May 31

 

Silien

Rose Menka

Aug. 2

 

Charlansy

Douyon

June 31

 

Vilson

Rose Alan

Fe. 5

 

Pompee

Marie Ednica

Nov. 28

Thelusma Cadet

Nerestant

Jamesly

Jun. 12

 

Silien

Paterson

Jun. 2

 

Bernard

Fabrice

Feb. 6

 

Med

Jules

Apr. 28

 

Maurice

Pierreson

Mar. 8

 

Jules

Kenson

Sept. 22

 

Nazaire

Francene

May 19

Michael Pearigen

Merant

Jean Willy

July 2

 

Sinfirmin

Kenson

Mar. 16

 

Nerestant

Jameson

Fe. 12

 

Ysme

Samantha

Agu. 20

 

Dare

Loogens

 

 

Exere

Lucson

 

 

Fanfan

Jocelin

 

 

Jn Baptiste

Lerison

 

 

Amazan

Eli

 

 

Americain

Jn Mary

 

 

Bernard

Richard

 

 

Lizeus

Ismaelle

 

 

Louis

Frankel

 

 

Laguerre

Shnyder

 

 

Anacius

Merana

 

 

Bersie

Daicka

 

 

Castel

Abigaelle

June 18

 

Hezer

Magdaline

Dec. 20

Brian Wright

Silus

Medina

 

Felicia Medina

Silien

Menca

Aug. 28

 

St-Jour

Georgia

Feb. 17

 

Lidza

Exere

May 12

 

Nerestant

Walkens

Apr. 30

 

Prinvil

Rose Thamas

May 20

 

Alexandre

Tony

Aug. 14

 

Alexandre

Safira

May 28

 

Anacuis

Mericiane

Dec. 13