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Welcome to Ecole du VillageThe 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.
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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. EDEM Foundation P.O Box 3313 Framingham, MA 01705 |
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HISTORY OF ECOLE DU VILLAGE
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
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
ECOLE DU VILLAGE: CURRENT PROJECTS School
Construction: The Ile-a-Vache Book: "J'aime
Ile-a-Vache", "I Love Ile-a-Vache":
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Please consider sponsoring a
child.
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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. 
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.
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. 
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 
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.
In order
for provide the children of the island with a better education and a
chance to discovery their won identity;