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. (School Report 2012)

 

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. But this does not discourage the kids from waking up every morning looking for a place to learn. EDEM Foundation works together with various partner organizations 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 environment of the school and the island.

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

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

THANK YOU

Ecole du Village would like to acknowlege some of our special partners

Ptimoun Online Eco-Friendly Shop
International Christian School
St Bridget Elementary School
Tailored for Education
Bala Cynwyd Middle School

NEW CLASSROOMS: 3 new classrooms completed thanks to the partnership of  the International Christian School, click for more pictures.

CPR class by Bernadette Lucien 

Summer Day Camp

More Pics on Facebook

School Report 2009-2010 (pdf)

School Report 2010-2011 (pdf)

School Report 2011-20112 (pdf)

Sponsor a Child
Get paid back in Green

Click Here to make a one time donation

Or a small 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. Each child will pay back his tuition by planting a tree in his backyard to make the world a GREENER place. 

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

 
**Phone Number not required
After submiting the form, please make check to "EDEM Foundation" and mail your donation to: 
EDEM Foundation
P.O Box 3313
Framingham, MA 01705
or Click Here to make your donation online.

EDEM Foundation is a project of United Charitable Programs, Inc. A registered 501(c)(3) public charity

GREENBACK: HELP A CHILD AND GET PAID IN GREEN 

Investment in education is as essential as investment in our environment.  Ecole du Village wants to partner with friends from other countries to trade a good education for a clean and green environment. This year, Ecole du Village is initiating a new program  as a way to give back something that is dear to all of us.  A GREEN ENVIRONMENT.  Every child at Ecole du Village who finds a sponsor will be asked to plant a tree or two in his backyard.  You, the sponsor will have the option to name the tree (name of your own child, memory of a loved one) and together we will watch it grow while the children get a better education.  The children will be able to select from coconut, mango, lemon, avocado, and other trees.  This program is in assocation with CAPAS (Centre d'Appui a la Production Agricole du Sud). 

 

 


PARTNERING WITH ST. BRIDGETS SCHOOL IN FRAMINGHAM, MA

A unique opportunity was presented to the school community by at Saint Bridget School family in Framingham, Massachusetts to share in a partnership with Ecole du Village. Bridget School will establish a Friendship Exchange Club with the children of Ecole du Village in Haiti where both schools will learn about each other through arts, culture, history, communication and friendship.  

 “This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for our children to expand their ideas of service to others.   Friendship and service are not only local, they are global, and this partnership helps our children to learn about and virtually “visit” a part of the world they might otherwise never get a chance to experience,” commented Mrs. Roseanne Mungovan , principal of Saint Bridget School .   We might have Kindergartners sharing pictures of their families with the youngest Ecole du Village students, 5th grade students learning about the geography of Haiti , middle school students studying Haitian Creole and French art, while the students at the Haiti school are learning English and the history of Massachusetts .  With the benefits of the Internet, the children can even share in an instant pen-pal style relationship.”  The Children at Ecole du Village will share their knowledge of the environment with St. Bridget School and will plant a tree on behalf of all of their friends at St. Bridget.
Visit St. Bridget at 
www.saintbridgetschool.info


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. KAPEP (formelly 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 83 students, 5 instructors, 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, based in Boston, Massachusetts 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 or the mayor's web site at www.ile-a-vache.org.


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.  (see photos).

Thanks to the support of Parris Keane, Mike Spinelli, Anne Anninger, the International Christian school, we completed 3 classrooms in 2012.  goal is to build 4 more classrooms in the next 2 years with your help. If you would like to join us in helping make a difference in the community, please
contact us or call us at 508-395-4768


 The Ile-a-Vache Book: "Mwen Renmen Ilavach", "I Love Ile-a-Vache": (read online)
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 508-395-4768 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

Boukman Mangones

Silien

Noe

April 20

Kay Kondrat

Silien

Rose Taina

Dec. 13

Vanessa Jean

Gerve

Orinette

July 29

Max Jeanty

Gerve

Johnny

April 15

Carol Chapelli

Boyer

Davidesson

Agu. 13

Rachel Mangones

Merand

Wadson

Mar. 14

Adlumia Gannett

Archil

Deve

April 3

Essie Bruell

Laguerre

chelnord

Sept. 11

Joseph Brunel

Bernard

Rose dania

Jan. 13

Joyce Collier

Eliscar

Wedesline

Aug. 26

Serge Pierre-Pierre

Geneste

Peterson

Nov. 24

Joice Collier

Bernard

Kenly

March 10

Bernadette Lucien

Ilmo

kevens

Sept. 24

Edouard Mangones

Eliscar

wedesly

Aug. 26

Marleen Julien

Alexandre

kervens

Augut. 8

Carol Chapelli

Jean

Olienne

Oct. 13

Teresa McCue

Archil

Dieunise

Oct. 12

Essie Bruell

Charlot

Mikelson

April 14

 

Ariste

Jean Sony

Dec. 5

Joy Lucas

Silien

Dieunie

Jan. 21

Joy Lucas

Galletant

Julienne

Dec. 25

Ella Kondrat

Sincyr

Germain

OCt. 3

Anne Anninger

Bauvais

Lise

Feb. 8

Trudy and John Miller

Alexandre

Kendiana

Oct. 15

Angela Rizzi

Lamisere

Stephanie

July 5

Jim & Nelda McGraw

Laguerre

Slanda

Jan. 11

Margaret Feeney

Mesidor

Milora

Nov. 17

Nicole Fortere

Bernard

Fabrice

Feb. 6

 

Justin

Ros Mayson

Sept. 27

Nana Landenberger

Beleston

Jimmy

Mar. 19

 

Douyon

Schalency

Nov. 13

Nicole Fortere

Dumas

Faliere

Sept.1

 

Azaine

Erilienne

Oct. 25

 

Sylien

Joanne

Feb. 5

 

Leonard

Rose Berlie

Sept. 29

Doris Doney

Laguerre

Frantzso

Jan. 01

 

Azaine

Rebecca

Jan. 30

Rachel Armand

Sainvil

Wathson

Oct. 9

Patrick+Cheryl Spoletini

Pierre

Richadson

Aug. 8

Larry -Clara Ingle

Marceille

Marc Donald

Aug. 2

Gary/Antonia Presume

Mesidor

Sonia

Jan. 9

Lyvie Racine

Alexanxdre

Alexander

May 10

Charles Monfort

Jn Louis

Wismick

Nov. 7

 

Lima

Jhon Kely

May 31

Bruce/Sandra Kozlowski

Silien

Rose Menka

Aug. 2

Marie T. Geffrard

Charlansy

Douyon

June 31

 

Vilson

Rose Alan

Fe. 5

Carol LaSpina

Pompee

Marie Ednica

Nov. 28

Thelusma Cadet

Nerestant

Jamesly

Jun. 12

 Duline Eugene

Silien

Paterson

Jun. 2

Elaine Buchsbaum

Bernard

Fabrice

Feb. 6

 

Med

Jules

Apr. 28

 

Maurice

Pierreson

Mar. 8

Anne Anninger

Jules

Kenson

Sept. 22

 

Nazaire

Francene

May 19

Michael Pearigen

Merant

Jean Willy

July 2

Stephanie Curci

Sinfirmin

Kenson

Mar. 16

Carol LaSpina

Nerestant

Jameson

Fe. 12

 

Ysme

Samantha

Agu. 20

Careline Romain

Dare

Loogens

 

 

Exere

Lucson

 

 

Fanfan

Jocelin

 

 

Jn Baptiste

Lerison

 

 

Amazan

Eli

 

Chekara Jean

Americain

Jn Mary

 

 

Bernard

Richard

 

Alex Anselme

Lizeus

Ismaelle

 

Maya Jean

Louis

Frankel

 

 

Laguerre

Shnyder

 

 

Anacius

Merana

 

Ketny Dorcemon

Bersie

Daicka

 

Lyvie Racine

Castel

Abigaelle

June 18

Anne Anninger

Hezer

Magdaline

Dec. 20

Brian Wright

Silus

Medina

 

Felicia Medina

Silien

Menca

Aug. 28

 

St-Jour

Georgia

Feb. 17

Georgia T.  Loubeau

Lidza

Exere

May 12

Yolette Ibokette

Nerestant

Walkens

Apr. 30

 

Prinvil

Rose Thamas

May 20

Joyce Collier

Alexandre

Tony

Aug. 14

Michael Huffine

Alexandre

Safira

May 28

Chekara Jean

Anacuis

Mericiane

Dec. 13