Our literacy class held ceremonies last month where kids accepted their certificates of graduation in front of proud parents and GOALS staff members.
Their teacher Madame Sangla Cenatus taught the kids in her classes over the past 7 months. Her classes are full of energy as she incorporates dancing and singing in her literacy and numeracy course.
Of the 25 kids 23 kids passed their final exams, and only two did not pass. Most importantly, the average test score for the class had jumped to 6.42/10 up from mid-term testing.
To celebrate their achievements, kids showed up in their Sunday best along with their parents and friends for the event. A few students told the audience about the importance of the literacy program to them. Other talented kids from the community were asked to present a sketch about how literacy can help with social inclusion and upward mobility in Haiti. Finally, some kids prepared a choreographed dance routine for the occasion with music blasting. It was the biggest event in Bossan that afternoon.
GOALS staff members Emilio, Jean Kendy and James gave a short speech explaining the importance of the program. Madame Sangla also talked about how pleased she was to see her students improving their reading and writing skills over the few months that she taught them. They had come a long way and we were all proud of them.
All the students were happy not only of the fact that they could now read and write, or in some cases, had improved on their low literacy skills, but also of the fact that their parents were full of pride with them. At the end of the ceremony, parents were asking GOALS staff members to please take a picture of them with their graduating kid. As one parent told us, "It is because of GOALS, that some students who didn't know how to read and write, learned to read, write and to count. This will motivate them to give education a lot more importance or value."
We hope this achievement will empower the kids to continue to go to school so they can continue with their education.
As GOALS Haiti strives to empower people in their communities, the ability to read and write is extremely important in the fight against social exclusion in Haiti.