After violence forced our Saint Dominique site to move into Port-au-Prince, they faced a shocking jump in education costs, having to find quality schools in a time when tuition fees had risen by more than half.
“We were displaced with over sixty children and staff members in Port-au-Prince,” says Wendell, Saint Dominique site director. “We faced the overwhelming challenge of finding a safe place to stay, feeding everyone, and continuing the education of our children.”
In year one, the staff couldn’t manage all their tuition fees, and children would be sent home. The children cried, and some missed months of class. Through Chalice’s program, 100 of the most vulnerable children (63 children from family homes, 37 from the orphanage) received the funds they needed to attend school, equipped with uniforms, shoes, books, and supplies. As soon as they received the funds, the children were back in class and stayed there for the rest of the year.
The children were so thankful for the support. “They know that, without education, they’re not going to be able to become someone tomorrow like a lawyer or a doctor,” said Wendell. “So, knowing that someone across the world cares about them, about their future, they embrace the program in order to become successful people in the future.”