CHOIX STUDENTS ARE BACK AT SCHOOL!

Lydie hands off the baton to Marc Walens during 2nd grade physical education class

We are so thrilled now to report that Choix students are back at school and eager to learn! Throughout 2019, Haiti experienced social, economic and political unrest that disrupted the normal functions of the country. As we indicated in prior newsletters, Choix’s community was not spared and we had no choice but to cease classes for a period of time, in the interests of our students’ and staff’s safety. However, during this period of “peyi lok” (country shut-down), our campus continued to operate at an alternate capacity by offering food distributions, maintaining a communication network, and continuing to pay life-saving salaries to our staff.

Choix re-opened on January 7, 2020, and attendance rates have been excellent. While of course, everyone in our community is simply thrilled to be back in classes, two of our families made the decision to relocate to the Dominican Republic as a result of the fear and uncertainty in our local environment during this recent turbulent period. We deeply regret saying goodbye to these students.

Because of our lost school days, we have modified our schedule and curriculum, and plan to continue our school calendar through July in order to ensure that our students will have access to the necessary classroom hours and that our 6th graders will graduate on time.

Choix Graduates

Our Choix scholarship recipients (students in grades 7 – 11) also are back in school. Their attendance rates, both in their daily programs in town and each afternoon at Choix, have been excellent! With Choix’s financial support and administrative oversight, current 9th grade students have been registered successfully for Haiti’s National 9th grade exams, set to be held in July of this year.

Study club began in February, offering our graduates the holistic support of our health and wellness program, including an afternoon meal and visits to our registered nurse as needed, as well as a comprehensive academic and IT program.

Choix is only able to ensure our graduates’ continued education because of generous partners like many of you! To support our Choix grads through a scholarship, please ici.

Back in school and happy- like a burst of light! Choix grads return to school

Continuing the impressive tradition of Choix graduates named to leadership roles in our local schools, please meet Balzanette, elected by her peers as the new 7th grade class president!

Choix alums continue their academic studies in the afternoons at Choix, with mentorship from Choix faculty and the support of their peers

CHOIX STUDENT ATHLETES SHINE

We are excited to report that one of Choix’s athletes qualified to compete in the long-jump competition at Haiti’s Olympic Center on February 8, 2020! This represented the first sporting competition held for our region in nearly 18 months, because of the current situation in the country. We are so proud to report that Ophnie not only qualified to compete but also finished 2nd in both the long jump and in the 100 meter race!!

Ophnie also continues to develop and progress academically and athletically, and is an important member of our campus community.

Scholarships are available at various levels for our Choix graduates. They begin at $360, continue in increments of $360, and the full cost of support for all that Choix offers our alumni is $2,400. If you are interested in contributing to a scholarship for Ophnie or for her peers to allow them to continue to access quality education, please click here.

CHOIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXPANSION

We are so pleased to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors to the School of Choice Education Organization, our US-based nonprofit, which oversees l’Ecole de Choix.

Fritz Jean is an economist who also has experience in education and in community collaboration, while also serving in government and previously as Governor of the Banque de la République d’Haïti. Based in Haiti, M. Jean currently serves as president of INHOPP (Institut Haitien d’Observatoire de Politiques Publiques), has strong ties in the business and local community and we look forward to his contributions of experience.

New Choix Board Member M. Fritz Duroseau

Also based in Haiti, Fritz Duroseau’s experience is in the financial sector, having served as a board member of the Central Bank, representing the bank to the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee (CNLBA) and overseeing the technical departments dealing with macroeconomic and external sector policies. His areas of expertise involve public policy and economic development, and he also has had experience in the academic sector.