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Haitian children thank Alberta’s students
A group of Haitian schoolgirls, sponsored by students from Alberta, hold a sign expressing their gratitude. Thanks to the generosity of thousands of students in Alberta, 130 children in Haiti are now able to attend school. And again this May, Alberta students are invited to donate just 25¢ each during the annual Help Haiti campaign. Donations will keep the Haitian children enrolled in school for another year.
Thanks to the generosity of thousands of students in Alberta, 130 children in Haiti are now able to attend school.
And again this May, Alberta students are invited to donate just 25¢ each during the annual Help Haiti campaign. Donations will keep those 130 Haitian children enrolled in school for another year.
Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world. The national unemployment rate stands close to 80 per cent, and the majority of the population lives on less than US$1 per day. Consequently, many families cannot afford the cost of education, which means that close to one million children in Haiti do not attend school.
Wyclef Jean giving pointers to a student at the new Yéle Haiti computer lab.−Sarah Stacke/Yéle Haiti
The Help Haiti campaign is led by musician Wyclef Jean, founder of the Yéle Haiti foundation (www.yele.org). Jean appreciates what students in Alberta have done for his country. “The thousands of Alberta students who have taken part in our Help Haiti campaign are setting a great example for others. I take my hat off to all of you. Thanks, and keep up the good work!” Jean said.
The Help Haiti campaign began in 2005, when seven schools in Slave Lake raised funds to put 20 Haitian children in school for one year. In 2006, 72 Alberta schools participated, which resulted in 120 children being sponsored. Last year, the number rose to 130 children being sponsored in five different communities throughout Haiti.
The campaign itself is simple. Each May, schools collect 25¢ from each student and deposit the money in the nearest ATB Financial branch in the Help Haiti account, using a form that can be downloaded from www.yele.org/projects/help-haiti.html or obtained by sending an e-mail to helphaiti@yele.org. Funds collected pay tuition (US$60 per student per year). No money is taken from the collection except to cover bank transfer fees. The Yéle website features links that teachers and students can access to learn more about Haiti and its rich history.
The provincial director for Help Haiti is Mikky Locke. “As part of this year’s campaign, we ask that schools fax the deposit forms, so we can acknowledge their participation,” she said. For more information, contact Locke. Telephone: (780) 849-4754; e-mail: helphaiti@yele.org.
Every quarter makes a difference.
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