The day-to-day life of a student in Bois de Laurence, Haiti is pretty different from that of a child in the United States. The essentials are the same — wake-up, head to school, homework, chores, and bedtime — but take a closer look and you'll see they are actually quite different.
Read on as we share what a day in the life of a school-aged child in Haiti is like, and how your support can make a world of difference to them, their family, and their community.
5:00 AM - Getting ready for the day
Children wake up, many before sunrise, to begin their day. After rolling up their bedding and sleeping mat and putting it away, they get dressed and start on their morning chores. Because so many parents work many jobs to earn money for food, clothing, and education, children are expected to contribute to the household and help keep it running. Common chores for children in Haiti include sweeping, getting water, washing clothes, cooking meals, and helping to get younger siblings or family members ready for the day.
8:00 AM - Off to school
Children begin their walk to school, some even earlier if they live farther away. Many students at St. Jean Bosco walk for 1-2 hours each way to school, a concept that seems unimaginable to us in the United States. However, for these students, the opportunity to receive a good education makes it worth it.
10:00 AM - School begins
The students who attend St. Jean Bosco are in the primary grades (1-6), but many of them are older than they should be for their grade. This is because students frequently have to delay or repeat a year of school if their family cannot afford to pay the full year of tuition.
Those students who are fortunate enough to attend St. Jean Bosco receive an excellent education, from passionate teachers such as Laurette. They learn in large classrooms with 30-50 other students. They do not have computers, tablets, or smart boards like many classrooms in the US, but every student (even the youngest) sits eagerly listening to their teacher and soaking up everything they can.
12:30 PM - Lunch time
For many students, lunch is the first (and sometimes only) substantial meal they receive all day. Lunch is simple but nutritious and filling — usually rice and beans. Staff and volunteers at St. Bean Bosco cook lunch for all 1,100 students in huge batches. Sometimes, if it is available, they will mix vegetables into the meal.
After lunch, the students go back to learning. During their school day, in addition to studying regular subjects like math, grammar, spelling, and English, students at St. Jean Bosco receive Catechesis and have the opportunity to learn about the Bible and their faith. A few times a week, they receive this instruction from the parish priest and administrator of the school, Fr. Bavon.
2:30 PM - Recess
During their school day, students also have the opportunity to go outside to play. The students at St. Jean Bosco love hide-and-seek, jump rope, tag, and soccer. After a short break to run around, the students return to the classroom to finish their day.
4:00 PM - Home for the evening
Students return home and change their clothes. They begin to help their families with the evening chores and family work. Many families in Bois de Laurence, Haiti work in agriculture or in stonework. Generally, all the work for the family needs to be done while it is still light out as many homes don't have electricity and families can't afford to run expensive gas lamps every evening.
After finishing their work for the day, the whole family shares a meal (if they can afford it that evening).
7:00 PM - The end of the day
At the end of a long day, children first work on their homework and then play games and read books together with their siblings and friends in their village, before going to sleep for the evening. Bedtime is early because students need to wake up early to begin the day tomorrow.
Where do I fit in?
At MercyWorks, it is our mission to change the lives of students in Bois de Laurence, Haiti, by helping secure a full year of education for them. This education lifts students, and therefore their families and communities, out of poverty by helping them get higher-paying jobs.
You can make a tremendous difference in the life of a student by sponsoring them this year. When you commit to sponsoring one student ($60 supports a grade school student and $120 supports a high school student), you are not only providing them with a better future, but you also make a real tangible difference in their life today.
Change a life. Sponsor a student at St. Jean Bosco today!
