News

It’s amazing what a little time, patience and believing in a kid can do. We were shocked to meet a group of children from grades one to four who couldn’t read, spell their name, or even name the letters in the alphabet. It was clear that the school system had truly failed these children.

Now that they are in a sponsored school they have the unique opportunity to get extra help so they can conquer these learning hurdles. Not all the children who started in the tutoring program finished but all the kids who came through the program walked away with greater knowledge.

With the smaller class size we were able to pour our time and effort into three very committed children. These three children in grades one, two, and three came to us with no confidence and the seemly impossible task of learning to read. We learned one or two letters a class and drilled it into these kids’ heads. Once they perfected the letters we moved onto the sounds of the letters. Now, we are so proud to announce that not only do they know each letter of the alphabet but also they have each read their first book on their own. What a gift it was to watch them with smiles on their faces and a new confidence in the fact they can READ!!

The possibilities are limitless for children who receive a good education. Your donations make those possibilities a reality.

(Article written by SHM volunteer Keeleah Edwards. You can read more of her Dominican adventures with her husband Chris and daughter Abriel on their blog Our Dominican Experience)