Community School of Cite Soleil
Cite Soleil is one of the poorest communities in the western hemisphere. Mother Teresa once referred to it as the poorest place on the planet.
But in the midst of the material destitution and violence of Cite Soleil, there is life, love, resiliency of spirit, hope, laughter, music, dance, drama, community gardening, good food, sharing, and a bold experiment in elementary school excellence known as…
Cite Soleil Community School
Cite Soleil Community School (CSCS) was formerly called St. Thomas School. We have been in relationship with this school for over 10 years, and we are currently part of a small group of organizations which are working together to support the efforts of CSCS. Though the building that the school was operating out of was damaged in the earthquake, thankfully none of the children or staff were injured. After realizing that the old school was too damaged to operate out of, Guy Morelus (with the help of his staff, many of the CSCS students, and residents of the Boston neighborhood) put up a new temporary school structure. CSCS is a small compound of nine classrooms and a kitchen. The classrooms are made of plywood, tarps, and lightweight tin roofing material (no heavy cement.) CSCS was one of the first schools to be back in session after the earthquake, and to have accomplished this in a place like Cite Soleil is nothing short of miraculous.
To understand what CSCS really means now, we have to go back in time when MCC member Bryan Sirchio first starting working with the teachers of this school over 10 years ago. The teachers had been working for 2 years without being paid at all.
When Bryan asked them why they were working, often risking their own lives to enter the politically "hot" neighborhood in which the school was located, without being paid anything, they simply said things like, "the kids need an education;" "without education they have no chance;" "these kids have nothing-we have to keep coming."
Bryan was so moved by their courage and dedication and love for the kids that he pledged to help these teachers find a more regular source of support. Others joined the effort.
A medical fund was established so that the teachers would have some kind of “health insurance.”
Teacher training has been provided and has transformed the teaching methodologies and the philosophy of education at the school.
A meal program has been established through which the school’s 200 students and staff receive a hot meal each day. Many of these students would otherwise not eat a real meal more than once or twice a week.
The School is Free and dedicated to providing a quality education for the poorest children of the community.
Many of the teachers are continuing their own education, and several are in the university.
This school has also become a pilot school for a new educational prototype in Haiti which Haiti Partners is overseeing.
Note: We’re talking about the “Haiti Partners” in Florida now—another organization we highly endorse, but which is separate from Haiti Allies.
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This group of very dedicated but undereducated teachers is always hungry for training and insight on how to improve their teaching skills. The students and staff at this school also receive a hot plate of rice and beans each day, and many of these kids come from extremely poor families and would otherwise not eat more than once or twice a week. This is a very inspiring and dedicated group of teachers and students, and my faith and resolve is strengthened by their courage and commitment. Many of the teachers of this school came to teach during times of extremely dangerous political violence because they are so deeply dedicated to providing a better future for the children of this impoverished community. Currently about 140 students attend the school. The enrollment has been as high as 200 students.