While nearly 90 percent of your donations go toward their designated program, have you ever wondered about the other 10 percent*? The Joseph School is 501c3 nonprofit, which means the entirety of its operational costs come from donations, just like yours! While the primary programs, such as ‘Friends for the Future,’ ‘Food for Education’ and ‘Teacher Sponsorship’ require the majority of TJS’s resources, your donation helps support many different sectors of The Joseph School.

TJS is excited to share five aspects of The Joseph School you may not know your gift supports…

Security

Many challenges face Haiti, especially in recent years. The security team makes sure the campus remains a safe and secure place for every TJS student. TJS head of security, Johny, provides training for his staff to equip them for any security challenges or dangerous situations. The TJS campus covers several acres, so lights have been installed across the campus and the entire security team is supplied with walkie talkies to help with communication.

 

Transportation

The school bus provides transportation to and from school for many of our students. Other students arrive by walking to school, by parent transportation, and some come by tap tap (public transportation).

 

Technology

The Joseph School understands the importance of equipping our students with computer skills. With the generous gift from our donor partner Marketing Research Education Foundation, TJS has purchased computer tablets that are fully loaded with lessons, tutoring programs, academic games, and mastery learning tools. These tablets do not need WiFi but come with a modem. They come in protective cases and are waterproof. Grades 6th and 7th will have access to these tablets initially, but we are hoping to add more in the future for the 4th and 5th graders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest House

TJS rents a small house that is near the main campus. This guesthouse has bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen. It is available for teachers who live far from the school and need a place to stay for the week. If there are dangerous weather conditions or road closures, teachers and staff have a place to sleep for the night.

 

Generator

The majority of the campus is powered by solar panels that are installed in each classroom building. Pumps bring water to the toilets and bathroom sinks for the students to use.

A generator powers the kitchen stoves for the school meals.  TJS students are provided with two meals a day. A small breakfast meal and then a full meal of rice, beans, protein, fruit, and occasionally a treat such as cookies or small cakes. The cooking staff are a dedicated group of women who arrive at the school early to begin preparation of meals from scratch with all fresh ingredients. They are committed to providing nutritious meals. They receive updates and training in professional nutrition classes to make sure TJS students are receiving healthy balanced meals.

 

 

 

It’s no secret that The Joseph School is a special place. The success of its programs and its students relies on the generous donations of donors, like you! The Joseph School’s primary focus will always be providing students with a holistic education, but we hope this blog shines a light on the many aspects of TJS that go into making our mission a reality.

 

*Nearly two percent of funds go toward fundraising efforts including, but not limited to: the cost of personnel in accounting, management and fundraising expenses, including salaries.

As the sun rises over the hills of Haiti, students are arriving at The Joseph School. Some come by bus, some by tap tap and some just on their own two feet. However they may differ in arrival, they share the common intention of a positive day at school. This positive experience starts the same way everyday, by raising the Haitian flag high above campus. Each morning two students are chosen to lead the flag raising ceremony and lead the student body in reciting The Joseph School creed.

 

As the chosen students of the day walk toward the flagpole, their teachers are right there alongside them to guide them through the task. The teachers coach the students on how to attach the flag, raise it high and tie a strong knot to keep it secure. This is just one small moment each day at The Joseph School where mentorship takes the lead.

 

 

 

Beyond leading the student body during the flag raising ceremony, the older students mentor the younger students in the ways of The Joseph School including how to treat the teachers and staff with respect and courtesy; how to keep campus clean; and how to serve others during meals and leadership activities. 

Haiti has gone through difficult times, however the teachers at The Joseph School are always present and eager to educate their students. Each day they arrive with a smile on their faces to greet each child. For them, being a part of The Joseph School means more than simply reciting facts. TJS provides a holistic learning style, meaning teachers not only provide technical education but also mentorship. They are there to help students through any difficulties they may have outside the classroom. This includes wellness checks at home and private tutoring in some instances. 

After morning lessons are done, the students enjoy lunch and head outside for recess. Some of the older students begin a game of soccer and teach the younger students to play and join in. Behind the scenes, Madam Kennylove leads her team of cooks to prepare nutritious meals for over 200 TJS students, twice per day.

During this time, the teachers gather to discuss tips and lesson planning. Principal Rose instructs lead teachers on the lesson programming of the week. The lead teachers in turn instruct classroom teachers on lesson planning and constructing tests with the week’s lessons in mind. New teachers learn all about TJS and the teaching style from veteran teachers. Teachers who have completed P4H training (our professional development program) pass down their knowledge to the newer teachers to create a consistent learning environment in every classroom.

After school hours, the work continues! TJS teachers utilize the school bus to travel to and from campus, along with the students. As the school day comes to a close, students and teachers alike board the bus to head home for the day. Until the very end, TJS teachers keep looking out for students, making sure each child gets off safely at their correct stop.

January is National Mentorship Month, so we hope you enjoyed this look into mentorship at The Joseph School. The Joseph School is more than just a place of education, it’s a community of people working together and empowering each other to create a better tomorrow.