Uneducated

We currently have 3 positions to fill at the orphanage so for the past two weeks we have been doing interviews. I have done numerous interviews over the years, and yet I am always surprised what I find out when I ask personal questions.

In these interviews we ask what level of education the potential employee has received, and I am often shocked at the answers we are given. I don’t think I have ever interviewed someone over the age of 40 who has been to school, can read, or even write their name.

During this batch of interviews this proved true once more.

One woman we interviewed was about my age, maybe a few years older (Early 30s). When I asked her level of education a look of shame came over her and looking at the ground she whispered, “Second”. In Haiti, there are two second grades; second fundamental grade which is the equivalent of grade 2 and seconde which is the equivalent of grade 10 or 11. Confusing I know, so considering her age I assumed the latter. She quickly clarified that she was in second grade and explained that she has been taking night school for the past two years so she could learn to write her name and hopefully read, as she had never attended school as a child. I nodded and smiled encouragingly, told her I thought it was really great that she was able to attend those classes, while trying to hide how her words were affecting me.

Somehow I have accepted the fact that the generation before mine, for the most part, has little to no education. I make an effort to hire uneducated women in our laundry department since you don’t need to have a formal education to wash clothing. Whenever we have a position available I go to our church leaders and seek these women out. These women would normally have no other opportunity to find work, and for the vast majority this is their very first job. Of our 6 laundry ladies only one can read. We keep an inkpad in the orphanage office for these ladies, so they can leave a fingerprint instead of a signature, as they cannot write their names.

It’s not ok that these women were never given the opportunity to be educated, but I recognize that unfortunately this is a fact of life, here in Haiti. I have not, however, accepted the fact that my generation and even more shocking, children today are not all receiving an education. I couldn’t help but wonder what my life would be like if I had never been educated.

School is expensive in Haiti. Not only do you have to pay an entrance fee, monthly fees, have a uniform sewn, find the right shade of beige socks and shiny black shoes but you also have to purchase all school text books, work books and school supplies. It isn’t surprising that there are children who never have the opportunity to attend. Many people in this area simply do not have the money it takes to send their children to school, and I imagine the percentage of children attending school gets less and less the farther you go into the country.

Since MOH schools have been built the percentage of children attending school in this area has gone up, significantly. However there are still so many children not going to school, even within a mile radius of where I am sitting as I write this. I hope and pray that this will change.

Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

I believe Haiti will become all God intended it to be when God is glorified, and children are educated.

Peace, love and learning,

Rachel