MaximsNewsNetwork: HAITI: UNICEF HELPS CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOLS

MaximsNewsNetwork 16 February 2010 - UNICEF: Port-au-Prince, Haiti - UNICEF is working to get children back into the classroom in Port-au-Prince. For schools that were destroyed, there is school in a box, which includes a stand alone emergency school tent and school supplies.

SOUNDBITE (French) Joel Jean-Pierre, Minister of education, Haiti:
Globally we are talking about 5000 schools which represent almost 90 percent of the scholar installations in the West district and approximately 37 to 40 percent of the total scholar infrastructure in Haiti. This represents huge damages for the Haitian education system and 50 percent of the scholar population affected.

Working in partnership with UNICEF, schools in unaffected areas have reopened, while Schools in a box, which include a stand alone emergency school tent and school supplies, have arrived at UNICEFs storage facility to cater to affected areas.

SOUNDBITE (French) Paul Manclair, School Director:
Education is so important for the development of our country, therefore the development of a country has to come from education, its the foundation and the reconstruction of Haiti has to come first and foremost through education. A population that is educated will easily progress.

The distribution of books, chalkboards, pencils and crayons mean that within minutes classes are in progress and have picked up where they left off one month ago.
SOUNDBITE (English) Andrea Berther, Education Specialist, UNICEF:
We need to have a space where we can guard the children and give them some sense of normality. A lot of these children have been traumatized and also their parents, their teachers, the whole community. This is healing also. It gives them a space to come together and to express themselves and feel protected and also giving them the opportunity to come back and learn and not lose their school year that has started.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Oednie Kevin, 10 years old:
Im happy to be back at school so now I dont have to stay at home, I can get an education and become someone

One month after the quake, Haitians mourn their dead, their injured and their devastated country but they are also looking to the future, looking to rebuild. But for Haiti to be rebuilt, for Haiti to have a future its children must be educated. ................................................................................­.... ( UNITED NATIONS CHILDRENS FUND: UNICEF TELEVISION ) ................................................................................­... MaximsNewsNetwork:
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