Growing Up Role Models

With every trip to Habanero it just never gets old, there is always something to amaze me.  God is working in this place and I wish that you all could see the changes that I have seen over the years.  

One of the things Evergreen4kids is most proud of is the fact that from the very beginning we decided to only hire staff for the school from Habanero.  We felt strongly the children needed to see people from their own community as leaders.  The children needed good role models.

Hiring within Habanero meant we had to find people that had an interest in teaching and were capable and committed.  We found Yanet.  She was volunteering at the nearby government school and taking one class a week towards a teaching certificate.

E4K asked Yanet to volunteer at our school as well.  She would receive an "incentivo" (an incentive) for volunteering. This arrangement is quite common in the Dominican Republic, they are not really an "employee" they are a volunteer.  Yanet was happy and excited to work with us. Yanet was born and raised in Habanero and wanted a better future for the children.  So Yanet began as our kindergarten teacher.  

At the same time we also hired 2 Christian ladies to teach 3 year olds and 4 year olds.  One of them was Maria and she was also volunteering a the government school.  But at that time Maria was not working towards a teaching certificate.

Both Yanet and Maria now have their Dominican teaching certificates. Yanet is our school director and teaches the regular first grade class and an afternoon remedial first grade class. Maria is our kindergarten teacher.  Yanet and Maria have both come a long way and are excellent teachers. They are loving and compassionate and the children look up to them.

I can also report that we have two other teachers who are going to school to get their teaching certificates.  Fani who is our 4 year old teacher and Beronica who is our 3 year old teacher.   E4K encourages a better education for everyone. One of our maintenance men Omar, is going to school to be an electrician and our night watchman, Allen is going to school to be a PE Teacher!  

How exciting is all of this?  Soon to have 6 people in our building with degrees! 

THIS IS HUGE FOR HABANERO!  TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE AS ROLE MODELS FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE ROLE MODELS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION IS A GREAT GIFT FROM GOD ABOVE!  I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF EVERGREEN4KIDS!