Anis Zunuzi School Current Programs

Serving extremely impoverished, underprivileged children

In September 2003 the school opened an afternoon program for children who were too old, too poor, or too busy to attend the morning sessions. Many of these children are what are termed “Restavec:” children who have been brought in from the provinces and used as domestic help. They are a particularly enthusiastic, eager to learn group, with a well-developed spirit of service, probably due oddly enough to their dire circumstances. Beginning with 25 students at different primary levels, we were able to meet their needs with one full time teacher and one or two volunteers each day. This year, with 64 students in attendance, three full time staff, one assistant, and one volunteer are necessary to assure a quality education. We are happy to see that of those benefiting from the program more than two thirds are girls. These children pay the equivalent of $3.00 per month.

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General Program

The school continues to follow the National program which includes French, Creole, Math, Social Science, & Experimental Science. The program has been enriched over the years by adding the following courses: moral education, English, folk dancing, sewing, computer classes, and crafts. The children benefit from an annual outing on March 21st and have their yearly cultural celebration on May 23rd. They invite other schools to contribute their talents and they choose a theme, which is a current issue, such as equality of men and women.

Formalizing the moral education program

After years of experimenting with moral education materials the school has established a systematic program starting in Kindergarten using materials prepared in Columbia that concentrate on building spiritual qualities. These are used throughout grades 1-4 as well. In grades 3 & 4 they follow lessons from the “Virtues Guide” in French. In grades 5 to 9 they follow the pre-youth courses: “Brises of Confirmation”, “Glimmerings of Hope”, and “Walking the straight Path”. All of these are in French. The program has been supplemented at all levels with the courses prepared at the school during the 2nd Project with the Mona Foundation. These courses and the method of utilization were chosen for their capacity to build on the natural human potential to work cooperatively, and to serve mankind while also perfecting language skills.

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Kindergarten Section

The kindergarten section began a Montessori approach in the year of 1993. It has now been modified and both the traditional and Montessori methods are implemented. The student population diminished when Montessori was the only method but with a combined approach there has been a steady increase in attendance.

Primary Section

In September of 2003 an afternoon section was added to the school in light of the fact that a considerable number of children in the area were not in school. This section was geared to those children over age for their class and who might not be able to attend school in the morning. It opened with 25 students served by one full time staff member and volunteer help from the morning teachers. The following year the attendance more than doubled (of these 2/3 were girls) and consequently the staff increased and three full time people were employed, assisted by volunteers. These teachers no longer worked in the morning but came only in the afternoon. This arrangement continued during the next year but in September 2006 the Administrative Committee decided to have the morning teachers work in the afternoon as well. This decision was made primarily to increase confidence, reduce costs, and promote integration. Now there is increased unity and better control of what is happening. They follow the National Program enriched by moral education classes, sewing, and crafts.

Secondary Section

This section was phased out in order to consolidate the primary and kdgn sections. It re-opened in September 2004 and has added one class per year since then. It is considered important to have for the following reason: the secondary students have the capacity to give back to the community what they have gleaned over the years from attending a school that has a moral environment, where spiritual principles guide the administration and staff and where they are given a moral & spiritual education. If the school does not offer this level then it loses the youth at a crucial time in their lives and in their contribution to the community.

Student Growth

The Kindergarten has increased from 13 students in 2003-4 to 25 students in 2006-7. The Morning Primary has increased from 60 students in 2003-4 to 74 students in 2006-7. The Afternoon Primary has increased from 25 students in 2003-4 to 59 students in 2006-7. The Secondary Section reopened in 2004-5 with 6 students and increased to 45 students in 2006-7.

The cost per year per student is $153 for Kindergarten, $153 for Morning Primary, $36 for Afternoon Primary, and $194 for the Secondary Section, in U.S. dollars.

Summer Camp

In the summer of 2005 when the Administrative Committee had just taken charge of the school, they courageously opened a five-week summer camp! This was open to all students in the area, kindergarten to secondary, and attracted 69 students. The program included Math, Science, English, Spanish, French, Moral education and art activities. The staff, all teachers from the school, were provided with a small stipend. The following summer the camp attracted 99 students and now has become an annual event. The students, for a small cost have a complete program including refreshments as well as having one outing and celebration to end the camp. The cost for this camp for each child is about $8.50 - $10 in U.S. dollars.

Promoting French language fluency

More emphasis has been placed on encouraging the children to express themselves in French and to read with ease. As textbooks are primarily in French—and certainly all of the better ones—it is of the utmost importance that the children are able to read and understand well in that language. It is also clear that it is equally important that they express themselves with pride and confidence in their native language, Creole.

Elaborating the sewing program

Sewing courses, which were offered in the past, have broadened to include skirt making as well as basic repairs. The course is open to grade 5, 6, and 7 in the morning program as well as to the children in the afternoon program.

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Establishing Computer training

The three computers that the school has (one owned and two borrowed), are being used for all grades from 1 to 7 as well as for the teachers in their spare periods. The school's administrator found himself as instructor (due to lack of funds) and has risen to the challenge quite enthusiastically. A tutorial program was installed which is a thrill for all.

Development of School Facilities

The yard is extraordinary, again in the sense that other schools just don't have the space or the potential. It is now being worked on to enhance its natural beauty, to protect the existing plants, and to provide an example of care of the environment. It will demand constant attention, as green things tend to go wild during the rainy season or die as the dry season saps all the moisture from the ground. An extra person has been hired to assist in this endeavor.

The yard is a natural setting for sports and games of all kinds. Most schools have little more than enough space for the children to turn around in so the sports facilities are being upgraded and increased to be of benefit to Zunuzi's students as well as a service to surrounding schools.

As hardened criminals have escaped from prison and infiltrated the area, hitting the school twice, it was necessary to upgrade the security: expensive but life saving and very important to the peace of mind of the inhabitants and those frequenting the school.

The school is now in its 3rd Project with the Mona Foundation. Without their loving and generous support it would not have been possible to provide the quality education and the community service that the school offers.

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