Anis Zunuzi School Honors & Grants

2007 Montessori Materials

Margie Maher recently sent eight large boxes of Montessori teaching materials, much of them brand new, to Anis Zunuzi School in Haiti. Materials included the moveable alphabet, consumable supplies, metal insets for writing activities, a 100 board, language matching cards, many puzzles, a sandpaper letter set, containers like baskets, boxes, tray and pitchers for Montessori classroom activities. This support is invaluable in a country where these specific materials are unavailable and very costly to import. Such generosity from a Mona volunteer is not surprising and it is truly appreciated by the school staff and students alike. Margie plans to follow her July contributions with a site visit to the school in January of 2008.

Children Helping Children

”We are grade 6/7 students from Tecumseh Elementary School in Vancouver, British Columbia. We are members of an Adhoc committee of the student leadership program led by our teacher, Mrs. Leila Khodarahmi. Our committee did a fund raiser to help the Anis Zunuzi School in Haiti. We wanted to do this because we want the children in Haiti to be able to have the same education as we do. To do this, we started with a candy raffle. For the first week, we already raised $200. The second week, we did a draw for another jar of candy and we raised another $200. The last week, we had donations only week. If they donated $2.00 or more, they would be automatically entered into a daily draw. In the end, we raised $835.66. We would like to donate 50% of this money toward the food program and the vegetable garden, 40% would go to scholarships and the last 10% will go to the internet connection. We are proud with how much we have raided. We hope that this money will really help the kids in Haiti.” Sincerely, Frazee, Denesh, Ricky, Julia, Meghan, Tarra, Cybil, Alyssa, Jason, Shawn, Bneeta, Kelvin, Jeanie, Manvir, Heidi, Jasmine, Lisa, Melanie, Katie, Angela, Season

2007 Grant Report

Here is a detailed report on several of the projects in process at this time as provided by the grant for this year.

Kitchen

The donors of the school had wisely stipulated that any future construction be approved or planned by the original architect, Dr. Mahzub, in order to protect the symmetry and beauty of the grounds and buildings. Since we had not been in touch for years it took us some time to locate him and to begin the necessary communication. However he has been found and he is more than willing to assist the school in preparing the plans for new construction. Knowing the need for a designated dining area and new bathrooms he has drawn up plans for all three buildings.

Dining room repairs and cooking equipment

To date three dozen chairs have been purchased. They are not new but are next to new and are more solid than the newer more expensive ones. The school administration wants to have tables and chairs in the dining area that will permit easy removal when the space is needed for a Conference or large gathering, such as the parents meetings.

Repairs to main building

Iron frames for the windows, the paint and labor have been purchased and will be installed soon. The iron door will be used for the resource center where the Montessori materials are kept when not in use.

Repairs to preschool

The bathroom for the kindergarten children has been in process. The septic tank is now covered and the building constructed. The roof will go on before the end of July. The toilet, sink and iron have not yet been purchased.

Computer and Internet

An organization, Vision 2000, has computers and Internet hookup available for schools at a low rate. Thanks to the Administrator who became aware of this the school was able to purchase 6 new DELL® computers, and have an Internet hookup installed for $2,220.

Moral Education

The pre-youth book, “Breezes of Confirmation”, was purchased for forty afternoon students. The animator, Gaby Seriphin Vincent, former National Institute coordinator, was delighted to be able to work with these students. She says these students enjoy the course but more time is needed in order to really appreciate what can be gleaned from them.

Science & Math program

We are awaiting the program's arrival from Macau, and then we will translate it into French.

Teacher Training

Six primary and secondary teachers studied the first two units of their moral education training during the Carnival break in February. This is all that was available at the time. They also studied the book “Breezes of Confirmation” and were delighted with it. In June six more teachers completed their training for the Kindergarten level as well as a Grade 1-2 teacher. All younger level teachers are trained now for moral education.

English lessons began for three teachers, the head of the primary program and the kindergarten program being two of them. They have now completed and successfully passed one session and are into their second term. French lessons also began for six teachers, the head of the secondary program being one of them, and they have also completed their first term.

Summer Camp

Although the summer camp began on July 15th so will be included in the next report we want to share the happy news with you that now in its fourth day there are 31 youth studying the book, “Reflections on the life of the spirit”. They are enjoying it immensely, together with their 3 tutors. There are also 18 children receiving lessons from the Kindergarten and grade 1 book, eleven pre-youth studying “Breezes of Confirmation” and ten studying “Walking the Straight Path”. Along with this study, which takes the first hour every day, the students have a vast program including Math, Science, English, Spanish, French, art and recreational activities. More students are expected next week, as even though the money required is small some children have not yet arrived due to financial difficulties.

Scholarship Students

A total of 30 students are receiving bursaries dating from January 2007 to December 2007. Their photos and biographies are being sent to you.

Georges Marcellus School

The director of the school was delighted to know that they would be able to protect the school from rain and he immediately set about getting the work done. It is virtually completed now. Photos of the work will also be sent as soon as we can go and take them. It is a three-hour drive from the Anis Zunuzi School, over bad roads.

2006 Montessori Materials

The Materials Company of Boston (supplier to the US Montessori programs) has provided many seconds and still very usable materials to the Mona Foundation to replace the worn equipment in our projects with Montessori Schools. Margie Maher organized and sorted the “garage-full” of materials and has now sent on to Anis Zunuzi School in Haiti six very full boxes! The owner of Manutech, Mr. Farhad Khozouee, lives in Haiti and has been a liaison for us for safe shipping. Sue Puzo is very appreciative of replacements for their ten year old materials.

2006 Bridgeway Grant Report

Thanks to the Bridgeway Charitable Foundation Grant of last December, this first quarter has seen new additions to their curriculum. Six new manual sewing machines are being well used. These are the most preferred due to electrical shortages. Five used computers have been purchased and internet hookups are installed. These are powered by battery at this time as electrical problems in the country need to be resolved. The eight batteries and five internet hookups allow for consistent work.

top