Photos

(see also : general view of the huge classroom, all children under one roof !)
This photo was taken in the same primary school than my last photo posted about Haiti ; this was the smallest section of the school (I'll copy below the notes about the other photo).

Having visited plenty of primary schools in Indian countryside since some 20 years, I was struck by some differences : yes, there too the children are wearing uniforms, but they are generally sitting on the floor (and no one is complaining about this), and there, the lack of buildings is dealt in another way : instead of putting all the classes under one roof, the classes are spread out inside the courtyard, in the open, under trees with the black board hanging from branches (I must admit that I rarely visit India during the monsoon)...

About the school manuals and books, in Haiti they are generally imported from other French speaking islands in the Carribbean ; whereas in India, they are printed locally (of course, it is necessary as there are so many different languages and types of writing in India).

The school books are bought by charities (unfortunately not enough for the number of students) and remain the property of the school ; at the end of the year, the students give them back to the master who will lend them to the following students. I must admit that I did not enquire about this in India, but it seemed that school books, which seemed rare and precious, were not handled by children individually and always remained in the school compound.

I also asked myself another question : sponsoring a project in Haiti or in India costs us in the west the same price, 30 euros each month (via Aide et Action, Paris); but the cost of living is very different, much more expensive in Haiti, so when I try to help a project there, the amount that I pay each year is much more effective in India than it is in Haiti, unfortunately...

So much needs to be done there, that it looks a little overwhelming. But these schools have been established by the local community and Aide et Action is only helping for some time each school, in this instance, providing those wooden benches and some school material.

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In one of the schools visited in the commune of Paillant (above Miragoane), there were 9 teachers in a large one-room building, busy with 260 children (not all present though), all in primary school although some of them were obviously more than 12 years old.

As this school seemed located in the middle of nowhere, I asked how many of the pupils had to walk for more than one hour one way to reach their school, and about a third of the children raised their hands.

Some of the parents have so little cash that they cannot even pay for the *annual* school fees, only 5 or 6 dollars ; the dedicated teachers are often paid only with farm crops or chickens (or other farm animals).

All children have to wear a uniform ; they are not allowed into the classroom if they don't have a pair of shoes (exceptions are made in some schools for the new comers). The little girls are combed with great care...