Friday, March 19, 2010
The results are in - South Africa scores off the charts!
We are extremely proud to announce that the first graduating class of
Christel House South Africa has achieved a 97% passage rate on the matric exams. Their passage rate on these exams – a series of tests taken by graduating seniors – is well above the national average of 60.7%.
In a time where South Africa's education system has come under much scrutiny, thirty-one Christel House students took the exams, with 30 passing and 24 (77%) of those students earning scores that make them eligible for university admission and scholarships!
Attending a university is exactly what Lerecia Bailey, a 19-year-old graduate of Christel House South Africa, plans to do. Lerecia (top row, third from left) is currently enrolled in a university where she intends to study business management and build a better life for herself and her family. Attending university wasn’t always an option for Lerecia who, as a child, was homeless for five years after she and her family were forced out of their home following her father’s death. Then, just two years ago, Lerecia’s mother also passed away, leaving Lerecia to care for her two younger siblings. Lerecia is truly a remarkable young woman and we congratulate her and her classmates during this exciting time. (
See a feature article from the South Africa Times here)
The accomplishment of Lerecia and her classmates is directly linked to Christel House South Africa, which has earned the highest possible accreditation for an independent school and continues to be a model for excellent education nationwide. Christel House South Africa’s passage rates are just the latest success story for Christel House students around the world.
Serving over 3,000 students and their families in five countries, Christel House schools are being recognized internationally for their innovative approach to ending poverty.
Learn what you can do to help.Labels: graduation, results, testimonial
Monday, March 8, 2010
Yuslendy's education comes full-circle
Yuslendy lives in one of the highest areas of La Vega, a difficult place to get to. It's also a very dangerous place, far from any police station. She lives with her parents and three sisters, one of them is schizophrenic and finding the appropriate medical attention and care have been always a big problem in the family.
Her parents never completed basic education, both reached only primary school. Her mother stays home taking care of her sister, while her father is a craftsman and works form time to time when he can find a vacancy. Recently, her father has been ill, suffering from a heart condition. The family income has always been barely enough for food, medicine and clothing. It was difficult to play outdoors knowing that her life was in risk due to gangs that have the zone as a battle field.
For Yuslendy, it was very important to find a safe place and she found it in
Christel House Venezuela. She says "I like to be good, to do the right thing, to study and to help other people, so this is my place". She was like any other teenager, she had the same concerns and problems but had additional problems. She was incredibly mature considering her age and keep high expectations about what she wanted to be in life. She says "I received a lot of beautiful things from other people, especially from my teachers, suddenly I realized that it was very important to me to teach and care about other people".
Yuslendy completed high school at Christel House and applied for the Education school in the
Simón Rodríguez University and was admitted. She was in the school last year, working at an internship in another school in La Vega. She says "I am very happy with my life right now, it is hard work but I like it, this is a difficult profession, but feels good to see the eyes of a boy who is learning something that you are teaching, that what I love the younger student, the bigger the harder, little kids are...I don't know...fresher?"
Every time you give a call to Yuslendy (when she has a rare spare moment) she is glad to collaborate with Christel House. She will graduate at the end of the year as a teacher and will pass on all that she has learned with her students.
Labels: graduation, testimonial, university, Venezuela
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
New High School in Indianapolis!!!
Today at 3:30 PM Christel House will hold the official ground-breaking ceremony for the new Christel House Academy-Watanabe High School, the newest charter high school in Indiana.
In 2002, based on the results of ISTEP tests administered three weeks after school opened, Christel House Academy ranked as the worst-performing school in Indiana, clearly demonstrating how far behind these students were. Today, the Academy's ISTEP scores have increased to where 74.25% recently passed both parts of the test compared to the Indiana state average of 71.4% and the IPS average of 49.9%.
Learn more.
The school will eventually serve 240 students in grades 9-12 and seek a 90% graduation rate.
Christel House Academy ProfileFull Indianapolis Star front page articleKeep up with us and our students!
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follow us on Twitter!
Labels: Academy, event, exams, graduation
Monday, October 12, 2009
CH South Africa's 1st Graduation - an update!
It's so hard to put into words how privileged I felt to be able to be at CHSA's first valedictory. This was something we had all dreamed of for these children, and now, here they were - the night was theirs. I think we were all immediately struck by how grown up they looked as they walked into the assembly hall wearing their caps and gowns.
Where were the little children we had all known so few years ago? When did they turn into such confident-looking young adults? As they walked to their seats on stage, you could feel the joy and pride that filled all of us. This evening was all about celebrating their achievements, giving thanks to all who had taken such active roles in supporting them, talking of what lies ahead, and finally the heart wrenching good byes.
I have only known the children for the last 5 years, and yet their growth--both physically, mentally, and emotionally, is so apparent. I can only imagine how the teachers who knew them from the beginning years of CH must have felt watching them now. They remembered when few of these children could speak a word of English. They remembered them when they came to school hungry, and they remembered them when they had no real knowledge but thankfully, a real thirst for it. Fast forward, and just look at them now! Here they were receiving wonderful awards—several children many times over.
Nontando Bonga (pictured) was named Valedictorian and truly she is such a star. After being named Valedictorian, silence fell over the hall as she spoke so eloquently to all. We were overwhelmed with her grace, her words of gratitude to all who had gotten her to this point, and the care and concern she displayed to her classmates. How could someone her age be delivering a speech that few adults could give?
Zola Simenukana spoke about her dad. She told us her mom had died when she was just 18months old, and her dad had raised her by himself. She is now 18 and said it was through his care and encouragement that brought her to this day. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere after hearing her beautiful story. After hearing their classmates speak, the matriculants sang a farewell song, but they became so filled with emotion, they could barely finish. It was truly sweet watching them console each other, one by one. Even the boys couldn't hold back their tears. They all had come to realize what Christel House means to them, the gift they had been given.
Where do they go from here? I asked several of them afterwards what their future plans were, and so many responded they were going on to universities in and around Cape Town. One girl had already been accepted into 3 universities! The matriculants know, perhaps better than any other, how far they have been able to come and the great possibilities that now lie before them because of an amazing school—Christel House. Watch the blog, Facebook and our
Flickr page for photos soon!
This is an update to Jan's
previous post.
Labels: graduation, South Africa, testimonial, update, visitor, Volunteer
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
CH South Africa's 1st Graduation - A Volunteer Reflects
Jan Keucher has made over a dozen volunteer trips to Christel House South Africa over the past 5 years. On her first trip, she worked with the students who will be graduating this week. She shares about her experiences and what it's like preparing to witness such a milestone moment.
She writes...
Although I have a background in education (B.S. from Indiana University in elementary education, 1968, M.S. from IU in special education, 1970), my teaching career was brief. I taught special education for one year in Franklin, IN and spent the next 3 years teaching third grade in an inner city school in Indianapolis. My husband and I then had two daughters, and I had the privilege to be a stay-at-home mom. I loved this time, but after our girls were grown, married, and moved away, I found I now needed a new purpose. What I found was Christel House South Africa—half a world away.
I knew nothing about South Africa—the country or its people, I decided to take a chance and go. The first time, I was there for two months in the fall of 2004. I volunteered in whatever classroom needed a volunteer, so my days varied greatly from working with the little ones to spending time with the older students. At that time the school went up to the 8th grade, with no kindergarten. It added a grade each year, and it now goes from kindergarten through grade 12. During my initial visit, I met wonderfully dedicated teachers who showed love, care, and concern to much deserving children. It seemed the teachers’ lives were totally consumed with these children. Their days started early and lasted well into the evening hours. I found I loved working with the teachers and their students. Whatever I gave to the children, I received so much more in return. After that first time, I absolutely knew I had to go back. I couldn’t get them out of my mind.
Since then, I have gone back twice a year for one to three months at a time. I feel these children have become my children, and South Africa has almost become my second home. I have watched them grow, learn, and flourish through their work at the school--an opportunity they never would have had without Christel House. The time has now come for the 12th graders to graduate. From my first days of working with them, it has been my hope to be present for the first graduation ceremony (valedictory). Many of the teachers have been housing the twelfth graders for months now to give them a safe and good environment to study for their exams. For most of the students, the journey has been long and difficult, but they have never given up. The valedictory is this week, October 9, 2009. I can’t wait to get there and be with the kids again. I want to witness this monumental time in their lives. I have kept in contact with several 12th graders from the school since my last visit in March, and they are so excited for this time to come.
I am excited to see them and their parents again and to be able to say, “Congratulations! Job well done!”
Jan KeucherCheck back later to see updates from Jan about the ceremony and the students' great accomplishments!
Labels: graduation, South Africa, testimonial, update, Volunteer
Friday, August 7, 2009
Fourth Class from Venezuela Graduates!
On Thursday, July 30th, thirty three students from CHV completed their high school studies and received their diplomas. For five years they have worked hard, tried their best, and lived Christel House’s values. It is with pride, that the CH family has watched them mature and become good and responsible citizens.
All the graduates will become part of CHV Senior Work and Study program. This Program supports students during transition into advanced studies and/or the world of work. The class earned twelve college and university acceptances and six were admitted in apprenticeship programs! 95% of CHV alumni are working and/or studying.
This is The Fourth Graduation Event for CHV, graduates now total 289! Congratulations to all graduates on the completion of their high school studies. It has been a long haul for all of them. They face a new chapter in their life now.
Labels: graduation, Venezuela
Friday, June 26, 2009
Update #2: From Venezuela - a visit with a CH Alumnus
Ed Mendoza, our new VP of Education and Community Outreach, shares the second update to a
previous post.
Christel (DeHaan) and I recently visited Jesus Obregon School in Caracas, Venezuela. Jesus Obregon is a technical institute that offers technical career courses for students in grades 7-12. In the evening it serves as a technical college for post High School Students and adults. During the visit we met up with a Christel House alumnus Karelvys Rodriguez and enjoyed a pleasant visit. (Pictured here from her 2008 graduation)
Karelvys, like many Christel House alumni, continues her studies to advance her career. She attended CH in the seventh grade and five years later completed her graduation requirements receiving her diploma from Christel House Venezuela in 2008. She is now enrolled at Jesus Obrero Technical College studying to be an assistant administrator. In addition to her daily classwork, 17 year old Karevys will hold a position as apprentice in a local business in Caracas. Typical for most students like Karevys, she starts her day very early in the morning. To arrive at school on time, she takes two buses for the long journey. The day at Jesus Obrero consist of office training from 8:00 AM until dismissal at 1:30 PM. The late afternoon and evening is spent on internship work. After work she takes the long ride home through extremely busy traffic. Karevys does not complain as she is very grateful to have the opportunity to attend school.
Karvlvys is appreciative of her learning opportunities at Christel House. She states, “It's a privilege to be a student at Christel House.” The education received at CH has prepared her well to continue studies at Jesus Obrero. She joins several other CH alumni also attending Jesus Obrero. CH alumni build strong relationships and build life-long friendships.
Karelvys is a great example of the CH mission, to break the chains of poverty and to become productive a citizen of the community. She advises current CH students to, “Learn as much as you can and take full advantage of all the courses. These courses will help you later.” It is always a joy to see first hand that Christal House is making a significant difference in the life of our students as well as in the La Vega community. The entire Christel House family should be proud to know that our efforts are producing positive results.-EdLabels: alumni, graduation, update, Venezuela
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A First in South Africa: Rachel reflects on Matric Ball
Rachel is interning at Christel House South Africa (from UConn) and writes...
"Picture in your mind your senior prom. Now remember the way you felt during that prom: the dancing, the music, the food, the pictures, and the atmosphere. Now imagine you are from an area where gang violence, drug abuse, physical abuse, HIV/AIDS are rampant, and you may live in a one room shack... In South Africa there is an event known as Matric Ball, or dance, and it is very similar to our senior prom. Girls find a fancy dress and get their hair and nails done while the guy finds a nice suit and they bring partners, which are their dates for the night. The students in grade 12 at Christel House South Africa had their Matric Ball on Friday the 17th of April. It was also historic for the school itself because this is the schools first Matric class ever, and thus the first Matric Ball.
What makes this Matric Ball even more special is the fact that these students had their outfits for the night and their hair and makeup donated by teachers and others throughout their community. I can remember in the weeks up to the dance there would be dress fittings in classrooms and girls would be running around talking about their outfits or who their partner was, and the guys would be trying on suits or shoes. All of the excitement led to this one night.
Jill and I had the privilege to attend the dance, and we had no idea what to expect. When we got there we were stunned to find the students looking absolutely gorgeous. Every single one of the learners and their partners looked like celebrities. The face of every student was of pure happiness. There were hundreds of pictures being taken and smiling faces everywhere. Jill and I could not stop saying how beautiful everyone looked, and how excited we were to be there. After everyone ate the dancing started, and Jill and I got forced to go out on the dance floor. Lets just say that we felt slightly awkward since our dancing skills were not quite up to par.
All in all, we had an amazing time and I am sure the students did too. It was a great experience and I am very glad that I had the chance to go. Working at Christel House has given me many opportunities that I would not have been able experience anywhere else. My experience here would not have been complete without Christel House and the people that I met there. The people I met and the kids I worked with will stay in my heart forever, and I will always be grateful for their friendship and help."
Thanks Rachel. And congrats to all our graduating students at Christel House South Africa!
You can read more from Rachel and her fellow students from the UConn Honors program at
their blog. If you're interested in interning with (or visiting) one of our Learning Centers please
contact us.
Labels: graduation, intern, South Africa
