It is a special place and I’m excited to see what successes the next 10 years will bring

Christel House Academy Website

Labels: child poverty, children, Christel House Academy, passion, students, teacher

Labels: Christel House Academy, education, Indianapolis, students, teacher

Labels: Christel House India, Indiana, teacher

Yesterday we shared about the Christel House India Mother's Committee. With Mother's Day soon upon us, we thought you'd enjoy a couple stories about the women behind the scenes of our wonderful children - equally wonderful mothers.

A Mother Learns

Last year, when her sons began having difficulty understanding their homework, Rosalba couldn't help them. "I was ashamed that I'd never gone to school," she says, "but I asked for help at a Christel House parents' meeting." Other parents offered suggestions, but none were compatible with her schedule as a full-time maid. That's when Christel House Mexico teacher Edith Miroz volunteered to teach Rosalba how to read and write. Meeting every Wednesday in the very early morning, the two worked together and Rosalba can now read and write at a third grade level - and she's learning more every day.


"I no longer get lost trying to find my way around the city. I can read street signs," she says. Rosalba is also learning computer skills in a Christel House workshop trying to improve her opportunities for employment.

But best of all, in the evenings when all is quiet inside a tiny shack in the slums of Mexico City, Rosalba Martinez Zarate can be found talking with her children about their homework.

Labels: Mexico, parent, teacher, testimonial

Barry Nobles, a committed Christel House supporter, recently volunteered for an extended stay at Christel House South Africa in Cape Town. A career High School counselor, Barry has a keen eye not only for what works but why...

He writes...

It is the mission that attracted me.

My wife and I were looking for a place to donate some money and used the website Charity Navigator as a guide. Christel House was one of the top charities listed and I can see why. What happens here is precisely what your literature claims. The school strives to serve the poorest of the poor giving them an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. But what attracted me most was the understanding that it is not education alone that these students need. Underpinning the education is a network of values education building dignity and self-worth. As a child learns respect for themselves and others, they grow into young adults with a belief in themselves strong enough to surmount all the challenges they face. Those challenges are many.

Having been a high school counselor for 38 years I know being an adolescent is difficult even under the most privileged of circumstances. But to hear the stories of these young people who leave the safe haven of this school every day facing abject poverty, drugs, violence, disease, and discouragement makes one wonder how they even make it to school, let alone actually succeed.

The 97% graduation rate of the first class speaks volumes about the success of Christel House. But it then begs the question...what makes it work?

I don't believe it is the promise of a good education for we all are aware that we don't always do what is good for us. Helpful as it may be, it is not the first rate curriculum the school offers. These kids are learners but it is not the learning that keeps them working. What about the identity to school? The uniforms, the awards, and the promise of success taken together are strong motivators. Kids love to prove themselves and the climate is set here to encourage one to be part of the school family. It is an honor to earn a school tie.

Yet is that strong enough to overcome the gravity of the townships? By itself, probably not. What then is the Christel House secret? Perhaps it is the core values which are taught in hundreds of ways. Through continued reinforcement, learners are taught integrity, responsibility, independence and respect. They do learn these things at almost an unconscious level. But I do not think students rise above the challenges in their lives because they are offered dignity.

No, students endure here and succeed here because they are loved.

They wear the uniforms, they stay up late hours studying, they iron their shirts, they conform, they try to please because someone here cares. Teachers care deeply for their students and they feel it. The learners here know that what they do matters to someone and they can be successful in the eyes of those who care for them. But of course they test it. They rebel, they challenge, they back slide, and do all the things any other teenager would do. Plus, they bring with them the emotional baggage that their circumstances create. They come to school after a weekend shooting. They come to school after their mother dies the day before. Students are taught, parented, respected and nurtured by Christel House Staff.

And who do these learners dump this pressure on? The very people who care about them - the staff at Christel House. Counselors, social workers, teachers... all of them. It takes a huge amount of energy to shape the life of one child. It takes that much more to shape the life of 750.

Barry also recognized a need for more staff support and we are following up on his recommendation. We appreciate his time spent, expert analysis, candid words above and his support of Christel House. Barry also put together a website of his great photos and reflections.

You too can help us help more children. If you're interested in visiting and/or volunteering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Labels: South Africa, teacher, testimonial, visitor

We often share about the wonderful children of Christel House. This time, we wanted to share the story of one of our educators in South Africa who shared her story with us...

Name: Faheema Harris
School: Christel House South Africa
Grades/Subjects: Physical Science for grades 10-12, Mathematics for grades 8-9

She writes...

The 26th of November 2008 must be on of the most memorable days of my life. It was the day I wrote my Maths final, the day I went to say farewell to my parents who were immigrating and it is the day I accepted a job offer to teach at Christel House SA.

For the past 12 years I had taught at 3 government schools. Educators at these schools are overworked, the classes are overcrowded and they do not always have the opportunity to get to know their learners. Some teach just to pass time, others are so stressed out that they end up in Clinic, and many resort to physical and verbal abuse of learners. Fortunately there are also those who are trying to make a difference, the hard workers who often hit a brick wall but refuse to give up....the ones who still regard teaching as a calling.

For me, it was a difficult decision to leave my comfort zone and move to a foreign environment. When I asked my husband (who has been an educator at Christel House for 3 years) to help me make my decision his reply was, "It is your decision. It is not something I can explain, it is something you need to experience for yourself"...and what an experience it has been.

During the first three months (at the old premises), if there was not a classroom available I would teach in the School Hall and when the Hall was not available I would teach outside under a tree. What amazed me was that the learners never complained. They were so grateful and excited to be at the school. They were and still are so eager to learn. I often refer to them as sponges, ready and eager to take in and absorb your every word. These learners are dedicated, hard working and are extremely goal oriented.

I work with an amazing bunch of people who are very supportive and who will go the extra mile for one another and the learners. Staff who offer up their free time, including weekends and holidays, to come in and assist the learners. Educators who treat learners with respect and who are constantly encouraging them to excel. Staff who are not judgmental and who take the time to get to know their learners. Learners are allowed to voice their opinions and these opinions are respected. These leadership qualities of learners are encouraged by all staff. Even though we are way behind government schools in terms of technology, the educators make the best of what they have available. It is heartwarming to know that in these trying times, there are still people out there who want to make a difference in the lives of children.

One cannot help but be humbled and saddened when you hear what some of our learners experience in their daily lives. For the past week I had noticed that the appearance of a learner...let's call him "Ben"...had deteriorated significantly. I had spoken to him about his uniform. His shirt was not clean, he needed a haircut, he was wearing takkies and I had noticed that he had been wearing the same long-sleeved t-shirt under his school shirt for the past two days. While standing at the bus stop he told me that he was not looking forward to the weekend. It was pay day and he knew that his parents had finished work early. He also knew that they would not be home when he got there and that they would be out drinking. He would then have to go ask his neighbors and friends for food so that he could feed his younger brother and niece. He confessed that he eats a lot at school because at night he feeds his siblings first and if there is anything left, he eats. To be at a school like Christel House is the answer to many of his prayers. He knows that here he will receive good education, he will be fed and the staff will listen and assist him wherever possible. He knows that he can tell his story and he will not be judged by anyone and that he is surrounded by people who care. It's Monday now and "Ben" is back at school with a smile on his face. he knows that here he can be a child again, play soccer with his friends, focus on school and forget about his problems at home.

Christel House is a gem for learners and educators alike. We look forward to a long and productive future here. We appreciate the opportunity greatly and all those who support it.

Labels: math, science, South Africa, teacher, testimonial