Can anyone help me help this kid? Sorry L O N G post!

[drloca]

Originally Posted by Chip

I doubt this is true, that a substantial portion of the illiterate here are basically orphans.

The people here are illiterate because the leaders of this country don't care about education and the people are ignorant to it's real benefits.

Either way, it is very sad that children get denied the right to a basic education, and especially in the case of this young child, seeing the other girl get to attend school.

I guess it also boils down to the fact that when you have never had something, you dont realize what it is you are missing.


Hope we get some positive feedback from the OP soon.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Ringo

JD,

Can you please give us an update?

Regards, Ringo

Hey. Well, it's the week end and some places will be closed on Monday too to celebrate the mid week May 1st.
I don't know if the school will be open Monday but, if some have indeed written, I would not be surprised that by Monday or Tuesday I would get a phone call with a more positive message. After all, I still refuse to believe that this is indeed school policy but rather, as some pointed out, some concerns based on the lack of communication on the specific case. All we need is talk this thing thru constructively and that's what I asked.

I will keep you all posted, any which way this thing goes.

Originally Posted by ncochrane3

Hi there! This is my first time posting on this forum, but was so excited and saddened to read your post. Saddened because of the unfairness that this girl is going through, but excited because you mentioned she is from La Union. I was in the Dominican in the summer building schools, volunteering in an orphanage, etc. and one of the villages we worked in was La Union. Such sweet kids, but I do agree with you about the school. Just the same, I miss it SO much there and so was excited to read that you are in the area.
I probably won't be of much help at all, but the other school we were building in Arroyo Seco is just lovely and has the sweetest people that I have ever met in my life running it and attending.
I know I am not of much help, but wanted to post anyways. I miss the Dominican sooo much and am counting down the days until I am back there for a month (59!!) I will be staying in Sosua.

Nikki

Well, welcome to the Dominican Republic and this Forum. It would be nice to know so pro active people like you around.

... J-D.

Originally Posted by cuas

What do the people that take care of her say?
When girls are taking in is to do housework, to help around the house, to go to the colmado, wash dishes or to clean after the family to earn food and board.
My point of view is the family never intended to send the child to school because there must be an Escuela Hogar close by.
One of teachers if paid maybe is willing to go to the house to alfabetize this girl.
It is a sad situation but very common. I was given a girl many years ago from La Vega but I made sure that she went to school but in general they are used to clean after the family and treated as a maid.
The family must understand that this child deserves an education like their daughter so they can prepare her for school everyday and get around without her while she is in school.
That is ONE of the reasons a lot of Dominicans do not know how to write or read, because they are given away and never send to school.
I hope everything works well. This girl will be grateful to you all her life.
Good luck.

Sadly, you are so right. This is way I said that I wish to help her break out of the vicious circle of ignorance. One can hardly hold it up against the parents or those who act as parents... they have been taught over generation to know "where they belong", believe in being born poor and live that God given life, to accept... while they won't see that it is more like surrender and wasting the opportunities of life.
As I said, I, we or who ever (even el presidente) can't change this world, not even this tinny country... but I, we, you can make a difference... and so could this school.

Just yesterday, both girls spent the rainy Saturday at my home here in Puerto Plata. We built ourselves a little project they had asked me about for quite some time... a lamp made of shells we picked on the beaches here. They saw one at a bar on Cabarete beach some day and wanted me to buy one like it. I told them WE could MAKE one even prettier and bigger. They are so not into making one and even those who are poor rather hope on being able someday to just BUY. So, yesterday I introduced them to a hot glue gun, our box of shells and a lamp and shade support I did buy at a ferreteria. It came out really nice and they were so proud... it looks better than anything you can buy and what had them puzzeled the most is that it WORKS (I wired a cord with plug and switch and mounted a low consumption bulb so it won't melt the glue).
Anyway, besides that being ONE lesson, the one of doability, the subject of the allmighty presidente (que tiene los qualtos y no los suelta, el desgraciadito) came up again... yes, with 7 year old girls. Well, they report the misconcepts they hear from the adults... el tiene, es come solo, no nos da mi qualtos... etc.
So one asked me why he (el desgraciadito este) was so rich. I told them that the rich are rich because they go to school, get smart and have a goal in life.. getting rich... and soon enough in their life realized that NOBODY would give them the money to be rich, so they put themselves to WORK and take it from those who just sit around and wait for a wonder to happen or for somebody to give them some qulatos and that for this reason the rich will get richer and the poor poorer. There was an awful silence on the table for a while... they kind'a looked like they got the message.


... J-D.

[Grandma Jen]

I would be happy to teach this child English - would that be of help?

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Grandma Jen

I would be happy to teach this child English - would that be of help?

Thank you for the very kind offer. I am making a list of all the good offers we so far got here and by PM. Right now, as soon we find a good school for her, which is a priority at this current time, we will have to get her up to speed with basic writing and reading in Spanish... because that's the pre requisite to be able to see her start school in early September and because introducing a child to the concept of the alphabet and it's uses and applications is probably easiest in Spanish as it is almost phonetic.

Thanks! ... J-D.

[drloca]

Great that you are teaching them some of lifes valuable lessons and some good answers you had for them regarding "el presidente".

Your rainy-day activity certainly sounds like you all had an excellent experience and that they were able to learn from that too.

All this incredible time and energy you are investing in these 2 young girls is an investment in the future so keep up the great work.

[ncochrane3]

Well, welcome to the Dominican Republic and this Forum. It would be nice to know so pro active people like you around.

... J-D.


Whoops- Sorry! Dominican REPUBLIC I didn't know saying the Dominican is a problem- I will make sure to say Dominican Repubic!!

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by drloca

Great that you are teaching them some of lifes valuable lessons and some good answers you had for them regarding "el presidente".

Your rainy-day activity certainly sounds like you all had an excellent experience and that they were able to learn from that too.

All this incredible time and energy you are investing in these 2 young girls is an investment in the future so keep up the great work.

Thanks drloca.
Well, you know, all that time I spend with them... it's being paid back on the spot... I sure do get lots'a sugar . Kids here are so appreciative of anything you do with them.

As an update: I had some interesting talks with 2 fellow Forumites in Sosua this afternoon and we all hope things come together and we will get her into that school and well prepared to go towards a good future.
Some have PM'ed me here and I have given them contact information so they could send some mail to the school which will open tomorrow. So, I hope that this week I'd get an opportunity to present my case before the director and work out a solution for the this one girl.

If anyone wishes to write to the school in question, please PM me and I will PM you the contact details.

Thanks! ... J-D.

[wuarhat]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

She lives in La Union, I live in down town Puerto Plata. There are obvious logistics involved in commuting a kid back and forth. I can't have her living here, I live alone and it's not proper here... I don't want to be considered the next Michael Jackson.
Besides... I am 42.. I work.
Yes, while I have never done it before, I feel confident I could teach her to read an write... in Spanish that's easy (when compared to English) as it;s almost phonetic. But I don't want her to just get the basics... I want to break her out of the vicious circle of ignorance.
Yet, if it's necessary I am prepared to bring her up to speed during the summer vacations.

... J-D.

I think the only things you should consider in contemplating whether to have her living there are:

1. Do you want to make that large a commitment to this child?
2. Are you able to?
3. Will her current guardians permit it?
4. What are the legal ramifications?

There might be other considerations, but what someone who watches too much television thinks of your living arrangements is not one of them.

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by wuarhat

There might be other considerations, but what someone who watches too much television thinks of your living arrangements is not one of them.

I disagree. JD obviously understands Dominican culture well. It would be looked on as inappropriate and eventually could cause a host of problems that would negate all the positive things he is trying to do for this child.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by wuarhat

I think the only things you should consider in contemplating whether to have her living there are:

1. Do you want to make that large a commitment to this child?
2. Are you able to?
3. Will her current guardians permit it?
4. What are the legal ramifications?

I assume you are talking about the general concept of sending her to school on my bill and having her prepared or having somebody prepare her to that effect this summer(?).

1. Maybe you should either read my first post or get to know me personally... I like to believe either will clarify this positively.
2. If you get to know me, you will understand that this question can be answered with a clear "yes" too.
3. I have the consent of her mother and she is now actively helping the process by having requested a new copy of the girl's birth certificate.
4. None. I am prepared to pay school tuitions in one year advanced payments if that puts some peace in mind to the school. I can also produce financial statements to that school which would certify my capability to assume that commitment.

Originally Posted by wuarhat

There might be other considerations, but what someone who watches too much television thinks of your living arrangements is not one of them.

I hope I understood your question correctly:
No living arrangements mentioned from my part here for two simple reasons:

1. None necessary, thus none planed. The girl lives in la Union, her mother in El Batey. Her mother has 3 other children, one a 6 months old and she works a beauty salon. There is a concho guagua acting as an informal school bus bringing kids from La Union to El Batey (where the school is) back and forth every day.
2. My name is not Michael Jackson, so I don't have a big enough Ranch just yet . The kids and their families do spend time at my home, doing BBQ's, celebrating holidays and such but never stay over night without adult company. On the other hand I have spent nights at their or relatives homes... even in their grand parent's casita de tablitas South of San Juan de la Maguana. There are some things we do and other things we don't because they are not part of the culture.

I hope to have answered your questions accordingly.
Thanks! ... J-D.