Camathe Elementary School

Mary Babcock Christian Elementary School of Camathe

In the village of Camathe, just west of the northern city of Saint-Michel de Attalaye, there is no water or electricity. There was one mediocre elementary school that taught 200 children, yet an estimated 2,000 children ages 5 to 12 live in the village. Living Hope's first endeavor was to provide more of this village's needy children with an excellent education.

With this desire in mind, our first school opened in Camathe in October 2002. The three classroom building is on six acres of land, nicely landscaped and attractive. A well has been dug on the site for use by the school and the villagers. Children are provided with a daily lunch, and receive annual health screenings.

Life is a constant struggle for survival in Haiti. In this daily struggle, education has taken a back seat, as few parents can afford to send their children to private schools and public schools are not available. Most children currently work on farms or help their parents at flea markets, in lieu of getting an education.

The school's French-based curriculum is taught by qualified teachers and not only provides the 750 elementary-aged students an excellent educational foundation, but also provides them with a greater possibility of continuing their studies at a secondary level.