By Nadine Augustin Paul, Child
Advocate
When
Danis* came to be registered in our program, he was so small that I was not
sure he was old enough for school.
When I asked how old he was, he responded,
“M’am, I am old enough, I just haven’t grown because I am often sick.” The
woman who brought him lived in his neighborhood and knew what he was going
through at his sister’s house.
He began our Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) last year,
but had to repeat the class because he had a lot of trouble concentrating and
staying focused. After the report cards
went out last year, his sister decided to keep him at home rather than send him
to school. In her opinion, because he
did not succeed the first year, he was a lost case. I talked with his sister
and convinced her to give him another chance before deciding not to re-enroll
him.
At the beginning of this year, we (the ALP team) considered
the kids in our program who have special emotional and academic needs, and
decided to focus on building a supportive community for them. We determined this community should include
the child’s advocate, teachers, and the family (or host family) of the child.
As Danis was very hyperactive in class, I advised his
teachers to keep him busy. I suggested
giving him lots of activities so he could always have something to do in class.
In order to help Danis channel his wonderful energy, I recommended the teachers
choose him as the boys’ leader in class and find him a place in front of the
class, next to the teacher.
Now, Danis is one of the most outgoing and confident children
I have ever met.
He never hesitates to
talk about any subject in front of the class or with me. He sometimes shares
with me how his sister is mean to him at home. I always encourage him to stay
positive, while also talking to his sister about being more supportive. I have discovered Danis to be a strong kid,
and as his performance has increased in class, each of us has been really
impressed. He has scored very well on
the past three exams.
Danis’s case teaches me that we can always do something to
make a difference in someone’s life, but sometimes it requires a village.
*Child’s
name has been changed to protect their privacy.
