ACTS Expanded Educational Programs
ACTS believes education for orphans helps fight poverty. ACTS provides schooling for orphans in its care and for village children who pay nominal fees to attend.
The secondary school opened in October of 2008 with 56 students and enrollment has increased to 100 in 2010. This school is the only secondary school within walking distance to the surrounding community. The ACTS orphans will be able to attend this school at no cost and village children will pay a nominal fee. In addition to a solid academic education, students will take Bible school courses.
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| Antonnette teaches pre-school classes to the orphans |
Another exciting program was launched in October 2008. This is a pre-school for the orphans at the ACTS Center. ACTS staff member Antonnette loves little children and began teaching the little ones French and other basics to prepare them to enter the grammar school.
The ACTS Center began two programs for orphans in 2007. More than 700 orphans and other vulnerable children are enrolled in a “speed school” program and grammar school as well as vocational training offered at the ACTS Center in the village of Saonré.
A feeding program ensures that students will be fed one to three meals a day depending in which program they are enrolled. These orphans and other vulnerable children will be able to concentrate because “an empty stomach does not have ears.”
Throughout the year ACTS will feed nearly 1,000 orphans one lunch a day and the 200 orphans who sleep at the ACTS Center will be served their breakfast and evening meal as well.
The speed school program is for children who are having difficulty with their studies, have never been to school or who were dismissed because of their low achievement. This program enrolls students from 24 villages in the district where the ACTS Center is located. One of these classes is being offered at the ACTS Center in Saonré. Students study for nine months and then are given an exam to test their level of academics. They will be placed in the proper level of school for the next year.
ACTS published the curriculum for students enrolled in the speed school program and produced the materials for training the first 24 instructors. Additional textbooks and training materials are needed for the course to continue. Text books include math, reading, science and Bible lessons.
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| Pre-schoolers at the ACTS orphanage now have an opportunity to learn French, and basics like counting and colors. |
In addition to the speed school ACTS began a regular grammar school for orphans enrolled in the ACTS program. ACTS published curriculum for the first three classes of grammar school. By the end of the year, the program will expand to all six grades and for high school students the following year.
Children in our classes are eager to learn and listen attentively in classes.
