By Lindsey Quinn
Already far behind their peers, sponsored children often struggle to catch up with schoolwork, as their parents lack the skills and resources needed to help them. Children International recognizes this need and offers students help at most of our libraries. And, thanks to sponsorship, a number of formal tutoring programs and English-language classes have also been piloted to provide more structured assistance. The results have been phenomenal.
No matter where a sponsored youth lives, English-language skills can be a significant benefit. In India, where high school and college courses are frequently taught solely in English, an inability to understand the language can derail even the brightest student’s quest for achievement. Although English isn’t necessary for education in the Dominican Republic, speaking English opens up employment opportunities in the tourism-focused economy.
That’s why both the Kolkata and Santo Domingo agencies launched intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) programs over the last year. And this year, the programs will provide ESL education and support to over 500 sponsored youth.
India has seen quick success. Sponsored youth Rishiraj reports, “I am in college and all the lectures and assignments are in English. Through this program, my conversational skills in English have improved. I am now able to converse with my professor in English. With the improvement in language, the quality of my assignments has also improved.”
Tutoring isn’t just about skills. “The teacher here helps me to do my homework,” Alexandra (pictured on the opposite page, right), a sponsored child in Quito, Ecuador, tells us. Smiling, she continues, “She is very patient with us. She is always telling us that we are intelligent children, and she gives us a star every time we do something right!”
The Quito agency offers support in math, language, social studies and sciences in sponsored kids’ neighborhoods – either at homes or in community center libraries. A key element of the program, though, isn’t memorizing formulas or practicing verbs. Instead, it’s nurturing each child’s confidence in his or her own intellect and abilities. Kids are also learning that they have the brains, character and ability to invest in their education instead of succumbing to the negative influences in their communities.
Edith, sponsored youth and program tutor, understands how easily young lives can be derailed by violence. The 18-year-old tutor believes in giving kids alternatives to their current experiences, “I think that the tutoring program has become a safe spot for our children. They come here and they have a place to do their homework, play and make new friends instead of staying on the streets. Having a place like this will help them to be better human beings in the future.”
English classes – Increase employment opportunities and, in India, better access to higher education.
Tutoring – Specialized support helps children regain lost ground and encourages them to stay in school.
Homework hours – Not only do these help kids with their studies, but it gives them safe places to learn and play.
Reporting assistance and photos by Nivedita Moitra in Kolkata, India; Sofía Betances in the Dominican Republic; and Pedro Díaz in Quito, Ecuador.
