What is TSOGAJ

The Schools Of Gerard Armand Joseph

The Schools Of Gerard Armand Joseph is a non profit organization created in order to bring support to the School of Gerard Armand Joseph, which is located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. TSOGAJ has been incorporated in the state of New Jersey since 2014. TSOGAJ is a 100% volunteer organization and the Board of Directors of the Haiti School Project personally cover all administrative costs of the organization.

Mission Statement

We solicit financial support to sponsor students attending the School of Gerard Armand Joseph (TSOGAJ) in Port Au Prince Haiti. This allows for the continuation of the successful operation of the Schools.

In 2009, Haiti was considered the poorest nation of Western Hemisphere and one of the five poorest countries in the world. The average child in Haiti spends less than 4 years in school and less then 35% of Haitian youths are unable to read. TSOGAJ was created in an effort to change that statistic by giving children of Haiti an opportunity to attend school. We do consider education to be the keystone to sustainable development and by supporting, strengthening, and expanding the resources of the schools of GAJ, we are providing some children with the tools they need to create a better future. We know that with your help we can change the reality for some of these children who desire to learn by giving them a path to a brighter future. We solicit financial support to allow for the continuation of the successful operation of the School of Gerard Armand Joseph of which 100% of all donations are disbursed to the administration of the school in Haiti as tuition for the children you support.

History of the Schools of Gerard Armand Joseph.

It is true that education should be a state’s project in any well developed country. But, in Haiti, the state doesn’t have enough school to accommodate all the kids all over the country. Port-au-Prince the capital is not exempt. Conscientious of the situation and in order to sustain the weakness of the state in that domain of activity, many Haitian citizens have dedicated themselves to that field, by opening and operating private schools. In September 1967, this situation appealed to Mr. Gérard Armand Joseph who, as many other motivated citizens, has decided to get himself involved in that noble battle consisting in educating kids that needed a good school to attend. That is why the School of Gérard Armand Joseph, a mixed and private institution was founded. Recognized by the Ministry of Education in March 1975, it was registered with the General Council of the National Education on the 11/28/1974. Its registration No. 002. Its license number 046. Located in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the school, with a solid track record and national exam passing rate of 100 % for the middle and around 87% for the high school students, attracts students from all over the country.

Mission

The School of GAJ is devoted to the training of young and old. The mission of the School of GAJ is precisely to:

  • - Help the students achieve the academic goals which are different for each one of them:
  • graduate from 9th grade for some, and finally for the majority graduate from high school.
  • - promote the confidence of each student
  • - prepare the citizens of tomorrow, by giving them a solid and valuable education
  • - allow the kids to socialize and to make friends
The school of Gerard Armand Joseph has been operational in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for about 50 years. The institution offers a complete education cycle from kindergarten through high school, servicing the lower and middle class by maintaining a very attractive cost. The majority of the parents in Haiti are facing a very difficult financial situation. The per capita revenue in Haiti is 752US$ nevertheless, the families which are sending their kids in the school are ambulatory merchants which only gain around less than 1 to 1.50 US$ per day, or around 500US$ per year. Most of the time, what they gain isn’t even enough for food, think about paying for school, moved by the whole economic situation of the majority of the parents, the school, since its opening, offers multiple scholarships yearly. It has been able to sustain operation with the sponsorship programs which, around 10 to 35% of the students receive depending on the school year and also on the level of donations. There were 150 students completing their 2014-2015 school year, the school accommodated 165 students for the 2015-2016 school year, and 185 for the 2016-2017. The schools philosophy is that each child is an individual with whom we work to develop as a whole. Not only does the curriculum focus on the core subjects of Math, Reading and Writing but since inception, we have included activities such as theater, dance, drawing to enhance the students development. To entice their curiosity we incorporate extra activities such as excursions, a scientific journey and discovery trips across the island. Also, to create a competitive environment the students participate in creativity contest in December, spelling contest among the students from 4th to 9th grades in February, the garden of books which is a literary program for (2) days around books for all grades. We also host a soccer championship for all grades.

 

Professional Development Seminars

Bi-annual Professional development Seminars are held in order to provide equal opportunities for educators to gain and improve the knowledge and skills important to their positions and job performance. These Seminars take place 0ne day during the school year and four days before the beginning of a new school year.