"Why Children? The Aart Van Wingerden School Has An Answer."

Wherever poverty is rampant in the world children are the ultimate victims. Malnutrition and hunger, so characteristic of impoverished situations, are major causes for disease and deficient learning abilities. Haiti is no different with its lack of adequate health care and a 56% adult illiteracy rate. Double Harvest believes that one of the most effective ways to address poverty in this country is through the care, education, training and discipleship of children. Childhood is the time when the most significant life changes can be made and positive patterns developed.

The Aart Van Wingerden School (named after Double Harvest’s founder) was established in 1996 as a non-residential school, beginning with two classes of 30 students per class. An additional class has been added each year bringing the enrollment to around 430 for the 2007-2008 school year. Preschool (added in 2006), Kindergarten classes, and a daily noon meal ensure that the children receive the adequate intellectual stimulation and nutrition needed to thrive in their future schooling years. These essential elements unfortunately are often missing in the poor and underprivileged families from which these children come. Even simple skills, like how to hold a pencil, are taught in these initial classes.

Over the years, classroom buildings and a cafeteria have been built, a playground added, a basketball court poured, and most recently the Vocational Building constructed. This building houses a library, a home economics room, a workshop for woodworking and welding classes, a drafting classroom, and storage areas. Beyond the normal academic classes, vocational, computer, Bible, and English classes are also offered. These are most often taught by people from the U.S. and Canada, visiting on a short term mission lasting from two weeks to three months. They compliment the competent and caring Haitian teaching staff, all committed to the welfare and development of the precious lives of these students.

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