Education Brings Hope to Haiti's Children

Thomas Nybo: A new beginning for the children if Haiti, they are
returning to the classroom nearly three months after the
earthquake that decimated their country. Here in Port-
au-Prince, more than 1,000 students turned up for the
re-opening of L'Institution Sacre-Coeur.

The classrooms were completely destroyed here, so the
Haitian Ministry of Education along with the support of
UNICEF and its partners have installed about a dozen
tent classrooms along with latrines and a clean water
station.

Twelve-year-old Gaille Lexis lost her home in the
earthquake and is currently living in a makeshift
wooden hut with her family. For months, she's been
waiting for this day to arrive.

Gaelle Lexis: I'm excited to be back at school. I can play and talk to
my friends, and tell them about my problems. This is
what I like.

Joel Desrosiers Jean-Pierre: We have to go back to school. It's our only chance to
succeed after the January 12th earthquake. So, dear
children, I invite you to take up your school activities
once again.

Francoise Gruloos-Ackermans: This is not just a significant step in terms of education. I
believe that the return to school offers a beacon of hope
for the city's children, after so many months of
confusion, sadness and uncertainty. We know that
Haitian parents and children value education above
nearly all other services. If there's one country in the
world that values education, it's Haiti.

Thomas Nybo: Across the country, UNICEF is distributing 3,000 tents
as part of its effort to help return more than 700,000
students to schools over the next two months. Other
UNICEF assistance is coming in the form of education
and recreational materials, as well as school furniture.
As the country moves forward, it is critical that
education is a key priority nothing less than the future
of Haiti is at stake.

This is Thomas Nybo reporting for UNICEF Television
at Port au Prince, Haiti. Unite for Children.