Educate Tomorrow

How the SEED School Is Changing Lives

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0000

SEED's commitment to its students has brought them attention. President Obama, who is looking for ways to improve inner-city schools, visited last year.

"This school is a true success story. A place where for four of the last five years, every graduate from the SEED school was admitted to college - every graduate," the president noted in a speech.

Getting Some Fresh Air And Life Skills In Southern Miami

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Educate Tomorrow recently faciliated a day retreat for young men in southern Miami, a great experience for everyone involved.

Educate Tomorrow at Buffalo Cove, NC

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

This August, Educate Tomorrow accompanied a number of Miami-Dade youth to Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center in North Carolina.

Former foster children from Miami help build a Habitat for Humanity home in Stuart

http://www.tcpalm.com/staff/nicole-rodriguez/ (Nicole Rodriguez ) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

A group of former foster kids put their summer vacations on hold, trading in sunglasses and swimwear for hardhats and hammers to help Habitat for Humanity of Martin County build a home for a family in East Stuart.

Taking a Chance; Public Boarding School Reaps Great Success

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Fifth-grader Giavonna Turner sits anxiously with her family in a crowded school gymnasium. On stage at the front of the room numbered ping pong balls spin around in a metal bingo barrel.

Alhadj's thoughts on his first visit to the US

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

My people, the Tuareg people of Niger, West Africa have a proverb that says: ''Travel is a University.'' I will describe the service during my stay in the country of ''Uncle Tom,'' the land of freedom commonly known as the United States of America (USA) from February 14 to April 12, 2010. As an African, I was impressed by three American values, which are: the organization of the system, hospitality, and respect for human rights as behavior.

President Obama Proclaims May National Foster Care Month

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Every year May is National Foster Care Month, but it?s not any other year for foster youth across the nation: three recent laws have significantly improved foster care in the U.S. In a proclamation released on April 28th, President Obama outlined the goals of the laws and recognized all the people involved in improving the lives of foster youth and former foster youth.

The first relevant act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, has increased funding for the Title IV-E adoption and foster care assistance program. The program ensures foster youth entering foster care are staying in safe and stable environments. The second act, Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions, provides support to older youth by improving educational opportunities and stability. The third act, Patient Protection and Affordable Care, will ensure Medicaid coverage to former foster youth beginning in 2014. Collectively, we have recognized some of the deficits of the programs and safety nets designed for foster youth. Combined, the three acts promise to change the outcomes of those living in foster care.

Today, Educate Tomorrow recommits to help foster youth achieve their full potential. However, this can only be realized through you. You are our agents of change, you work to inspire youth day in and day out, you keep them focused on their goals, and it is you who provide them constant support. Thank you for your continuing dedication to our youth.

Read the proclamation at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-national-foster-care-month

Alhadj in the News

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

The Observer has written a story about our own Alahdj Amadou, director of our international program. Read the original article here http://observernews.com/index.php/news/general-news/1743-west-african-educator-visits-reston-schools, or below.

West African Educator Visits Reston Schools By Leslie Perales, Observer Editor

Last week Alhadj Amadou, an educator from Niger, West Africa, visited South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes Middle School to learn more about American Schools. Amadou is the director of a school called Kabey Fo, which was founded by a Peace Corps volunteer and her five sisters. The school is supported by Educate Tomorrow, an organization based in Miami that is operated by the sisters. While touring SLHS and LHMS Amadou learned about the programs offered to students.

Comparatively, his school has no electricity and his computer is run off solar panels. Instead of Smart Boards or whiteboards his school uses blackboards, and most students walk or use donkeys for travel. His students still enjoy putting together theater productions, playing sports during their free time and learning about students in other countries. While at SLHS Amadou visited the school?s highest level French class to give a lecture in French, his native language. He told them about his school, students? daily lives and life in West Africa. During his tour of the school he learned about classes, arts, extracurricular activities and more. SLHS senior Yoan N?Komba provided translation during the tour.

After visiting SLHS Amadou provided a similar lecture to LHMS students. His school is located in PeaceCorps territory and isn?t very close to any large villages so many of his students walk up to four miles to get to school every day. Students are between ages 7-12 years old but eventually the school will include high school age students as well, Amadou said. He told LHMS students the school has no air conditioning or fans and the heat can reach up to 120 degrees. He said while often there are not enough books there are volunteers and he has about 60 students who are eager to learn. Amadou said the literacy rate is about 20 percent. He said if students don?t attend school they often stay home

to work and support their families. He said girls help with household chores, such as collecting water and kindling, and boys help with farming. The average school day is from 8 a.m. to noon and 3

to 6 p.m. Amadou said it is very difficult to teach and learn without materials and students in the United States are very lucky for the resources available. He said in West Africa they also often have

to teach the parents why an education is important. When students finish school they have the opportunity to go to university if they do well enough on a standardized test. Amadou said about 10 percent of students are able to make it to university. Similarly students must pass a test at the age of 12 to continue their education into their teen years, he said. Amadou said after visiting schools in America for the past few months he has been able to see how they can strengthen their curriculum. He said often the problem is that teachers do not have the ability to teach a strong enough curriculum. He said he also learned how his teachers can improve their relationships with students and use American

teaching techniques.

Educate Tomorrow Published In a New Book "The American Way To Change"

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Educate Tomorrow has been published in a new book The American Way to Change, as 1 of the country's 25 "Models With Promise" that are transforming the nation through national service and volunteers. Click here to visit the book's official website: http://www.waytochange.com/high_impact_volunteer_and_national_service_programs.html

Community Professionals Enhance Classroom Learning

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Educate Tomorrow's Chief Operating Officer Erica French reaches out to young students through the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Speakers Bureau.

Please Click Here to read the full article.