ANFEN Network: Therapeutic and Educational Mission

Prioritize multiple intelligence

In the courtyard of the Fatima parish in Triolet, 142 children aged 12 to 17 are attending school in a network center ANFEN. Called "Fatima School Literacy", this training center has existed for 22 years. "We have always had the same vocation: teaching young people the basics unearned academic primary school, but not all. We seek their fulfillment by developing their skills so that they regain confidence in themselves and find their way into a society that is future promise for them, "says Janine Grant, president of the association and a teacher by profession.

In September, each child spends an assessment and depending on its level (and not his age), he is facing a class. "This avoids frustration or discouragement. And a child does not necessarily hold an entire school year in a class. If he has the ability, it automatically goes into the next level, "explains Tristan Medard, the director of the School of Fatima.

The first two floors are devoted to literacy and the following three are focused on preparation for CPE, but this test is not an "end in itself." In addition to academic classes, children enjoy fun educational activities: swimming, soccer, creativity, music, dance, singing ... "In their family of origin, they unfortunately do not have access to these activities. We therefore wish to develop the thinking skills of students while expanding their openness and their general knowledge. So we prefer multiple intelligence, not just purely academic learning, "says Tristan Medard.

Last year, nine of the 16 candidates presented for consideration by the CPE to have obtained. But not everyone wanted to continue on to college. For students or holders of the CPE with an equivalent level, the association opened in 2000 a "Preparing for working life".

This year, 28 students aged 15 to 17 are learning hairdressing, aesthetics, basketry, embroidery, to the mosaic, the florist and the kitchen. This curriculum also includes 2 years of computer training and foreign language taught by volunteers (including a group of English expatriates and a Cuban who teaches Spanish).

This cycle of preparation for professional life ends with a one-month internship, with sometimes a job up for grabs to the lucky ones. The association also sponsors some students who want further training.

"For example, a girl followed a year of courses in aesthetics and today she works in a celebrated spa", proudly announces Janine Grant, "and many of our alumni have risen through the ranks in hotels ".

Whenever possible, the school tries to maintain contact with its alumni, "but this is not always possible due to lack of human resource", sorry Janine Grant. "And how effective assessment of the extent to which our school has touched the lives of these young people? What we give to children is not necessarily measurable, but it is much more than academic skills we help them express themselves, self-discipline, we teach civic values ??... And we put great emphasis on the refusal of the assistantship. Even the poor must make an effort to contribute to their education, for example (Rs 100 per month), helping people even more destitute that they, participating in blood drives organized by the school ... "

This "school of life" gives children the landmarks that their parents have not had the opportunity to pass on, because of their socio-economic difficulties. Parents are not the only ones involved, the public school has also failed to include these children.And unfortunately they are increasingly likely to occur at the gates of alternative schools. For 142 adolescents at school this year, the School Literacy Fatima refused sixty!

To fight against social inequalities that crystallize from an early age, the School of Fatima chose to open a pre-primary school in the City Mother Theresa for 25 children. The future of ANFEN centers are probably in this direction: preventing school failure, rather than trying to fix it.

• Association of Fatima as literacy: 261.3032

Focus on inclusive pedagogy

Pedagogy developed by ANFEN based on a syllabus developed in 2003 by Alfred Ireland. The Mauritian professional, established in Australia, defends inclusive pedagogy, which places the child at the center of learning. Themes are chosen based on the experiences of the young, of what he knows, he is passionate about this ... For example, the Olympics can be an excuse to learn how to draw flags, locate the country to write their names ...

The inclusive pedagogy seeks first to remove the mental block to learning, which affects the child. For this reason in particular, this method does not rely on textbooks, but imagine creative workshops, field trips ... which are all opportunities to explore the environment, jobs, public services ...

The goal, not necessarily the CPE board, but build responsible citizens who have acquired basic skills (reading, writing, arithmetic) but also values ??and comfort in social life.

To a diploma recognized by the State

So far, students clôturaient their education in a center ANFEN with obtaining a certificate. A certificate, which had no value recognized by the state. Young people found themselves stuck so if they wanted to continue their studies or apply for a government job, for example. The network ANFEN is being negotiated with the MITD, so that students can stand the test of "Adult Literacy a National Certificate."

"This national exam will be offered in 6 centers ANFEN in 2013, on a pilot basis. This test is interesting because it validates skills that are very functional, useful in daily life and in business. With this certificate recognized, the doors will open to the MITD young who want to continue training. This is a great achievement! , "Enthuses Bernard Silver, network coordinator ANFEN.

Work together to prevent school failure

"The ultimate goal of the network ANFEN is to cease to exist," says Bernard Silver, network coordinator ANFEN. This sincere ambition may seem surprising, but is explained by rational arguments.

According to Bernard Silver, "Today, much money is spent for the rehabilitation of youth in the fight against crime as well ... But if there had been a work in advance to reduce the failure school, there would be fewer plagues and violence in society today. " As Victor Hugo wrote so well, "open a school is closing a prison."

ANFEN network is ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and all partners who wish to share their experiences in preventing school failure. "It is urgent to put money in research, not only in rehabilitation," says Bernard Silver, "behind the failure of a child at CEP, there is a social failure is much more serious that academic failure! For an illiterate, life is extremely difficult and this situation leads to a deprivation of liberty and therefore a lot of frustration. "