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The graduation ceremony of the Center of Protection was held on Sunday afternoon, July 3, 2005. There were 58 children who graduated from the Center of Protection this year. On the Friday before graduation, there was a rehearsal at the church. Here we see Emaniela Pierre practicing her recitation.  These girls are actually from next year's graduating class. They are practicing a dance with the director of the Center of Protection, Violette Etienne.  These 4 girls from the class of 2005 are taking a "break" from rehersal. Seated left to right, they are: Mendia Benjamin, Ruth Thoma Jean, Abigaëlle Jean and Modayline Augustin.  The big day arrives! Here are some of the girls waiting their turn to be dressed in their cap and gown. Seated left to right, they are: Phare-Yiska Stéphane, (unidentified), Chandelyne Alcimé, Emaniela Pierre and Chana Pierre.  After "suiting up", all the graduates lined up in the road to march down the street to the church.  As they entered the church, the curious neighbors started to gather on the front steps.
 Suddenly it was time for the processional. The children marched down the aisle singing a song about being happy to graduate. The church still looks empty but this will soon change!  These are the proud parents of the graduating class of 2005!  Mendia Benjamin opened up the ceremony with a very animated recitation, entirely in French - which is not her primary language, welcoming everyone to the ceremony. This recitation was about 2 minutes long and she got through it flawlessly! Congratulations, Mendia!  Other recitations followed. They were not as long, but were still all in French and were performed equally as well. It was quite a testimony to the great job being done by the teachers in the Center of Protection.  Then there were dances. This dance is the one being practiced in the earlier photo. These girls are "Les Indiens" - the first inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola.  These girls represent "Les Affranchis" - the freed slaves, who had won their independence from the French. The woman assisting them is Violette Etienne.  These boys represent "Les Esclaves" - the imported African slaves who helped settle the island before they won their independence from the French. We can identify two boys in this photo. The boy wearing blue shorts is Johny Jean and the boy to his right, wearing a gold chain around his neck, is Ronald Medar.  Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for. Each child came up on the stage and received their diploma, along with some small gifts from the "La Marraine de la Promotion" ("the godmother of graduation"), Pam Brochu. (Pam is the woman in the background wearing a red top) The boy receiving his diploma in this photo is Lintz Storly Valmyr. Also pictured here is "Le Parrain de la Promotion" (the godfather of graduation), Socrates (at the podium, behind Pam), who is a teacher in the school.
All in all, the day was a success, in spite of the stifling heat and humidity. The children all performed their parts well and the parents were all pleased with the accomplishments of their children. We have a copy of the ceremony available on DVD. If you are interested in seeing it, please contact us. |
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