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April 2009 |
SPOTLIGHT ON... In the furtherance of our enthusiastic commitment to serving the charities we assist, Schiff Hardin's Tax-Exempt Organizations practice is proud to present our Philanthropic Spotlight. Each month, we will turn over the microphone to one of the many organizations we work with so that you can learn about some wonderful work that is being done to make the world a better place. With that, we are proud to introduce you to The International Education Exchange.
Since 2004, the International Education Exchange (IEE) has been working closely with the government of Rwanda to support public education. First, IEE built a library at Kagugu Primary School and worked with the government to get running water, electricity, high-speed wireless Internet, new classrooms and latrines at the school. Since then the Ministry of Education has worked side by side with IEE to create programs to strengthen the education system in a number of ways. IEE was created in 2004 when its founder, Stephen Paletta, saw the powerful connection between students at Kagugu Primary School and his children's school in New York. Children in Rwanda and children in the U.S., seemingly worlds apart, came together through a rich correspondence. They were curious about each others' differences and fascinated by their many similarities. This was the beginning of the Pen Pal Program. IEE believes that students in Rwanda and the U.S. benefit in profound ways from understanding one another. Students learn compassion, cultural sensitivity and leadership. IEE facilitates a letter writing program between the two schools and encourages the students to move beyond the letter writing; partner schools in the U.S. have created such projects as a shoe drive, a pottery Christmas ornament sale and a story exchange. In late 2008, the government of Rwanda changed the language of instruction from French to English in all public schools. Because 90 percent of teachers are francophone, a large teacher training effort is needed to make this transition to English a success. The Ministry of Education has partnered with IEE to create the pilot Teacher Training Program (TTP). This program will help the country move from the traditional "chalk and talk" method of writing on the board and lecturing to learner-centered methods that actively engage students. As teachers improve their English skills, it is possible that they will take this marketable skill and pursue better-paying jobs. IEE's Social Enterprise Initiative (SEI) addresses this issue by creating a business at each of IEE's partner schools to provide funds that will be split evenly between teachers' salaries and educational resources. By working alongside teachers to create a business of their choice, we can help them to create the brightest future for themselves and their students. The teachers at Kagugu Primary chose to create a cinema in the library built by IEE at Kagugu, which showed its first film on March 13, 2009. The teachers are now working to create an officially recognized cooperative that will continue to show films and earn a profit for teachers and students. IEE continues to be open and responsive to the needs of Rwanda's public education system. Our work has shown the Ministry of Education that we are deeply committed to a long-term effort to improve education in Rwanda. With the government's support we have been able to make great progress. Most excitingly, we saw students dramatically improve their scores on the National Exam (a requirement for proceeding to secondary school), going from a 42 percent passing rate in 2007 to an astonishing 87 percent in 2008. The future holds many opportunities for the International Education Exchange. Because of our close relationship with the government of Rwanda, our possibilities are endless. We welcome the collaboration of all partners who wish to support us and the teachers of Rwanda in our efforts to improve education. To join our efforts, please visit our Web site: www.educationexchange.org. RECENT PUBLICATIONS
ABOUT SCHIFF HARDIN LLP Schiff Hardin LLP is enthusiastically committed to serving the legal needs of tax-exempt organizations, matched by significant experience and practice capabilities in this area. Our attorneys provide comprehensive counsel to a wide array of public and private philanthropic, health care, medical and scientific research, housing, neighborhood redevelopment, cultural, artistic, civic, college and educational, and religious organizations, as well as social welfare organizations, trade associations and business leagues, business and housing cooperatives, and professional fundraisers.  |
