House of Hope is a vocational rehabilitation program for women and their children leaving the world of prostitution and human trafficking. Over a period of three to four years, the women are discipled, counseled, and taught skills that they can use to live independently upon their graduation from the program. I (Jessica) have been involved at House of Hope very minimally over the past few years, visiting occasionally, helping a friend with children’s programs, etc. This past September, however, I agreed to start meeting with a group of four women who have never been to school, to make an attempt at helping them learn to read. I have quickly learned that teaching children to read is one thing, and teaching 40-year-old women to read is another thing entirely. Despite our slow progress, I am so encouraged at their willingness to keep trying day after day, at our laughter as we make mistakes together, and at their quick acceptance of me as their friend and teacher.
After about a month of working with these women, a few other women approached me and asked if I would work with their children who didn’t know how to read. I asked around a bit to find out how many kids this would be, and realized that many of the kids who lived here had very basic school knowledge, and would benefit from some extra help. So, for the past two months I’ve been also meeting with these kids. I have been both encouraged and discouraged. Encouraged by their desire to learn and the fact that they have come many times to study, even during their vacation time. It is discouraging, however, to meet with a 12-year-old who is in first grade, who cannot read or write much more than his own name. Or a 9-year-old who is going into third grade and doesn’t know his letters. An hour twice a week with these kids is not enough to even begin to make a change. I’ve seen that the change needs to happen much earlier. The change needs to happen probably in their school, which has few resources. But before that, it needs to happen with preschool aged kids who desperately need early literacy intervention. And before that it needs to happen with mothers who know how to teach their kids the basics of counting, colors, letters, etc.
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| Albalina with her daughter and two granddaughters, who all live at House of Hope |
So where to begin? Many of you might remember that years ago I talked about starting a library, and throughout the past few months I have thought more and more about the possibility of making that a reality. I’m not exactly sure if it would look like a two-day preschool for this community, or if it would look like partnering with the school to provide more literacy opportunities, or if it would look like an actual room with books and learning games.
At this point I do have a few others who are motivated to work on this with me, and I feel pretty sure that we are at the point where I can ask for people who might want to partner in this as we start buying books and supplies. Please send me an email if you are interested in becoming involved! I know that God loves these kids and their families. He loves these moms who are desperately trying to better their lives and follow the Lord, and He loves these kids who want to learn even though everything seems to stand in their way. I’m excited to see how He will provide for them!
