CHRISTEL HOUSE WORKS Helping Children Break the Cycle of Poverty March 2018 Value Proposition The mission of Christel House is to break the cycle of poverty around the world. Christel House schools invest in the lives of impoverished children utilizing research-based best practices with a focus on holistic human development. They offer students a pathway to become contributing members of society and change the lives of generations to come. The Problem Worldwide, children trapped in poverty are denied the opportunity to gain an education that would position them to change their circumstances. Their schools are under-resourced, their teachers are absent and/or untrained, and learning targets lack rigor. Rather than encouraging completion of an education, parents rely on kids to start working at a young age to help support the family. Hunger and disease (often easily treated with proper medical attention) thwart the educational and professional aspirations of these children. They are trapped in the cycle of poverty. Whole cities and countries suffer as their human potential goes unrealized; research demonstrates that equitable and quality education can increase a country’s gross domestic product per capita by 23% over a few decades.1 The Christel House Model Founded in 1998, Christel House International is a non-profit philanthropic institution. Currently the schools serve over 4,500 low-income students at eight learning centers in India, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States (Figure 1). Christel House strives to transform the lives of these children, helping them to realize their hopes and dreams and become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. To reach this goal, Christel House uses a holistic model of education (Figure 2). Along with rigorous academics, students receive free health services such as annual physicals, vision checks and glasses as needed, hearing evaluations, dental cleanings, vaccinations, and mental health services. Breakfast, lunch and a snack that follow nutritional guidelines are provided daily. These services contribute to student success, as it has been well-established by the research community that healthy, properly-nourished young children are more likely to reach their fullest physical, cognitive and socio-emotional potential.2 Such in-school programs for impoverished children have proven effective in increasing attendance, decreasing tardiness, and improving academic performance and cognitive functioning.3 The holistic model extends to other, non-physical needs of the students. The schools stress parental involvement and support, which is linked to academic success and good behavior in school.4 Character development programming is enmeshed in all aspects of the schools, with the 1
Christel House Works Value Proposition - Updated 10/30/18
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