Chilove, 17, joined Grace Emmanuel School as a 10th grader this fall. She lives in Source Matelas, the village just south of the school, where she attended the national school.

Though being a government school, the national school is not free to attend and doesn’t always provide the best education due to severely limited resources. Chilove said that the opportunity to attend Grace Emmanuel School for free means a lot to her. “My mom didn’t dare hope for that,” she said.

Chilove has grown up alone with her mom since her dad passed away when she was little. “My mom is a brave woman,” she said. “She always works hard to take care of me.” She calls her mom her role model, best friend and counselor.

Chilove’s favorite subjects in school are biology, Creole, and math, but she loves fashion and would like to study sewing and one day have her own collection. She says she is motivated to learn so she can support herself one day.

One of the things that surprised her about Grace Emmanuel School was the friendships that the students have with each other. It is also a change for her to be at a school with chapel and Christian education classes. Chilove says she attends church on occasion but wouldn’t call herself a Christian. “Unfortunately, I don’t know any Bible verses or stories,” she said.

We are so grateful for the opportunity to help Chilove (or “Chichi” as her friends call her) finish these last four years of high school—and share the gospel with her.

“I would like to say thanks to everyone who helped me find this place at Grace Emmanuel School,” she said.