Alliance Française Educational Initiative: Reaching Out to Washington's Children

A program sponsored by the Alliance Française de Washington in partnership with the District of Columbia Public School System (DCPS). Alliance Française Educational Initiatives are an expression of the Alliance Française de Washington's long term commitment to the local community.

Established in 2002 in honor of Anne Bujon, wife of former French Ambassador François Bujon de l’Estang, this initiative offers a tangible connection with the French language and francophone culture and ways of life to public DC elementary schools with little access to supplemental programming. Beginning in the fall of 2011, the AFEI will work with third, fourth, and fifth graders in two elementary schools in Southeast DC: Orr Elementary and Garfield Elementary.

Each week the AFEI program sends highly qualified and certified French teachers into these schools to offer a lively mix of rigorous language training and cultural enrichment activities.

Visits from international figures in the sciences and arts, cultural events, and outings to French restaurants supplement the classroom experience and open doors to a wider world. Today, the Alliance Française Educational Initiative is in more classrooms, reaching more students, and offering a stronger curriculum than ever before.

"From Anacostia to Monte Carlo, a fieldtrip of a lifetime"

Created in 1974 by H.S.H. Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo has become the largest and most prestigious circus event in the world. It awards the most respected prize in the world of the circus, the “Golden Clown” (Clown d’Or). The 35th International Circus Festival took place from January 20th to 30th, 2011.

This year, the Alliance française hosted a drawing contest for DCPS students at our five participating AFEI schools. Zakiya's drawing was selected and she travelled to Monte Carlo in January 2011 with a parent and a school representative as guests of the Principality of Monaco, to participate in the week-long circul competition as a guest judge on the International Kids Panel!

Click here to view more photos of the drawing contest

To see more photos visit Zakiya's blog at:

http://zakiyaroberson.blogspot.com/

For more information contact :

• Sophie Mededovic - AFEI Program Manager
  children@francedc.org  202-234-7911 x832