The Harambee Family Academy (HFA)
The Harambee Family Academy is a holistic family support initiative established in 1997 under the Harambee umbrella. The Family Academy is now poised for transformation and growth. The Family Academy serves approximately ninety (90) African American and Latino East Orange children during the school year and another ninety (90) children during the summer, the majority of whom would not be able to attend without financial assistance from the state. The plan is to add classroom space to increase the Family Academy’s capacity to serve more children beginning in 2009. Each classroom accommodates 12-15 children and is staffed by one certified teacher and one teaching assistant. All classrooms are equipped with recently-installed software tied into the Harambee network server. Support and involvement by parents are keys to the success of the Family Academy. Harambee believes that parents are the first teachers. Harambee provides numerous classes, workshops, and support groups to enhance the parents’ didactic capacity. Parents are encouraged to visit and observe their children in classroom, meet and hear from experts in various areas of child development, and participate in parent appreciation events. The Family Academy is proud of the 60% average attendance at Parent Teacher Association meetings. The certified teachers, consultants, and support staff are dedicated professionals who care about our children.