April is Global Volunteer Month. It's the perfect opportunity for us to highlight the students who are actively supporting their community and inspiring those around them to get involved. 

Our secondary school students in particular have contributed to a very touching initiative this year, and worked to raise funds for the charity Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. The €12,500 raised were used for the heart surgery of Annabelle, a 5-year-old girl from Haiti, saving her life. 

Annabelle Chloé Ruth is a 5-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents in Port-au-Prince, the country's capital. Currently, attending kindergarten, her heart condition was diagnosed only a few months after her birth, during a medical examination. She has aortic stenosis (AS), which is an alteration of the aortic valve leading to rapid breathlessness and fatigue, with a risk of discomfort during exercise. To find out more, watch the short video made by Professor Francine Leca. Her parents are particularly concerned about her health, and she has since been closely monitored by a cardiologist until surgery was considered. Unfortunately, as the medical facilities in Haiti are limited, the little girl was unable to receive the care she needed to treat her heart disease in her own country. 

Welcomed by a host family in Paris, Annabelle benefited from surgery at the Marie Lannelongue hospital last November. The adorable little girl is now in great shape! Before she left, our students had the opportunity to meet with Annabelle during the Grand Placitum in our college buildings. 

Two of our collège students share their feelings after meeting the little girl:

"During our last Placitum, we welcomed Annabelle with her unique story of life. Originally from Haiti, Annabelle, at just five years old, has already proven to be a superhero. Shortly after her birth, she was diagnosed with a heart condition. Last year, Ermitage Collège organised various fundraising events, including grocery stands and race, to support Annabelle's heart surgery. In December, her parents received the best Christmas gift ever: Annabelle's surgery was successful, and she is now on the path to a healthy recovery!"

Emma, 5ème.

"When I saw this young girl entering the room, I thought it was just a teacher's child or a one of the students' sister, but then I learned that it was a child who was there thanks to the money that we raised over the course of this year basically thanks to us, thanks to the Ermitage school and its unwavering loyalty to Mécénat chirurgie cardiaque. It is thanks to the efforts, donations and generosity of each student that we have saved a life, and the joy, pride and happiness that I felt that day will forever be engraved in my memory and in that of all the students at Ermitage in this year 2023-2024. I hope that a day will come when the world will no longer have to worry about problems like these, but in the meantime, let's do everything in our power to ensure that our school saves even more lives."

Daoud, 4ème.