But the school wants to provide more than mere skills for these pupils. Most of them actually come from a risky environment where drugs, alcohol, prostitution and violence are commonplace. As a result, what these children really need is to be taught good habits including hygiene and cleanliness as well as the basic principles to prevent them from falling into the same environment as their parents. “They must be taught that their actions will have consequences,” says Dominique Capillaire from Groupe Noyau Social.

“The greatest satisfaction is when you see – or when they tell you – that you have managed to make a difference in their lives,” smiles Joyce Lamarque, in charge of the school and one of the two full-time workers there. This is why she gets so emotional when she sees one of her former pupils beautifully attired in her wedding dress that she sent from Belgium. Or when she attends the certificate awarding ceremony of the Fondation Espoir et Développement at the Trou-aux-Biches hotel where one of her pupils, Kellyna, is being recognised as an assistant cook. She also felt particularly happy when Kersty and Aurore were sent to Zambia by the British Council for an African project on Identity and Diversity. They went there to present a theatre project which they did in Mauritius with some of their friends and were given the opportunity to represent their island. They were both very happy to “make new friends and see how they live over there”. “They are now looking forward to the next trip”, says Joyce.

The only problem for the NGO remains the lack of funds to carry out all their projects. Despite the financial aid provided by the Currimjee Group, FED and the Joseph Lagesse Foundation and sponsors like Barclays, they still lack some basic equipment. As a school in the Anfen network, they are provided with appropriate training. However, paying for a bus to go to the swimming pool or buying jogging suits for winter are still issues. So be warned!