A beautiful country of approximately 11.4 million people (World Bank, 2020), Haiti was originally inhabited by the Taíno people, who called the island Ayiti, meaning “high grounds”. Its rugged terrain is made up of stunning mountain ranges scattered with small coastal plains and river valleys. In 1804, after a slave rebellion against the French, Haiti became the first independent nation in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the first Black-led republic in the world.

Haiti is also the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the poorest in the world. WE Charity has been working with communities in Haiti since 1999, expanding to implement our full five-pillar development model in 2010 through community-led, holistic, and sustainable programming. This model starts with education, usually building or renovating schools or school rooms (including classrooms, libraries, kitchens, teachers’ accommodations, and school offices), that are then supported by other infrastructure needs key to breaking the cycle of poverty, from clean water to improved health care.

Our efforts have been focused in the most rural and underdeveloped area of the country, the Central Plateau region, partnering with communities in the mountains outside of Port-au-Prince. In January 2010, when the 7.0 earthquake struck, we immediately responded with a strategy focused on protecting children and supporting the population of internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly those who relocated to the Central Plateau.

In Haiti, over 80% of schools are privately run by communities, religious organizations and non-governmental organizations and do not receive any financial support from the government. These schools often lack infrastructure and resources, contributing to a high illiteracy rate and school dropout rate. The incidence of child labour is also high. In 2010, the earthquake also damaged or destroyed most schools, which continues to impact the state of education in Haiti today.

In partnership with communities and Haiti’s Ministry of Education, WE Charity has worked to improve access to education, building or renovating schools according to the standards of earthquake and para-cyclonic construction and helping to provide a safe environment for students. Schools are painted in bright, cheerful colors with outdoor study areas, playgrounds, and landscaping, creating campuses where children can simply be children and are motivated to learn.

Each classroom is equipped with furniture and learning materials. Students receive school kits with supplies like notebooks, pencils, crayons and more. We also train teachers, helping equip them with knowledge and skills to bring out their students’ full potential. Our school campuses in Haiti also include school kitchens and school gardens. We work closely with women in the communities to provide students with nutritious lunches and dinners.

In one of WE Charity’s partner communities, Terre Cassée, the Haitian government chose the school to house the National Institute of Haitian Music (INAMUH), a program supported by the Venezuelan government with the aim of transforming the lives of orphans and street children by using music as an instrument. Through the program, students get the opportunity to perform in concert regularly.