Water Problems at the Haiti EcoVillage School
Students have enjoyed free, safe drinking water from the well that was drilled when the school was built in 2014. In the past few weeks, kids started getting sick. The water isn’t safe to drink any more. Principal Ramain began buying water in Hinche, 5 miles away. With over 500 children coming to class every day, a lot of water is needed. This means increased operating costs for the school.
We in Atlanta are collaborating with Principal Ramain and our partners at MPP to find a solution. We will be testing the water, studying the problem and searching for solutions. More updates will be provided when we have consulted with engineers in Atlanta and in Haiti and understand the options. In the meantime, the school is open, safe and bottled water is available.
“Because of You, They Come to School Ready”
"Whew! No more sore feet. Kids at the EcoVillage school get needed shoes and supplies.
April, 2026
At our last fundraising event in November, we shared a simple but urgent need for the children of the Haiti EcoVillage School. Many students at the school lacked basic supplies—shoes for the long walk and backpacks to carry their books. Our interpreter, Wesly Saintilus (who studies in the U.S.), contacted his sister in Haiti who was able to provide a detailed list of students in need. Attendees at the fundraiser were provided with the list and responded with generous gifts that enable us to meet the need.
Here is an account of how we were able to make this happen for the children.
From the Field: A Message from Judith Saintilus
My name is Judith Saintilus, and I live near Hinche, about five miles from the Haiti EcoVillage School. When my brother Wesly spoke to me about the need for school supplies, I was grateful for the opportunity to help.
We began by visiting the school and meeting with the principal, Ramain Exil. We explained that we had come on behalf of Atlanta supporters who wanted to help students who lacked shoes, backpacks or uniforms. We learned that many of the new students were from displaced families that had to flee their homes in the south of Haiti due to gang activity. The principal welcomed us and gave us permission to visit the classrooms and observe the students.
Over the next visit, we went classroom by classroom. We looked carefully to identify the children who did not have backpacks or uniforms, those without proper shoes, and even some whose uniforms were worn. We recorded each student’s name, age, and shoe size. The need was real and wide-ranging—from young children in early grades to older students working hard to continue their education.
After completing our assessment, we sent the information to Wesly. Soon after, funds were made available through the partnership between the Wesly Wonderful Foundation and the Haiti EcoVillage School Partnership. With these funds, I traveled to Cap-Haïtien and nearby markets to purchase shoes, backpacks, and uniforms.
Once everything was ready, we coordinated with the principal to schedule distribution. Over two days, we gathered the students and distributed the items based on each child’s need. For those who could not attend, we left the remaining supplies with the school so they would not be left out.
This effort meant more than simply giving materials. For many students, having shoes makes the long walk to school possible. A backpack allows them to carry their books with dignity. A uniform helps them feel included and ready to learn.
I am thankful to have been part of this work, and I am especially grateful to the supporters who made it possible. Your generosity reached each child in a very real way.
Pictured are the Team in Haiti that was able to procure the supplies and distribute to the children.
(Left to right) Bedniflore Saintilus, Judith Saintilus, Andaline Saintilus
"As Haiti Plunges Deeper Into Chaos, A New School Year Begins"
The headline is from an article in The Haitian Tribune, an online English-language newspaper. As a supporter of the EcoVillage School, you may have an interest in knowing the milieu in which the school will operate this year. So, this blog quotes liberally from the Tribune story.
The story begins: “As Haiti continues to grapple with deepening instability, the Ministry of National Education has officially set the start date for the 2025–26 academic year: Wednesday, October 1. Despite the mounting challenges facing the country—including violence, displacement, and systemic dysfunction—education authorities are pressing forward with plans for a full academic calendar.”
The story continues by describing Haiti’s crisis as the new school year is about to begin. “While the calendar may appear routine on paper, the reality on the ground is anything but. Large parts of the country … remain affected by armed violence, gang control, mass displacement, and chronic poverty. Many public and private schools have either been destroyed or are now occupied by internally displaced people (IDPs) fleeing gang violence in Port-au-Prince and other regions.” Our last blog (Another Year Completed at the EcoVillage School) described just such a situation in which Dejean Sainte Marie, an IDP, and her 2 children were sheltering in our school.
The Ministry of Education, which is a collection of toothless bureaucrats who have no funding, “has called on local authorities, government partners, and international organizations to stand by the education system,…”.
The article accurately describes the situation in the community that sends children to the EcoVillage School. “Parents are hopeful, but cautious. Teachers are determined, yet under-resourced. And students… are facing an uphill battle to reclaim their right to learn.” Thanks to support from so many of you, the EcoVillage School will open on schedule, teachers will be paid and 400 children (including some IDPs) will claim their right to learn in safety. The EcoVillage School continues to be a beacon of hope.
The Tribune article closes with a poignant description of this moment. “As the 2025-26 school year approaches, Haiti’s education system finds itself at the crossroads of ambition and adversity - an enduring reflection of the nation’s resilience and its ongoing struggle for stability.”
To read the full article, go to As Haiti Plunges Deeper Into Chaos, A New School Year Begins October 1st – The Haitian Tribune
Another Year Completed at the EcoVillage School
Dejean Sainte Marie standing in front of the classroom where she and her two children sleep.
June 2025 brings contrast for the EcoVillage School community. The school term has ended and a new class of 9th graders are preparing to take the national high school entrance exam. Despite everyday poverty and the challenges of subsistence farming, our support for the school has produced another year of learning and advancement for more than 400 children.
It's a satisfying moment, except it is not. A threat looms just over the horizon. Two months ago gangs from Port-au-Prince attacked and now control Mirebalais, the largest city between the capitol and Hinche, home to most of the EcoVillage School teachers. The school is 5 miles from Hinche.
A new wave of refugees fleeing violence has moved into the EcoVillage community. Dejean Sainte Marie shares her story. “I’m from Mirebalais. I have two children. Today, I feel completely discouraged because the gangs took our home. They burned my house and took everything. I’m left empty-handed with no hope. The EcoVillage School gave us a classroom to sleep in. I spend the whole day under the trees in the schoolyard waiting for class to end so we can go back inside. I think all day about what to do. I was never idle—I used to run a small business. If I could borrow even a small amount of money, I would start a little business to feed my children. If it weren’t for the EcoVillage School helping us with a place to sleep and some food, we would be dead by now. How will we survive? I can’t feed my children except for what kind neighbors give us. Now I sleep in a classroom with nothing. Our situation is desperate.”
It’s a helpless feeling to watch the plight of Haiti and its people, which is exacerbated by our own nation’s pitiless policies. The Atlanta EcoVillage School Partnership is gearing up once again to raise the funds needed to operate the school for the 2025-26 term. We need your help and your support. We ask for your prayers for the families, the school, the community and our Haitian sisters and brothers.
Keep up-to-date with news from the school https://www.haitiecovillageschool.org/news
Caption:
More Students mean More Opportunities and More Classrooms!
Every child needs a safe space to learn. To escape the violence in Port-au-Prince, students and their families are flooding into the EcoVillages. They arrive to find acceptance and hope. They find some relief from the fear. And they find many other students crowding onto benches to learn and to share their experiences.
The Haiti EcoVillage School Partnership works to provide the best education for our students. While the school was under construction, capital funds from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and our Partnership (YOU!) went to new construction. As classrooms were added, funding shifted from capital projects to operating costs. In 2019, the school was "nationalized" by the Ministry of Education with the hope that the government provide much of the operating costs. With political and economy chaos following the assassination of their President in 2021, the prospect of government funding has evaporated.
Enrollment has increased dramatically. The existing facilities are insufficient. All of our partnership funds go to operations with nothing left for capital projects. This year we were able to send some extra money for new benches so each child has a place to sit in the very crowded classrooms.
We want every child to receive an education and be welcomed at this school. Education is critical for the Haitian people to break the cycle of poverty that has plagued the country for generations. A new classroom will provide the quality education that all the students deserve.
Your support is crucial. Let’s work to make this new classroom a reality. Contributions from partners like you can help us expand our facilities and enhance the learning experience for our students. Every donation brings us closer to providing a space where children can learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
Together, we can continue to provide a brighter future for the children at Haiti EcoVillage School.
Our Teachers are our Heroes
Teachers are the backbone of the EcoVillage school. They serve not only as educators but also as mentors and role models, shaping the future of the children they teach. All are experienced in the classroom, with most having several years teaching in the EcoVillage School. From year-to-year turnover is almost nonexistent. This is crucial since educational materials are in short supply while classrooms are bursting at the seams with the arrival of refugee children whose families have escaped the violence of the big cities. Chalk and blackboard are their chief teaching aids. These are challenging times to be a teacher at the school.
You would expect all of this to weigh on student performance. Not so. The students have continued to excel in their studies. Over 82% of last year’s students progressed to the next grade level. Results of the national gateway exams were outstanding, with a high percentage of our 9th graders passing, allowing them to advance to high school. This success is a direct result of our dedicated teachers, who are committed to maintaining high educational standards despite limited resources. These accomplishments have helped the EcoVillage School maintain its national accreditation, which is particularly significant in a country where most schools have been forced to close due to lack of funding and support.
Now for some irony. The Haitian government is virtually nonexistent -- no president, no legislature -- but the Ministry of Education continues its role by adding requirements to the curriculum. It has mandated the addition of three new subjects: technology, the arts and physical fitness. All good things. But the Ministry, which is required by the Haitian Constitution to pay educators like the ones at the EcoVillage School, offers not one cent. Mandates without financial support for strapped schools to meet them simply adds more stresses. Oh, well. At least it’s worth knowing that employees at the Ministry probably aren’t being paid, either.
In addition to these external factors adding pressure to teachers, inflation and the devaluation of the Haitian currency has eaten into the spending power of teachers’ pay. Plus, transportation is more difficult and fraught with the sketchy availability of gas and the spread of gang violence. Most EcoVillage teachers live at least 5 miles away. Because of these concerns, the Atlanta Partnership has committed to increasing the salaries of the teachers. It’s only fair. Teacher salaries have averaged $2000-2200…per year.
Since teacher salaries are the lion’s share of the school budget, even a modest increase puts additional pressure on our fundraising. This makes your support ever more critical. Your contributions are shaping a brighter future for the children of Haiti. Thank you.
Henri Survived. What's next?
“…Even if you want to escape, you have to go through thorny paths where you’ll get pricked. You can't escape with anything; if they see you escaping with something, they will kill you or pressure you. When you flee your home and if you want to return, you have to pay the gangs. The situation is really difficult; nothing can function…”
Henri Louvensky knows thorny paths. His life descended into chaos and violence as gangs took control of his once “normal” neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Henri and his family escaped. Their journey was a difficult one. With danger lurking around every corner, they left their home, their lives and the streets that had become war zones. They risked everything to find safety.
“…We left our home without taking anything. We have no money to live. It's our uncle who had some… If not for him, we…would just be sitting, not doing anything.”
Henri’s uncle took them in and enrolled Henry in the 9th grade at the Haiti EcoVillage School. They have found safety living in EcoVillage 3, but the challenges are far from over. “The insecurity really overwhelmed me. The sound of gunfire had a big impact on my ears..”
Henri’s story is a simple yet powerful call for peace and stability. He dreams of a future where children like him can live without fear, where families can stay together, and where schools can provide more than just safety—but also hope, learning, and opportunity.
The EcoVillage School provides a lifeline for children like Henri. Every dollar donated goes to the school: to keep the doors open, to pay the teachers, to buy books and supplies, and to offer these young minds a safe place to grow and learn.
Henri reminds us our support is critical. Join us in our mission to help Henri and others like him find a path forward amid the challenges they face daily. Your generosity makes a lasting impact.
Meeting Medical Needs at the Haiti EcoVillage School
Young children are active, curious and often susceptible to minor injuries or sudden illnesses. These health concerns are an unavoidable part of daily life, especially in a school setting. Being able to respond quickly and effectively is vital.
The Haiti EcoVillage School is in a rural area and access to medical care is quite limited or delayed. Children often skin a knee or become ill during the day. Without any medical supplies available, the school principal would need to take students to the hospital in Hinche. Director Ramain recognized a well-stocked medical kit on site would allow the school to address these issues promptly, providing comfort and immediate care to students, addressing both their physical and emotional well-being.
Ramain requested contents of the kit to reflect the diverse needs of the school community. Items like bandages, antiseptics, and pain relief medications are essential for treating everyday cuts, bruises, and minor illnesses. Meanwhile, supplies like sanitary napkins and diapers ensure that all students, regardless of age or gender, can maintain their dignity and comfort throughout the school day.
There are no funds to purchase these medical supplies within the school budget. One of our supporters provided a designated gift so that Director Ramain can purchase these needed supplies. This gift is consistent with our core value to provide what the Haitian people need to help themselves.
By maintaining a comprehensive medical kit, Haiti EcoVillage School shows a commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment. In a place where external challenges can feel overwhelming, the ability to provide basic healthcare supplies is a small but powerful step toward building a stronger, more resilient community.
Haiti EcoVillage School, Fall 2024
The Haiti EcoVillage School stands as a beacon of hope in a country where daily life is defined by uncertainty and hardship. While much of the country struggles with violence, hunger, and the absence of effective governance, the school provides a sanctuary of safety, learning, and community.
Attendance has surged, and the quality of education remains high. Our committed teachers continue to show up every day because they know their work is vital for the future of Haiti. In spite of the collapse of the government, the school’s resilience is evident.
The Haiti EcoVillage School Partnership is dedicated to raising the funds necessary to keep this beacon shining. Without our support, the school would simply cease to operate. 400+ children would be left without education, safety, or a daily meal — the only solid meal for many students.
Eleven years ago, when this partnership was founded, we envisioned a self-sustaining school, eventually funded by the Haitian government. However, the reality in Haiti has changed, requiring a renewed commitment from us. We choose to continue our mission, embracing the values of faith, courage, resilience, and commitment.
Social events, fundraising efforts, and steadfast support from local churches and donors continue to ensure that the Haiti EcoVillage School remains a thriving oasis of learning and stability in a sea of chaos.
In a place where a human dignity is challenged every day, we provide the resources to keep this essential institution going. Our students, teachers and families deserve nothing less.
Thank you for helping us keep hope alive.
Resilience in Fearful Times
How do you cope when your circumstances become overwhelming? How do the children and families in the EcoVillages find courage to continue? It’s hard for us to comprehend how they are dealing with the forces against them as Haiti struggles with political, economic, and environmental realities that seriously challenge every aspect of daily life.
For the EcoVillage community, political instability means living in uncertainty and fear. While our school provides a sense of safety and continuity for the children, the broader environment remains oppressive. Government support for essential services, such as police, education and healthcare are either underfunded or unavailable.
Inflation is soaring, and the value of the national currency has been steadily declining. These economic difficulties result in high prices for basic needs, including food, fuel, and school supplies.
Many families in the EcoVillages struggle to afford daily necessities. Despite these hardships, the EcoVillage School has continued to operate thanks to the unwavering commitment of our teachers, partners, and supporters. The community faces the challenge of sustaining these efforts amidst ongoing economic difficulties.
Deforestation, soil erosion, and water scarcity are rampant due to unsustainable farming practices, natural disasters, and lack of environmental regulations. A recent report highlighted how climate change and environmental damage continue to threaten the country's fragile ecosystem, making it harder for communities to thrive.
In the EcoVillages, water scarcity impacts both daily living and agricultural activities, which the families depend on for their livelihood. Unpredictable weather patterns, such as droughts and heavy rains, also threaten crops, further straining the community's food security and the ability of the people to earn income.
UNICEF reports over 900 schools have closed with more than 150,000 students being displaced. Families are fleeing the violence in search of safety and hope.