My travel group from Atlanta to Haiti in 2015. I am front row, second from the left.
Haiti EcoVillage School Update: Partnership Reorganizes
Mission: provide primary education to the children of the EcoVillages and surrounding area.
This mission began 12 years ago as a 5-year project with these goals:
1st Goal: Build the school. Accomplished.
2nd Goal: Achieve accreditation from the Haitian Ministry of Education. Accomplished.
3rd Goal: As an accredited school, receive permanent funding from the Haitian government as dictated by the Haitian Constitution. Not Accomplished. Why? The government has disintegrated. It has no funds for schools. Without funds, most schools in Haiti have closed or teachers work without pay.
Our Partnership voted to keep our EcoVillage School open until the government accepts responsibility or until other means of financial support are realized. The mission is no longer a short-term project. We have evolved from a task force to a newly formed board of directors with by-laws, governance and a vision for the future.
“This is a noble cause. For many of my fellow Haitians, ‘the Atlanta people’ are God sent, their only hope for an education, therefore a future, for their kids. This is God’s work.” Claude Henry Pierre, Board Member
Much about our organization remains the same. We depend on a strong connection to the three founding churches. The Flavors of Haiti fund-raisers will continue to provide social gatherings of supporters and resources for our school. Our relationship with our partners in Haiti continues to grow and flourish. Members of the new Board of Directors formed the organization 12 years ago and remain firmly committed to the success of the mission.
“My board service is gratifying because I have the opportunity to develop friendships with extraordinary people. Together, we are involved in an important cause that challenges our intelligence, creativity and perseverance to offer a beam of light in the midst of such dark times in Haiti.” Susan Constantine, Board Member
Moving forward, we will seek support from new sources, such as corporations and foundations. We will communicate more consistently with our supporters. We will develop opportunities for people to contribute their talents. Members of the board serve one-year terms and openings for new board members will soon arise. If you are interested, please contact any current member to learn more about board membership and why it is such a rewarding experience.
Current board members are: Allison Bay, Ph.D, Secretary; Marie Blot; Chris Calia, Co-Chair; Jeanine Calia; Susan Constantine; Linda Curry, Treasurer; Becky Evans; Carolyn French; Gordon French, Co-Chair; Kristy Gordon, Ph.D; Scott Grosse, Ph.D; Kathryn Hornsby; Catherine Marin, Ph.D; J. Patrick Murphy; Deedee Murphy; Mike Nichols, Ph.D; Claude Henry Pierre; Ginger Stapley.
The Haiti Ecovillage School Seeks Justice by Educating the Children of Haiti
"Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that the child of a farmworker can become the president of a great nation."…Nelson Mandela
In 1961, a 14-year-old Haitian farm boy spoke out against injustice - a decision that would shape the course of his life and eventually impact thousands of families in his country.
His name was Chavannes Jean-Baptiste.
When his uncle’s cow disappeared and later reappeared carrying a different brand, Chavannes realized what had happened. The local official who was supposed to enforce justice had taken the cow for himself. Everyone around Chavannes urged silence. Speaking up could bring consequences. But Chavannes could not ignore what he knew was wrong.
The next morning, he got up long before dawn and walked 2 hours to an army post in Hinche to file a complaint. After waiting several hours, an officer finally listened to his complaint and agreed to investigate. After a long day of waiting and persistence, authorities investigated and recovered the cow.
When he returned home, his father gave him advice he never forgot:
“It took courage to do what you did because you believed in justice… The people of Haiti deserve justice, especially the poor people. Work for justice, my son.”
That lesson became the foundation of a lifetime.
Chavannes, who was the first in his family to receive an education, became an agronomist and organized poor farmers to band together to get a fair price for their crop. In 1973, he founded MPP (Mouvman Peyizan Papay), beginning with just a few groups of small farmers and growing into a movement with 60,000 members across Haiti today.
His vision was always larger than agriculture. He believed lasting change comes when communities have the tools to build their own future. Education is one of those tools.
It was Chavannes’ vision that led to the creation of the Haiti EcoVillage School.
Today, even in a country facing extraordinary challenges, students continue to come to school eager to learn. Teachers continue to teach. Families continue to believe in a better future for their children.
Your support helps make that possible.
Today, every classroom is equipped, school supplies have been purchased, and every child is welcomed into a safe place to learn. The work that began in 1961, with Chavanne’s vision for justice, continues today. (In 2026, the EcoVillage School has 10 classrooms and serves 490 students.)
Thank you for helping carry forward Chavannes’ vision—one rooted in dignity, opportunity, and hope.
Chavannes Jean-Baptiste is the founder of MPP and the visionary behind the EcoVillage School. He devoted his life toward seeking justice for his people.
Haiti EcoVillage School Update from our Partners at Mouvement Paysan Papaye (MPP)
The community of the Haiti EcoVillage School gives thanks for the partnership with the Haiti EcoVillage School Partnership in Atlanta.
The 2025–26 school year is going well. The students completed the third quarter at the end of April, and preparations are now beginning for the final examinations at the end of June and beginning of July 2026.
Our country is engulfed in chaos and many fear for their lives. Here at MPP we are happy to report the school has not experienced any major crisis or damage from the gangs. Even though the violence and insecurity continue to worsen throughout the country, each of our teachers has completed the curriculum successfully.
The partnership support has also allowed us to purchase teaching and educational materials for each grade, to construct and equip a new classroom so that each class now has its own room, to welcome and teach hundreds of students fleeing for their lives, and to provide shoes and backpacks to more than 100 students so they could attend school.
It is fascinating to see how much the students love school. They are consistently present, and their parents encourage them. They show great interest in school.
We believe that God will not allow our country to disappear; change will happen. For today the children attend school. The teachers provide the best lessons. MPP offers support to the struggling parents so children can hope for a better future.
Total students enrolled: 531
Students present for the 3rd quarter: 490
Absent or withdrawn students: 41
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.