An update from Interim Education Program Manager/Curriculum and Training Specialist, Romel Jean-Pierre.
Mont-Carmel School in Ricot is one of Hope For Haiti’s partner institutions, located in a small community in the Southeast Department of Haiti. Before our partnership, the school building was in a severely deteriorated state. Only three makeshift classrooms were used to accommodate more than nine grade levels (from Pre-K to 9th grade), creating extremely challenging conditions for effective learning. On rainy days, classes often had to be canceled. The tin roof was riddled with holes, allowing water to pour directly into the classrooms and forcing the school to close.
Thanks to the support of Hope For Haiti and grant funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, major improvements were made. Three brand-new classrooms were built, the roofs of the existing structures were fully repaired, and new doors were installed to better secure the learning spaces. In addition, a sanitation block (restrooms) was constructed to meet the basic hygiene needs of students and teachers, significantly improving health conditions and dignity on campus.
Madame Antonine Cléovil, the school principal, said, “Through this gesture, Hope For Haiti has not only helped expand our school, but also strengthened our hope for a better tomorrow.
On May 15, 2025, our team traveled to Ricot to officially inaugurate the new school block. The entire community came together for this important celebration: parents, students, teachers, and local leaders joined in. The event was marked by songs, traditional dances, and inspiring speeches from the school director and local priest Father Cazeau Fagant, making it a truly memorable day.
“This new school building is more than a beautiful structure, it is a living symbol of opportunity and progress,” said Father Père Cazeau Fagnant during the inauguration. “It represents the chance for more children to receive a quality education in a safe and dignified learning environment.”
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