Colby Bowker
Why Haiti, Why Now
Why Haiti, Why Now
Colby Bowker
“The Haitian Project: A Blueprint for Solving ...
“The Haitian Project: A Blueprint for Solving Big Problems” - Ever Widening Circles

An Appeal for Peace and Unity from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti

Most Appreciated Community Members,

We wanted to share a letter signed by the members of the Permanent Council of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti, which was published earlier this week at their headquarters in Port-au-Prince.

Titled The Catholic Church's call regarding the country's situation to appeal for peace and unity among the nation, the letter stresses the grave security issues and violence devastating the country and expresses the importance of working together to build a future for Haiti where justice prevails, and life is respected and protected.

As always, thank you for your support and prayers, not only for the mission of The Haitian Project and Louverture Cleary School, but for all of Haiti. Throughout this multiyear crisis, we have remained a lifeline to our students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding neighborhood only with your support. And as difficult as it is right now for our community, it would be much worse without the prospect of a brighter future that Louverture Cleary School represents.  

To all our brothers and sisters, 
And to all people of goodwill,

We, the Catholic Bishops of Haiti, are deeply troubled by the political situation and the grave security issues devastating the country, especially the rise in violence in several areas of the capital and its surroundings. Once again, we raise our voices to call for peace and unity among the nation.

Our prophetic mission as Bishops compels us to denounce these acts of violence that are destroying the country and sowing endless suffering. These acts have caused the death of many innocent people, forced numerous others to flee their homes, and spread widespread fear and anxiety. In these dark days, many of our brothers and sisters live in terror, deprived of their fundamental rights, such as the right to security, the right to life, and freedom of movement. Even airplanes are not spared. Toussaint Louverture Airport is closed, isolating us from the rest of the world. The capital is blocked, schools are closed, and all activities are paralyzed. There is no real life in the country.

No one can accept such a situation. These events are the result of actions that go against God's plan and human dignity. This situation exacerbates the misery of the people, who are already suffering from severe economic and social issues. We cannot remain indifferent to this tragedy.

Violence cannot bring solutions or deliverance to anyone. We cannot hope for peace by sowing violence. Peace is a gift from God, but it requires the efforts of all people of goodwill to build a society as God intended (cf. Introduction to the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church).

We encourage those responsible for governing the country to act decisively to restore security and protect citizens, as their primary mission requires: to serve the common good of all (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 74 §4). This necessitates the restoration of state authority and, at the same time, the reconciliation of the nation with itself.

We invite everyone — those governing the country, members of civil society, and all actors involved in this crisis, whether armed or not — to recognize that this situation cannot continue. It is imperative to find better ways to govern the country and resolve this relentless violence. The future of the people is in danger. Something must be done.

In the name of God, who desires life for all His children, and in the name of respect for human life and dignity, we urge everyone to respect human life and, without delay, make the necessary sacrifices to find solutions to this crisis. Every Haitian must work for peace and reject all feelings of hatred, revenge, and division.

We encourage the Christian faithful not to let despair overcome them. Faith in God must inspire us to work together to build a future where justice prevails, and life is respected and protected.

We extend our sympathies to all families mourning the loss of loved ones due to these events. Together with all the People of God, we pray for the recovery of those in hospitals, for courage for those on the streets or taking refuge in a neighbor's home, and for strength for all the people suffering in body and spirit.

Let us hold firm to our hope in God, pray without ceasing, and remain in solidarity with one another. May God grant us grace, bless us, and protect the Haiti we all love!

This note is published in Port-au-Prince, at the Headquarters of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti, on November 15, 2024, on the memorial of Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Here are the signatures of the members of the Permanent Council of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti:

Msgr. Max Leroys MESIDOR
Archbishop, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince
President, Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti

Msgr. Joseph Gontrand DÉCOSTE, SJ 
Bishop of Jérémie
Secretary General, Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti

Msgr. Désinord JEAN 
Bishop of Hinche
Treasurer, Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti

Chibly Cardinal LANGLOIS 
Bishop of Les Cayes
Advisor

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

THP's $250,000 Christmas Match is ON!

THP logo with Santa hat

It’s that time of year!

The Haitian Project's End of Year fundraising campaign and Christmas Match is ON! Thanks to the generosity of some stalwart supporters, we have $250,000 in matching funds available to double qualifying gifts!

What gifts qualify for the Christmas Match?

1. Gifts from donors completely NEW to THP!

2. Gifts from returned donors who have not given this year or last—if your last gift was in 2022 or before, your gift qualifies!

3. Additional gifts of $500 or more! If you have already given any amount this year and are in a position to give again in the amount of $500 or more, your gift will be matched!

Please consider making your year-end gift today...one less thing to think about during the busy holiday season! And, please share this opportunity (and this email!) with your friends and family, especially those whose gift will qualify to be MATCHED!

Despite the ongoing instability in Haiti, education continues at Louverture Cleary School, thanks to the dedication of the administration, staff, and teachers, the persistence of the students, and the generosity of people like YOU. Your help is the help we have to give our students, and we are grateful to have you in our community! Mèsi anpil!

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

It's Election Day

“The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
— Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861
Haitian and U.S. flags against tropical trees and a blue sky

This famous quote from Lincoln’s first inaugural address came up in THP’s morning meeting, and it was a reminder that at the heart of the great American experiment is our collective choice to always strive to nurture the “better angels of our nature.”

The cornerstone of our democracy is our own participation in it. So please vote today.

Second to voting, we believe that education has been, and remains, fundamental to enduring, democratic freedom and progress, here and around the world.

As President John F. Kennedy said, "Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource."

Even though a single vote, much like a single donation, may feel small, collectively each one matters in determining the future of communities, nations, and the world.

So vote for democracy.

And donate for education.

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

THP Announces a Rotation of Leadership

After five successful years as The Haitian Project’s president, Reese Grondin is rotating into the position of vice president of finance and administration, a role that capitalizes on her expertise which has been honed over more than two decades of service with the Project.

From left: THP President Patrick Moynihan with THP Board Member Sabine Guerrier and THP Vice President of Finance and Administration Reese Grondin at an event in April 2024.

Reese started working with THP and Louverture Cleary School as a volunteer teacher in 2001 and has held a number of positions at the Project. Her tenure as president saw some exciting developments, including the formalization of a full-fledged institutional partnership with Fondation Haitian Project (FHP), THP’s partner foundation in Haiti.

Reese also successfully steered THP through some of the most difficult years in the Project's history, which included a global pandemic, the assassination of Haiti’s president, and the gang-driven security crisis that remains a source of turmoil in the country.

Reese’s clear and steady leadership enabled FHP and LCS leadership in Haiti to achieve a higher degree of operational independence, realizing the vision of LCS as a fully Haitian-led and run school. This level of subsidiarity is essential for THP to be able to move forward with the next phase in the development of the Louverture Cleary Schools Network.—a national system of 10 top-notch, tuition-free, Catholic secondary boarding schools combined with a robust university scholarship program.

Noted Reese, “It was a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the Project as president, and inspiring to work with such an incredibly dedicated team. I look forward to our continued success under Patrick’s experienced and energizing leadership.”

As THP ramps up on its fundraising initiatives to push the LCS Network plan forward, Patrick Moynihan, most recently THP president emeritus and director of institutional advancement, rotated back into the position of THP president. Patrick brings a wealth of experience, including two previous stints as THP president and time spent as a consultant for non-profit organizations. 

“Reese and our partners in Haiti like FHP President Patrick B. did an amazing job these past five years,” Patrick said. “They gracefully navigated the Project through some incredibly challenging times.”

Patrick hit the ground running this fall, already working to secure the funding and resources needed to launch this exciting new chapter. Reese will remain a pivotal part of this effort. “She holds an incredibly important role, and her stewardship as vice president of finance and administration is irreplaceable,” Patrick stressed.

He is excited for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, including finding creative ways for the THP community in the United States to interact with LCS. The Project has already begun looking into the feasibility of virtual learning sessions led by U.S. community members. For Patrick, bringing back these interactions, even if only virtually for the time being, is vital.

The next chapter in THP’s story promises to be a critical one. THP’s experienced leadership team will continue to work together to navigate the road ahead, ensuring the organization remains true to its Charism, or spiritual identity, as it strives to catalyze meaningful change in Haiti through education. 

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

The October Issue of Haitian Project News Is Here!

Louverture Cleary students on the opening day of school.

What's featured in this issue?

LCS Reopens for New School Year to Continue Its “Beautiful Work": Louverture Cleary School is back in session for the 2024–2025 school year after an exciting summer. Though last year saw an interrupted spring and delayed graduation, the LCS community took full advantage of the adjusted summer schedule. 

A Rotation of Leadership: After five successful years as The Haitian Project’s president, Reese Grondin has rotated into the position of vice president of finance and administration, a role that capitalizes on her expertise which has been honed over more than two decades of service with the Project. And as THP ramps up its fundraising initiatives to push the LCS Network plan forward, Patrick Moynihan, most recently THP president emeritus and director of institutional advancement, has rotated back into the position of THP president.

Nearly 200 Years of Dedication: Throughout the history of Louverture Cleary School, 89 inspiring individuals have served as missionary teachers before leaving campus to step into perhaps their most important and certainly most enduring roles — THP ambassadors. Two in particular come to mind as exemplars of the outsized impact of volunteers.  

THP’s New Office of Planned Giving: When an individual thinks about their impact on the world, the concept of legacy often comes to mind. It’s the imprint that is left behind, the values that are passed on after a life well lived. One of the most profound ways to create a lasting and transformative legacy is through THP's new Office of Planned Giving. 

And much, much more!

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

2024 LCS National Exam Results Are In ... and They Are Perfect!

The Louverture Cleary School 2023-2024 Philo (13th grade) Class

The Haitian Project is proud to announce that Louverture Cleary School has once again achieved a 100 percent pass rate on BOTH the Katryèm (9th grade) state exam and the Philo (13th grade) baccalaureate exam.

Passing these exams is required for Katryèm students to move on to Twazyèm (10th grade) and the start of the Secondaire (high school level) curriculum, and for Philo students to be eligible to attend university in Haiti.

LCS’s historic pass rate is 100 percent, more than twice the national rate, and particularly impressive during a period of remarkable difficulty in Haiti. 

LCS Principal Carena A. stated:

The LCS academic management wants to thank all those who, in one way or another, contributed to this triumph that has become a tradition of the school in recent years. This academic management wants to particularly thank the community members of The Haitian Project and Fondation Haitian Project [THP's partner foundation in Haiti] who believe that, despite the difficulties, achieving good things is always possible.

This result of 100 percent in the 2024 national exams is a living testimony of our trust in God and our willingness to work for the happiness of youth.

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

Health vs. Education: Thoughts of a Nobel Prize Winner

Turkish Armenian economist and friend of The Haitian Project Daron Acemoglu has been awarded the Nobel Prize in economic sciences.

The MIT economist was honored with two others for work demonstrating the differences in prosperity between nations. In countries where there is a poor rule of law, or there are institutions that exploit the population, growth or positive development is hindered.

As the Chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences stated: “Reducing the vast differences in income between countries is one of our time’s greatest challenges."

In 2017, The Haitian Project ran a Community Update (see below) where Prof. Acemoglu elaborated on the importance of education on development. The comments he shared with THP then remain just as valid and thought-provoking today. Enjoy!

June 16, 2017
THP's vision for putting EDUCATION FIRST covered in The Boston Globe 

The Boston Globe just ran a piece about THP's vision for building a national network of schools in Haiti and for moving education to the top of the list of what works and what doesn't in the country.

As the article points out, not everyone agrees with this approach — including Bill Gates (watch Gates explain how health is the top priority). However, three decades of experience in Haiti and numerous other individuals — people who have devoted their lives to working for change on the ground, economists, and not the least of all many Haitians themselves, argue that there is a proper order and prioritization for how we provide help, and that rule of law and education are the real priorities.

Daron Acemoglu, one of MIT's top economists and author of the important text, Why Nations Fail, elaborated on this subject in a recent email exchange. His comments are included below with his permission:

"The idea that you invest in health in order to unleash the economic potential of a country is dubious. Bill Gates claims that if you're not healthy, you cannot do anything else. Of course, poor health conditions are a drag on the education system. But similarly, a dysfunctional education system and corrupt government is a huge drag on attempts to improve health. Britain in the 19th century was far unhealthier and faced much lower life expectancy rates than pretty much anywhere in the world today. But this did not mean that it was doomed to failure, and it managed to build a functioning democracy, clean up corruption, introduce mass schooling and industrialize."  

Health care and aid did not create a developed country. As we frequently say, the Irish and Italian immigrants in the U.S. came out of the ghettos diseased, hungry, but educated!

High school students in uniforms sitting at desks in a classroom

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

Joy on Campus: Louverturians Start the New School Year!

Louverture Cleary School students gather for morning assembly as LCS starts its 37th year!

The long-awaited first day of the new school year finally arrived this week at Louverture Cleary School, and it can be summed up in one word: joy!

We are excited to share these thoughts from LCS Head of School Marc Daniel N. on the first day of school:

Students were happy to come together to continue making history at Louverture Cleary School. Their smiles and their beaming faces could not hide the joy. 

After the raising of the flag at the morning assembly, the LCS leadership and teachers expressed our joy at seeing the students again and gave advice to make the year wonderful.

The children from the Koukouy Sen Klè early childhood development program also returned to school, and the same joyous atmosphere reigned there.

Despite Haiti’s persistent challenges, the new school year brings the renewal of hope for a future where order, justice, and peace thrive. Please join us in wishing the students, faculty and staff a wonderful, successful and joyous 2024-2025 school year!

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

Haitians Actually Devour Books ... Contrary to Any Rumors You May Have Heard

THP Director of New School Construction Jimi Grondin (left) and THP Chief Program Office Aimée Maier (right) with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) and his wife, Frances.

Dear THP Community:

Some of you have been asking about our thoughts on the situation in Springfield, Ohio.

Our love, concern and support for the Haitian community knows no boundaries.

Therefore, much like the Bishops of Ohio, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R), and the city of Springfield itself, we looked for ways to bring some assistance to the community there.

Since the security situation in Haiti has made it difficult to get staff and supplies into the country, we were able to redirect some of those resources to Springfield this week. As you can see in the pictures below, The Haitian Project sent supplies and two colleagues with extensive experience working in Haiti.

Beyond immediate support, the hope is to link those working cooperatively and compassionately to foster a supportive community in Springfield to others around the country with Kreyòl language skills and an appreciation for the wonderful Haitian culture.

We made some wonderful connections.

To show support in Rhode Island, where The Haitian Project home office is located, we attended the New Bridges for Haitian Success Gala, an organization dedicated to empowering Haitian immigrants in the Ocean State. THP President Patrick Moynihan met up with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) there, who thanked those gathered for the contributions Haitian Americans have made to making our immigrant nation a great success.

(Left and center) Jimi Grondin and Aimée Maier delivering school supplies and meeting with members of the Haitian Community Support and Help Center in Springfield, OH; (right) THP President Patrick Moynihan and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) at the New Bridges for Haitian Success Gala in Cranston, RI.

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.

 

Unlocking Leadership Potential at LCS

Louverture Cleary School Principal Carena A. (center, background) celebrates students during a recent leadership seminar for Rhéto (12th grade) and Philo (13th grade) students.

The bustle and excitement of the first days of school are very anticipated, but not sudden; the Louverture Cleary School campus has been active for weeks in preparation for the new academic year.

Earlier this month, the Rhéto (12th grade) and Philo (13th grade) classes were welcomed back to campus for the annual LCS leadership seminar. The seminar prepares these senior classes to be the student leaders of the school, respectively referred to as Moniteurs (monitors) and Guides (guides).

The seminar includes lessons, teambuilding activities, campus work, and shared time as a community, preparing these Louverturians to rise to the challenges of leading the student body and helping the younger students succeed by example and guidance, just as these servant-leaders were led when they were new.

We wish the Moniteurs and Guides, along with all LCS students, the best during the 2024-2025 school year and look forward to seeing the great things these students will accomplish this year ... and beyond!  

“Keep In Touch” to receive periodic updates on our students, activities at Louverture Cleary School, and progress on the LCS Network. Together, we can build a bright and enduring future for Haiti.