The Louverture Cleary Schools Network: Transforming Haiti through Education
“The Haitian Project’s plans are well known in Haiti because they represent one of the greatest opportunities for progress for the entire country. I cannot think of any other projects that come close to it because education is the most important thing that will allow our country to thrive in the long-run.
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Based on almost four decades of success at its flagship Louverture Cleary School outside of Port-au-Prince, The Haitian Project has embarked on a plan to create 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.
Once completed, the Louverture Cleary Schools Network will facilitate the development of the human capital Haiti needs to break from poverty and emerge as a fully-successful nation.
PHASE ONE—THE MODEL CAMPUS
The $8.6 million Model Campus project represents Phase One of the Louverture Cleary Schools Network plan. This first phase encompasses site development and construction of The Haitian Project’s second school—the “Model Campus”— as well as the development of the sites and initial buildings for LCS 3 and 4.
The Model Campus is underway in the Diocese of Gonaïves, about 100 miles north of Port-au-Prince, and will be replicated across Haiti to create the 10-school Louverture Cleary Schools Network. A perimeter wall has been erected around the entire 10-acre campus and a 150-foot well was drilled for construction. Two residences, which will eventually house U.S. Missionary Teachers and Louverture Cleary residential staff, are also in place and will serve as a base of operations during the final phase of construction.
Phase One of the Louverture Cleary Schools Network, the $8.6M Model Campus Project, includes fully constructing THP’s second campus (LCS 2) in the Diocese of Gonaïves, as well as developing the sites and constructing initial buildings at LCS 3 and 4.
Overhead view of the Model Campus site featuring a finished perimeter wall, U.S. Missionary Teacher residences, and the drill site for a 150-foot well. Image courtesy of Haiti Drone Services.
The initial structures on the Model Campus, including the residence buildings that will house missionary teachers and Louverture Cleary residential staff, are complete. Image courtesy of Haiti Drone Services.
A MODEL FACILITY THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ACROSS HAITI
The site for LCS 3 in Haiti’s southern peninsula in the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne is a historical site, given to the Catholic Church by President Alexandre Pétion in the early 19th century.
Previously, we built out of necessity. Louverture Cleary School outside of Port-au-Prince began as a school for just 60 students. Because of its urban location and limited physical footprint, as enrollment increased the campus grew upwards out of necessity.
Now, we are building from a vision. The Model Campus reimagines an ideal physical plant without space constraints and based on over 30 years’ experience with the campus outside of Port-au-Prince. A team of experts in architecture, construction, solar energy, agriculture, water systems and logistics lend their expertise to THP’s Site Evaluation and Advisory Team (SEAT), which has identified the best locations for the next three schools and thoughtfully designed the Model Campus plans.
AN ANCHOR INSTITUTION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
In order to enhance the stability and productivity of the school and the community in which it is embedded, THP is collaborating with local institutions, organizations and individuals to choose and execute projects with economic and environmental benefits for the greater community.
Water management and treatment—Improved stability and quality of water supply for personal, agricultural, and commercial applications
Power and light—Decentralized production of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and waste-to-energy approaches, alternative energy storage and energy-efficient lighting
Agroforestry—Conservation and improvement of soils, crop diversification, increased productivity, added value through local processing, and improved access to markets
Smart Students & Smart Campuses: A catalyst for environmental sustainability
From more traditional waste management practices like recycling and composting, to hands-on experience with solar and other innovative green technologies, students come to appreciate the importance of environmental stewardship at Louverture Cleary School while also gaining a hands-on understanding of technology, helping to reverse vicious cycles of environmental degradation. Louverture Cleary Schools will incubate and deploy innovative technologies in environmental sustainability to benefit both the schools and the communities in which they are built.
A vision for Haiti’s future, built by and for Haitians themselves
The Louverture Cleary Schools Network, by providing quality education and creating economic opportunities in each department of Haiti, will combat the overcrowding of Haiti's major cities and strengthen regional government and economies throughout the country. In the same way that Louverture Cleary School has opened opportunities and created real change in Port-au-Prince, the Louverture Cleary Schools Network will enable the “opening” of all regions of the country and lead to Haiti’s emergence as a thriving nation.
Want to help make the Louverture Cleary schools Network a reality?
There are many ways to support this effort and be part of Haiti's education transformation!
Click to make a one-time or recurring donation to The Haitian Project and support education in Haiti.
Find out how you can build community and raise support for The Haitian Project within your parish, school and community.
Volunteer to teach for an academic year at Louverture Cleary Schools in Haiti or volunteer with The Haitian Project in our U.S. office.