Haiti Mercy International School
Provide safe education and community jobs in Haiti, empowering displaced children and local families amid violence and instability.
Hope Amid Hardship In Haiti
Haiti has long endured unimaginable hardship - natural disasters, political instability, and deep-rooted poverty have left many families without access to basic needs, safety, or opportunity. Armed gangs now control around 85-90% of Port-au-prince with over 5,000 deaths linked to violence since October 2024. Over 1.3 million citizens, half of them children, are displaced and violence-driven famine has pushed more than 5.7 million into acute food insecurity. For too many children, education remains out of reach, and for local teachers, meaningful employment is scarce.
In response, MERCY took action. Starting in 2015 MERCY building a small school with the leadership of local leaders, Jean-Bonard Colin, a former UN Staff member during the 2010 earthquake that killed over 200,000 Haitians, and his wife, Lorvelie Colin, have become a beacon of hope for so many children, families, and the community.
What began with just 17 children has grown to 141 and counting. The school now provides not only a safe haven and quality education for the children, but also vital jobs for local teachers, and is a bright light for the community. The MERCY International School empowers the community from within, while planting seeds of lasting change within the hearts of the children and families.
Initial visit to Haiti in 2015 and meeting Jean-Bonard and Lorvelie and their beautiful family
Jean-Bonard and Lorvelie Colin – Founders of the MERCY International School in Jacmel, Haiti
Nick’s visit in 2015 to meet Jean-Bonard and Lorvelie, founders of the school, that led to a decade-long partnership and expansion and growth of what would become The MERCY International School in Jacmel, Haiti, The school has impacted not only the children, but their families and the surrounding community
The original school.
Growing Hope: One Student, One Teacher, One Classroom at a Time
Thanks to the generous support of the Wong Foundation, given in loving memory of Sharon Wong, MERCY began expanding its school in Haiti to meet the growing needs of the community. What began as a modest effort serving just 17 students has grown steadily - first to 42, then to 72, and now to 141 students. This dramatic increase reflects a heartbreaking reality: as violence and instability escalate in Haiti’s major cities, families are fleeing to safer rural areas, desperate to find security and opportunity for their children.
In response to this urgent need, the MERCY International School is not only providing a safe haven and quality education for these children but is also creating jobs and hope for the local community. For the 2025 school year, we will employ a dedicated team of 16 staff members - all from the local area - including the principal, 11 teachers, 2 assistant teachers, an administrator, and a cleaner. With the addition of two new teachers, we are proud to expand our curriculum to include 7th grade.
But the need continues to grow, and so must our response. Your financial support makes this possible. Every donation helps us educate more children, hire more local staff, and continue building a brighter future for Haiti - one child, one family, one classroom at a time.
Jean-Bonard spearheaded the construction project.
Final steps of the construction effort for the new MERCY school.
Jean-Bonard painting the new MERCY School sign.
The road was leveled to remove pot holes in and around the school.
Sign for the MERCY school in Jacmel.
Lorvelie makes all the uniforms by hand. For her, it’s a labor of love.
Backpacks gifted by MERCY for the school children.
Classes within the MERCY school include primary educational topics necessary for future success.
With the introduction of more teachers, the MERCY school can expand curriculum to middle-year programs.
The Kids and the Teachers of The MERCY International School - Jacmel, Haiti
The teachers of the MERCY school in Jacmel, Haiti.
Support
Your donations help individuals in MERCY schools, just like the one in Jacmel, provide adequate education and support for the children of their communities. Financial donations go towards the teachers, free meals, and equipment to manage classrooms as our programs continue to expand.
