MERCY International School Haiti

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.

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.

With the introduction of more teachers, the MERCY school can expand curriculum to middle-year programs.

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.