Education

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”  Nelson Mandela

Haiti’s literacy rate of about 53% (55% for males and 51% for females) is below the 90% average literacy rate for Latin American and Caribbean countries. The country faces shortages in educational supplies and qualified teachers, and its rural population remains underrepresented in many of the country’s school classrooms.  As a result, the funding and support of private sector organizations, like Family Health Ministries, has become a substitute for governmental public investment in education.

Family Health Ministries is committed to improving the opportunity for education in Haiti through the following programs:

The Saint Antoine School, Fondwa

The Saint Antoine School serves 700 students grades pre-K through high school in the rural mountain community of Fondwa. FHM began its student sponsorship program in 1999 to support students, teachers’ salaries, and general infrastructure.  We would love to have you join this program. 

Nursing School in Leogane, Haiti

Family Health Ministries has supported the Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de l’Université Episcopale d’Haïti (Faculty of Nursing Science of the Episcopal University of Haiti – or FSIL) since it opened in 2004. This school has been a pioneer in nursing educating graduating the first BSN undergraduates and the first Family Nurse Practitioners in Haiti.  Family Health Ministries has incorporated nursing students in its community health research program, sponsored nursing scholarships, provided clinical training opportunities and hired graduates to work at the CVWHC.  One of the first Family Nurse Practitioners to graduate from FSIL sees patients at the Carmelle Voltaire Women’s Health Center.  Dr. Walmer is also a member of the Haiti Nursing Foundation, and he formed a group in the Research Triangle area, Friends of Nurses in Haiti, to 

University Student Programs

Family Health Ministries partners with colleges and universities in the United States to provide research opportunities for undergraduates, graduate, and professional students. Students typically work on an FHM research project collecting data, data analysis, and eventual publication in some form. The data collected is used to evaluate existing FHM programs, assess community need, and implement new programs.

Since Haiti has become unsafe for travel, students are not able to travel to Haiti.  However, we are continuing to do research with Haitian nursing students and Duke global health students are invited to participate in study design & data analysis.  This also gives students an opportunity to practice collaborating internationally.