Education
“Education is the most powerful weapon which 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. The 2010 Haiti earthquake has exacerbated the already constraining factors on Haiti’s educational system. The educational sector is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and is limited in its ability improve the quality of education in Haiti. 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 13 in the rural mountain community of Fondwa. FHM began its student sponsorship program in 2000 to support casinoluck.ca students, teachers’ salaries, and general infrastructure. Through support from sponsors, FHM is able to provide $4,000.00/ month to the education of these special young people.
The Leogane Nursing School
Since 2008, Family Health Ministries began sponsoring students annually at the Leogane Nursing School, the Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de l’Université Episcopale d’Haïti (Faculty of Nursing Science of the Episcopal University of Haiti – or FSIL). This unique four year school is the only BSN program in the country. Overseen by Dean Hilda Alcindor, young men and women are becoming well trained nurses with impressive critical thinking skills. Family Health Ministries has been blessed to hire nurses from this program to run our many women’s health initiatives.
University Student Programs
Family Health Ministries partners with colleges and universities 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.