Greetings from Health for Haiti. Our school term has ended in Grande Saline and this morning, our ninth grade students began the first day of testing for the national exams in Haiti. This exciting occasion marks not only the end of our 2024-2025 school year in Grande Saline, but the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of all of our students. We are grateful for this chance not only to reflect on the past year, but to celebrate what was accomplished and feel hopeful about what comes next.

Conditions in Haiti continue to be incredibly difficult and behind every teacher and student is a powerful but often untold story of courage, resilience, and hope. Not only are the families in Grande Saline dealing with the tremendous uncertainties of daily life in Haiti, they also endured a significant flood that resulted in the loss of possessions, crops, and homes. During this difficult time the community was especially thankful for the water filtration system. The flooding posed a significant threat to the community as the spread of water-borne diseases was significantly increased.

It is no surprise that for people who face challenging conditions like this every day, the simple act of attending school becomes a bold statement of determination. And our teachers and students showed up – day after day – ready to learn and full of hope for a better tomorrow. Thanks to the support from our generous Health for Haiti donors, the students had the tools and the space they needed. Those tools included instruction from qualified teachers, desks, supplies, and a lunch from the produce grown in our expanded community garden.

With each lesson learned and each exam completed there is a student who has a bit more confidence about his or her future. So as we mark the end of the school term we appreciate the progress it represents. It is important to recognize that our students who are finishing up are not the same students who started last fall. They are stronger, wiser, and more prepared to make a positive difference in their community, their country, and the world.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

-B.B. King

To every student, teacher, staff member, and supporter – thank you for making this school year possible. While we face uncertainty when it comes to working in Haiti, there is no doubt that our partnership is planting seeds of change that will grow both within and beyond humble classroom walls. We look forward to a bright future and a better tomorrow!

Thank you! 😊❤️