5 Reasons Why Education Is the Key to Haiti’s Future

A young Haitian girl once told me, “Madam, we eat daily now. Mom says she can redirect the money for school to feeding us. Thank you for doing what you do.” Her words, full of hope, shattered me. She wasn’t just thanking me for her education; she was grateful because, for the first time, her family could eat without choosing between food and school.

I’m writing this because in Haiti, education has become a distant priority, especially for girls, when daily survival is the primary focus. Yet, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of sending children to school. It doesn't just change their lives as individuals; it uplifts families, strengthens communities, and ultimately, reshapes our entire country.

In my opinion, here’s why education in Haiti is the best way forward.

1. Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Let this sink in: Over 60% of Haitians live below the poverty line. That’s 7.2 million people struggling every single day just to eat. I know what that feels like. I’ve seen parents skip meals so their children can have one. I’ve seen kids drop out because school fees were overshadowed by the desperate need for food. However, education is the one thing that can break this cycle. UNESCO found that each additional year of schooling boosts earnings by an average of 10%. Imagine what that means for Haiti, a country where we survive by leaning on each other. If one child gets an education, they can uplift their entire family. If many do, they can uplift entire neighborhoods. That’s what we’re doing at Womenful Voice. We’re not just paying for school, we’re equipping children with the tools to pull their families out of poverty for good.

   
   

2. Empowering Future Leaders & Changemakers

   Haiti doesn’t just need survivors. It needs leaders. Doctors. Engineers. Teachers. Entrepreneurs. People who can rebuild what has been broken. I’ve met children in our scholarship program who dream of becoming nurses, architects, and farmers. One boy told me, “When I learn, I can teach others.” That’s the Haitian spirit, we don’t keep knowledge to ourselves. We pass it on. When you educate a child, you don’t just change their life, you change a whole community. A girl who becomes a nurse will heal her village. A boy who studies agriculture will feed his neighbors, and vice versa. And the best part? These children are already learning to give back. Our scholarship recipients are required to plant trees and care for them, understanding that growth takes time and giving back is a must. That’s the lesson we’re teaching.

   
   

3. Reducing Crime & Instability

   I once discussed our scholarship project for abandoned and restavek (child slave) children with a potential partner. What resonated with me was this: These children don’t understand politics or economics. They just know hunger and mistreatment. And hunger leads to desperate choices. I’ve been hungry before. I know how it clouds your mind, how it makes survival the only thing that matters. That’s why so many children end up in gangs, not because they want to, but because they see no other way. But education changes that. Schools don’t just teach math and science; they give safety, mentorship, and a future. Studies show that higher education levels lead to lower crime rates. When a child knows they have options, they won’t pick up a gun. They’ll pick up a book because that’s their best option for an easy life; kids know guns are dangerous.

   
   

4. Strengthening Haiti’s Economy

   Haiti relies too much on foreign aid; what we really need is self-sufficiency. Think about it: If a child studies agriculture, they can modernize farming. If they learn engineering, they can rebuild roads. If they become teachers, they can educate the next generation. The World Bank has proven it; education drives GDP growth in developing nations. I remember my parents complaining about how much Haiti had declined and that it was the worst they had seen in their lifetime. But I also remember when things were supposedly better. We can get back there, not through handouts, but through investing in our children’s minds.

   
   

5. Rebuilding After Disasters

   Because disasters will keep coming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. But if we teach our children disaster preparedness, engineering, and resilience, they’ll be ready. Imagine a little girl in our program growing up to design earthquake-proof homes. Imagine a boy learning to build stronger infrastructure. That’s how we prevent the next disaster from setting us back.

This Is Where You Come In

Education is not just a gift; it's an investment in Haiti's future. For $275 a year or $25 a month, you can ensure a child goes to school, including tuition, uniforms, and books. This assistance provides hope to a single mother and aids in the nation's reconstruction. Alternatively, you can cover just the tuition for $90. As Francesca Cabrini says in the movie, "Start the mission and the means will come."

At Womenful Voice, we go beyond funding scholarships. We invest in futures.

Are you ready to join us?

The future of Haiti is not only in our hands; it's in our classrooms.