Programs
Education
We empower young people to realize their dreams and shape the future of their communities.
122
GRADUATES
2316
STUDENTS
73
SCHOOLS
The Problem
Haiti's education system faces significant challenges, as evidenced by several key statistics:
11.4
Quality of Education
is the average years by age 18 that Haitian students attend school, the quality of that education equates to only 6.3 years of effective learning.
- World Bank
50%
School Completion
of children do not finish primary education, indicating that half of the children do not finish primary education.
- IBE.UNESCO.ORG
61%
Literacy Rate
of Haitians are literate, which is significantly lower than the 90% average literacy rate in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
- Library of Congress
6%
Educational Attainment
of Haitian households reported having no educational diploma, while 32% had attained a high school diploma as their highest degree in 2023.
- STATISTA.COM
81%
School Types
of educational institutions in Haiti are private, meaning that public schools constitute less than one-fifth of the country's educational facilities.
- STATISTA.COM
What We Do
A Year With
Lumen Vitae
JUL
Admissions
Team in Haiti reviews the list of students based on academics and financial needs, and determines student renewals and new admissions
AUG
Orientation
Our team in Haiti travels to various regions to give orientation and distribute school materials.
SEP
Academic Year Begins
The school year is divided into trimesters. After each trimester, our Operators team works to obtain the student grades.
DEC
Winter Break
Students in Haiti get two-three weeks off to celebrate the Christmas holiday with their family and friends.
APR
New Student Enrollment
Lumen Vitae works with local partners to establish the number of students it plans to increase for the following year.
JUN
Final Exams
There are two types of exams: by the individual schools and the National exams. Once exams are over, most Haitian students travel to the countryside for a memorable summer!
All Year Round
Mentorship
The students receive a visit from their mentors weekly for a time of play and formation. They check in on the child's social, emotional, and academic well-being.
Education is power! The ability to receive education gives a child living in poverty an opportunity to make generational change in their lives. Education is power! The ability to receive education gives a child living in poverty an opportunity to make generational change in their lives.
Education is power! The ability to receive education gives a child living in poverty an opportunity to make generational change in their lives. Education is power! The ability to receive education gives a child living in poverty an opportunity to make generational change in their lives.
Education is power! The ability to receive education gives a child living in poverty an opportunity to make generational change in their lives. Education is power! The ability to receive education gives a child living in poverty an opportunity to make generational change in their lives.
Where We Work
Croix-
Des-
Bouquets 
Nippes
Joly
LHomond
Marre
Blue Croix-Des-
Bouquets
Joly
LHomond
Nippes
Marre blue
Accompaniment
Ensuring that our accompaniers are directly addressing the students' academic and personal growth.
The Problem
In many Haitian households, parents are often absent from the home due to economic hardships that force them to seek work far from their families.
Those who remain often engage in informal labor, such as street vending or domestic work, requiring long hours away from home. As a result, children are frequently left under the care of older siblings or extended family members, lacking consistent parental guidance and support
13%
Youth Discontent
and Educational Attainment
of the 1.6 million Haitian youth aged 15–24 report being content with their lives. Moreover, more than half of 20-year-olds have not completed secondary education, highlighting the urgent need for supportive mentorship to improve educational outcomes and personal development.
33:1
High Pupil-Teacher Ratios
students per teacher ratio is the average in Haiti's primary education system, exceeding the global median of 25.52. This high ratio reflects limited individual attention for students, which can hinder personalized guidance and mentorship.
After-School Programs
In 2024 we piloted the After School program, in three schools. Here, weekly mentoring sessions are held at schools, where accompaniers engage in meaningful activities for two-and-a-half hours.
Each session is designed to foster holistic development through recreational activities, homework revision, and one-on-one interviews. The students are also introduced to a virtue every month. The sessions are held after dismissal time, allowing the students to engage in the activities without affecting their regular classes.
Nutrition Program
Nutrition is a significant concern for students in Haiti. Through our One School approach, Lumen Vitae provides daily meals to our students, ensuring they receive at least one hot meal each day. Community members come together to prepare these meals, fostering community engagement and support.
Accompaniment & Support
Each session is designed to foster holistic development ensuring that our accompaniers are directly addressing the students' academic and personal growth.
45
accompaniers are currently part of the Accompaniment Program, spread across four regions, each providing support to students within the school environment.
This change has allowed us to conduct weekly mentoring sessions directly at the students' schools, where accompaniers engage in meaningful activities for two-and-a-half hours. Each session is designed to foster holistic development through recreational activities, virtues training, homework revision, and one-on-one interviews, ensuring that our accompaniers are directly addressing the students' academic and personal growth.
The sessions are held after dismissal time, allowing the students to engage in the activities without affecting their regular classes. We are also trying a new approach where we support all the students who are part of the school instead of just a few. In those schools, the accompaniment sessions are conducted daily, ensuring an even greater engagement and growth among the student body.
In addition to yearly training sessions, each region holds a weekly formation meeting where the accompaniers learn and discuss subjects related to their work, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration. This structure not only enhances the quality of support they provide to their students but also cultivates a strong sense of community among the accompaniers.
Over the years, I have been privileged to lead the training of these accompaniers, which has profoundly influenced my own leadership journey. This role has enhanced my skills as a mentor and leader. Witnessing firsthand the positive impact of our program within different communities has been both humbling and inspiring. The transformative changes I've observed in students' lives have reinforced our mission.
- OBED GILLES
Programs Coordinator
Transformational Impact
We strive to cultivate well-formed character, integrity and pride in the lives of these students, so that they can become the future leaders of Haiti.
122
GRADUATES
2316
STUDENTS
73
SCHOOLS
From the Classrooms
"Lumen Vitae brings significant change to the Marre Bleue community by making education accessible to many children through school fee support, relieving parents of financial burdens. In addition to academic assistance, enriching training programs are offered, enabling young people to gain new knowledge and better prepare for the future. Beyond education, Lumen Vitae strengthens community bonds by instilling values of respect, solidarity, and generosity. Being part of this great family is a true source of pride, as it brightens our daily lives and opens new opportunities for the future."
- Fleuriné Guirlande
5th Grade
CORE Methods
Stewardship with Accountability
We are committed to using every donation responsibly to directly benefit the students we serve. We ensure transparency by carefully tracking resources, regularly updating donors, and making ethical financial decisions that prioritize education, nourishment, and holistic support. By prioritizing stewardship, we build trust with our supporters and empower our students with the stability and opportunities they need to thrive.
Working with Collaborators
Working with local collaborators is core to our work in Haiti because local partnerships ensure that our programs are culturally relevant, effective, and sustainable. By engaging educators, community leaders, and parents, we create a support network that empowers students and strengthens the entire community.
On Mission
We are on a mission to spread love, joy, and hope in Haiti! We believe that true transformation begins with the heart. Through education, nourishment, and personal accompaniment, we strive to uplift each child with dignity and the assurance that they are valued and loved. By fostering a community of hope, we empower students to dream beyond their circumstances and build a brighter future for themselves and their country.
Digital Literacy Goals
Building solar-powered computer labs is essential to Lumen Vitae's growth in Haiti because it provides students from rural, remote areas with their first-ever access to information and digital learning. These labs bridge the education gap by connecting students to global knowledge, new skills, and opportunities that were previously out of reach. By harnessing solar energy, we ensure a reliable, sustainable solution that empowers the next generation with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.