Haitian Leaders and Global Partners Gather at Notre Dame to Reimagine Education in Haiti

More than 40 Haitian educators, practitioners, donors, religious leaders, and researchers convened at the University of Notre Dame on April 10–11, 2025, to chart bold, collaborative solutions for transforming Haiti’s education system. Hosted by Notre Dame’s Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC), alongside co-hosts Porticus and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the convening created space for deep reflection, honest dialogue, and bold action around one shared mission: building a stronger, more equitable education system for Haitian children. 

Across two days of panel discussions, breakout sessions, and informal exchange, participants explored the urgent challenges facing Haiti’s education sector and the collaborative paths forward that center Haitian leadership, resilience, and solutions. In a world that often sees Haiti through the lens of crisis, this gathering reframed the narrative, centering on the strength and brilliance of Haitian leadership in shaping a brighter future for the country’s children.

Neil Boothby, GC-DWC professor and director, reinforced this theme throughout the convening, reflecting on his decision to join the University of Notre Dame and the GC-DWC’s guiding philosophy. “I chose to come to Notre Dame because of its commitment to values-based, community-anchored work,” he said. “We’re not just doing research; we’re walking alongside communities and putting local leadership and children at the center of everything we do. Real change only happens when those most affected by the system are the ones shaping it.”

Nedgine Paul Deroly, Co-founder and CEO of Anseye Pou Ayiti, reflected on the deep cultural roots and transformative potential of the work at hand, stating, “This is the work of liberation… and the liberation of Haiti, I believe, will be the door that unlocks liberation for people everywhere.”

Christina Kirby, Programme Manager for Education at Porticus North America, opened the convening by acknowledging both the gravity of the challenges faced by Haiti and the resilience of its educators. "Even in this context of extreme challenges," she said, "our partners have an impact on children day in and day out. The crises and impacts are real; they are devastating. But, educators are showing up every day and partners are leading impactful work,” Kirby stated, capturing the dual reality faced by the Haitian education system: devastation and disruption on one hand, and relentless commitment and innovation on the other.

Key discussions addressed the fragmented nature of Haiti’s education system, with only 20% of students enrolled in public schools. Alix Cantave of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation underscored the importance of aligning efforts to promote access to quality education for all children, emphasizing the need to generate evidence to inform system-wide improvements.

Participants explored four key investment areas critical to transforming education in Haiti: early childhood development, food security and nutrition, educator professional development, and the cost of education. Discussions emphasized the need to empower families as a child’s first teachers, expand access to nutritious school meals through locally sourced programs, and strengthen teacher training with a focus on Haitian Creole and school leadership. Innovative, low-cost solutions to reduce the financial burden on families—such as radio education, mobile platforms, and community-led learning spaces—were also highlighted. A shared emphasis emerged around holistic child development, community-based strategies, and deeper coordination across sectors to ensure sustainability and Haitian ownership.

One of the most compelling moments of the convening was the Collaborative Action Planning session, where participants discussed the importance of building strategic partnerships across sectors. Three key themes emerged:

• Coordination and Shared Priorities: Promoting best practices and working across sectors to increase sustainability and impact.
   
• Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships: Encouraging school self-sufficiency and developing shared resource maps for collaboration.
   
• Haitian Ownership and System Change: Direct investment in Haitian systems and local partners, with a focus on community-led solutions.

Jenny Petrow, Director for International Programs at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, emphasized the importance of rigor in education work, especially in Haiti. “We don’t always talk about rigor in Haiti,” she said, “but it matters. Haitian children don’t just need access to education; they need the best education. They’re already behind; not by fault of their own, but because of centuries of structural injustice.” She noted the growing use of data and reflection—both qualitative and quantitative—among Haitian organizations as a sign of serious commitment to continuous learning and excellence. 

The Pockets of Hope Campaign: A Call to Invest in Haiti’s Future

The convening closed not with finality, but with a powerful moment of shared reflection—an invitation to imagine what’s possible when unity and purpose lead the way. Jenny Petrow delivered the closing remarks with a message grounded in both vision and urgency. She spotlighted the Pockets of Hope campaign, a growing initiative designed to expand philanthropic investment in locally led solutions for Haiti’s children, families, and communities.

“The Pockets of Hope is a campaign we launched to bring donors together—to leverage our investment, expand the donor community, and shine a light on the amazing work already happening,” Petrow said. “The goal is to change the narrative about Haiti to one that reflects the ingenuity, genius, hard work, and vigor we’ve seen in this room.”

Petrow emphasized that the campaign is not only about funding, but about mindset, solidarity, and sustained presence.

“There’s a proverb: the pee of the mosquito can raise the river. Every little drop counts,” she said. “It’s not just about how much money you give—it’s about the approach. It’s about vision, values, and commitment. It’s about building community.”

Her message resonated as a clear call to action. Several philanthropic leaders at the convening expressed interest in aligning strategies and pooling resources to amplify impact. The campaign invites all, regardless of the size of their contribution, to show up with a shared purpose and a long-term commitment to Haitian-led change. 

“Our unity is our strength,” said Berthrude Albert of P4H Global. “We can do this together; the only way to do it is together.”

To read the full report, visit: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:41eb4bce-eec1-30e1-bb6e-3a44733e8d3c

About the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC)

The Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC) at the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, collaborates with researchers and practitioners to ensure the wellbeing—physical, emotional, social, and cognitive—of children and adolescents in low-resource and conflict-affected settings. Established to serve as a coherent platform for the Institute for Educational Initiative’s growing portfolio of global child development and learning programs, GC-DWC creates environments that foster resilience and encourage children and adolescents to thrive. Using an innovative whole child development approach tailored to context-specific needs, GC-DWC translates research into timely and thoughtful action, adapts research tools to improve the development of learning programs and policies, and activates systems (families, schools, communities) to lift children and adolescents out of adversity. 

For more information about the GC-DWC and its initiatives, visit https://iei.nd.edu/gc-dwc/about.

About the Institute for Educational Initiatives

Founded in 1996, the Institute for Educational Initiatives consists of more than two dozen initiatives that strive to improve education for all youth, particularly the disadvantaged, paying special, though not exclusive, attention to Catholic schools. Through research, the formation of teachers and leaders, and direct service to educational systems, the IEI’s scholars and practitioners pursue interdisciplinary collaborations to better understand and improve PK-12 education  in the United States and around the world..

For more information about the IEI and its initiatives, visit iei.nd.edu.