St. Boniface Nursing Program

We are happy to support the St. Boniface Haiti Nursing program for Haitian women.

Many of us in the United States take education for granted. It is a basic right of every individual and a stepping stone to making a better life. In Haiti, families must choose between buying food and paying for education. These special young women do not take their schooling for granted in Haiti. Education is the foundation for helping their families and themselves. These young women want a chance to have a bright future and help their families.

An annual contribution of $5,000 pays for room, board, and tuition for one participant to live and attend nursing school in Les Cayes, Haiti. So far, we have two women enrolled in the program and aim to have 10-12 participants. We need your support.

Background

Only 50% of the children in Haiti have opportunity to attend school. Some of them come to the city from the back-country for the first time to attend the schools for their secondary and post-secondary studies. Some of them came as far back as nine years ago. Getting a high school diploma is a treasured opportunity and takes much longer to get in Haiti. This is because the schools are vulnerable to the same problems that affect everything else in Haiti. Schools close at times for political reasons or due to seasonal floods from tropical storms and hurricanes. This means more time added to the programs for “catching up.” In addition, teachers stop coming to school because they can go for long periods without being paid. Some students and teachers have stayed away out of fear. Even today, the students may have to dodge bullets and seek safety while en route to and from school. They are at-risk even while they are walking or riding on a “tap tap.” So committed are they to getting an education, that they are willing to take these risks.

St. Boniface Haiti Nursing Program

Once students graduate from high school, attending college becomes an incredible opportunity. The St. Boniface Haiti Nursing program secures a residence for the women to live and study while attending nursing school. The program pays for student living expenses so that they can concentrate on their studies and finish the nursing program in 3 years. Because St. Boniface operates a 60 bed hospital in Fond des Blancs these women will have places to work once they graduate.

It has not been easy for these girls to be away from their families during the long school year. All of them are extremely grateful for the help they receive from St. Boniface Haiti Foundation. Living together, they have a strong attachment to one another and frequently advocate for one another. It would be tragic for these girls to be unable to complete the training after working so hard. Please fund the St. Boniface Haiti Nursing program today.

Make your contribution to the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation and write in the memo of your check “Nursing program.” For questions, please contact Jacqueline K. Davis MD at (216) 513-6320 or Linda Canniff at 781-963-7243 or Brian Alston (808) 217-1831.