One of our fiscally sponsored programs, the Itinerant University of Resistance (UNIR) in Haiti, is a space to strengthen the work of community social organizations that fight for the defense of life and territory.
UNIR promotes spaces for meetings, reflection, and action to strengthen collaboration among Haitian organizations and those from the rest of Abya Yala, thereby creating strategies and alternatives – structural and local, political and economic – towards the protection of lands, communities, agriculture, and nature.
In a region where access to education is a daily struggle, these initiatives are a beacon of hope. We would like to celebrate some of their accomplishments:
Sonia Pierre School of Political Education
In July UNIR will welcome the first cohort in Haiti of the Sonia Pierre School of Political Education: Caribbean Thought, Anti-Racist Struggle, and Decoloniality.
The School aims to be a collective space for political education that strengthens a critical and decolonial perspective on the historical processes of the Caribbean and Abya Yala (Latin America). Its goal is to draw common lines of action toward an agenda of Caribbean, Black, Maroon, and grassroots resistance. The School will take place from July 11 to 14, 2025, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
École Nationale d'Abricot de Salinière
UNIR believes that every child deserves access to clean water, nutritious food, and quality education while preserving our environment. In La Salinière in the South-East departement in Haiti, a small but determined team has built a school against all odds. “Since 2013, we have been dedicated to shaping young minds, fostering innovation, and ensuring that every child—no matter their background—has access to a bright future through education.”
An inspiring documentary was made on the school, the École Nationale d’Abricot de Salinière, where education is provided to 250 children.
Founded: September 2013
Location: Cap-Rouge, Jacmel, Sud-Est, Haiti
Mission: To provide quality education and opportunities to every child in our community.
Vision Statement: Our goal is to provide holistic education, focusing on academic excellence, life skills, and community engagement. We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and building a better future for Haiti.
Podcast: FANM NAN BATAY LA
UNIR is pleased to announce episode 3 of their podcast FANM NAN BATAY LA, now available with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzg11kW2-S0
In this episode, we are joined by Roseverlande, a young Haitian university student who has made research and reflection her path to better understand the deep roots of her culture and people. Through this honest and revealing conversation, Roseverlande talks to us about vodou and its connection to everyday life, a topic she explores in her undergraduate thesis. She invites us to see Haiti with complexity and hope, where tradition and transformation walk together.
This episode is an invitation to listen to Haiti with attention and respect, through the voice of a young woman from a small community who believes in dialogue and research as a way to leave a mark on future generations and to share the richness of Haiti.
Want to learn more?
For more updates you can visit UNIR on their website or follow them on social media:
- Instagram unirenhaiti
- Youtube UNIRENHAITÍ
- Facebook UNIR en Haití
