How We Work To Remove Barriers of Education – Volume 3, Episode 4: Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti
Tune in to this month’s episode of the Circle of Sisterhood vlog series! Learn more about the educational opportunities that have been provided to more than 1,200 primary school-age girls. Two Circle of Sisterhood grants totaling $20,000 has been awarded to the Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti (FHHH). The first $10,000 grant in 2021 was funded by the Panhellenic community at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Later in 2023, CofS renewed its support for FHHH with another $10,000 grant award. Watch this vlog to learn about how the two grants have been used to fund teachers’ salaries, provide school supplies, daily meals, and access to clean water for young girls in Haiti.
About Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti
The Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti was created in response to the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Haiti’s capital region in 2010. Today, the foundation operates three fully-staffed health clinics in rural Haiti, serving as a lifeline to thousands of families. In addition to providing critical healthcare services, the foundation supports local schools through its Education Partnerships program, offering financial support for teachers’ salaries, school supplies, daily meals, and access to clean water.
The foundation works to ensure that girls in rural areas have access to both education and healthcare. These efforts bridge the gap between health services and schooling by providing resources that allow girls to attend school without the burden of hunger, illness, or financial strain, giving them the tools to become future leaders in their communities.
In 2021, the Circle of Sisterhood, through a $10,000 grant funded by the University of Tennessee Panhellenic Council, supported the Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti’s Education Partnerships program. This grant covered essential education and health-related expenses for 600 primary school-aged girls. It ensured that teachers’ salaries were paid, provided school supplies, daily hot meals, and gave students access to clean water during the 2021-2022 school year.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Panhellenic Council has been a valued partner of the Circle of Sisterhood since 2012, raising over $200,000 to support grants and initiatives like those for the Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti. Their contributions have been vital in providing essential resources that empower girls in Haiti to receive the education and care they need.
In rural Haiti, the cost of education is beyond the reach of most families, and girls are disproportionately affected. This grant removed that barrier, giving girls the opportunity to focus on their education. The provision of daily meals and clean water also significantly improved their ability to concentrate in the classroom. Beyond education, the girls benefited from health and nutrition programs, including vitamin supplements and sexual health education, equipping them to lead healthier lives and become confident students.
In 2023, the Circle of Sisterhood renewed its support of the Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti with another $10,000 grant. This grant expanded the Education Partnerships program to reach 650 rural girls. The funds continued to cover teacher salaries, school supplies, and meals, while also addressing malnutrition and promoting health education in these communities.
This multi-pronged approach not only provided academic support but also fostered an environment where girls could grow and thrive holistically. The ability to access healthcare and education simultaneously helped to mitigate the compounding challenges that have historically hindered Haitian girls from completing their schooling.
The Circle of Sisterhood’s continued partnership with the Foundation for Hope and Health in Haiti has made a life-changing impact for hundreds of girls. Your support is essential in ensuring that girls in Haiti and across the world continue to receive the education and care they need to succeed.
By joining us, you can help to equip all of us to challenge many of the global issues impacting women – poverty, oppression, misogyny, brutality. Ultimately, more and more educated girls will mean stronger and healthier villages, communities, and entire countries. Supporting CofS at any level allows us to come together to make an impact across the world. We are proud of the work we are doing. Thank you for being part of this movement.