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The country of Haiti, which became the world's first Black Republic when it won its independence from France on January 1st, 1804, has a very proud history. Sadly, two centuries after leading Latin America's liberation movement, today it is by far the poorest country of the Western Hemisphere. Decades of oppressive governments, international isolation, and ecological desolation have left the country 98% deforested, 50% illiterate, and starved for water. With 80% of its population living in abject poverty, Haiti is in the midst of a crisis that is in desperate need of positive solutions. With the election of a new democratic governement in 2006 and renewed interest from international donors, Haiti now finds itself in a longo-awaited position for growth and opportunity. The median age in Haiti is less than 20 years old, so a mass of young people are searching for opportunities to participate in the development of their country. To join Haiti's young people in transforming their home communities, please visit our Participation page today! |
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Fondwa is a small village of 7,000 people located in the mountains south of Port-au-Prince. Just two hours from the capital, it nonetheless suffers from the same dire challenges of Haiti's rural countryside. These include limited access to water, ravaging deforestation, indifference on the part of the State, and economic isolation. Since 1998, the community of Fondwa has come together under the auspices of the Peasant Association of Fondwa (APF) to confront these problems together. The accomplishments of the APF are many, including building the area's first health clinic and secondary school, caring for dozens of children in the St. Anthony orphanage, planting more than half a million trees, working with peasants and international experts in agronomy and veterinary medicine, and conducting extensive literacy campaigns. In 2004, Fondwa produced Haiti's first-ever university in the mountains, which is based on the APF's extensive experience with rural development initiatives. It is through this university that Fondwa will share its knowledge of sustainable practices and international collaboration with the other 564 rural communities of Haiti, providing the hope for a better future for Haiti's next generation. |
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History of UNIF 2004 Founded in 2004 to celebrate Haiti’s 200 years of independence, The University of Fondwa 2004 (UNIF) is Haiti’s first rural university. It offers students from throughout the rural countryside a rigorous education in three faculties, Agronomy, Veterinary Medicine, and Management, with a significant concentration on practical application. The Haitian and international faculty teach in four languages, Haitian Creole, French, English, and Spanish. Students pledge to return to their home communities upon graduation to implement sustainable development projects. Mission of the University To train a new generation of citizens who will participate in the sustainable and integrated development of their country and to develop in them a sense of citizenship, whereby graduates will value the needs of the community at least as much as their own. Why a Rural University? The majority of young people in the rural communities of Haiti are forced to look elsewhere for viable opportunities. By bringing needed educational and professional resources to Fondwa, these youth will be encouraged to stay within the rural areas and work for their development.
The agricultural methods used in the mountains of Haiti are not productive, sustainable or competitive. This situation affects economic, social and cultural development, the distribution of wealth, environmental conservation and quality of life.
The University will bring needed stimulation to all of these areas by ultimately providing each rural community with its own team of professionals who specialize in agronomy, veterinary medicine and management. The result will be not only economic development, but also a brighter future for the rural youth of the nation. |
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Welcome to the University of Fondwa |
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COMING SOON - - University of Fondwa DVD -- Use our Contact Us form to request your free copy. The UNIF USA Foundation, Inc. was founded in February 2007 as a non-profit institution to support the development of the University of Fondwa 2004 (UNIF). As Haiti's first rural university, UNIF has the unique opportunity to bring higher education to Haiti's 565 rural communities and spur long-term economic development. With two classes of students coming from more than a dozen villages throughout the country, UNIF is already developing the agronomists, veterinarians, and managers of Haiti's future. UNIF USA seeks to expand awareness in the United States of UNIF's activities, develop partnerships with a wide range of individuals and institutions that can collaborate with UNIF, and raise money to support the continuing expansion of UNIF. Board President Fr. Medard Laz Board Members Michael Haerting, The Continental Group
Frantz Minuty |
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