How Tuition Support Is Changing Generational Poverty in Haiti
Did you know that according to Statista, Haiti’s education system is made up of a whopping 81.8% of private schools? This is a sharp contrast to other countries such as the United States, where there is significantly more public schools available. Years of political instability, gang violence, and natural disasters have left schools with little to no support from the government, leading to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), churches, and local communities to step in to bridge the gap between a Haitian child and a brighter future.
Because of this, the Haiti educational system is ranked 177th out of 186 globally in terms of national spending on education, with local youths unable to attain a proper learning environment that they deserve. Furthermore, with only 20% of youths enrolled in secondary education (a sharp drop from 57% in primary education), this has led to half of Haiti’s population growing up to be illiterate.
As such, the majority of Haitians do not have the skillsets to pursue well-paying jobs, and have to resort to informal, low-wage work. This includes and is not limited to the agricultural and services sectors, and leads to an unjust cycle as parents are unable to afford paying for their children’s school tuitions. With many Haitian families living in poverty, youth have not been able to receive their rights to a fruitful education. This ongoing problem is further elevated by how expensive many private schools are.
Many non-profit organizations like Dare Humanity, have implemented education programs such as the Young Dreams Sponsorship Program, where we help to pay the school tuition for youth in rural Haiti and Port-au-Prince to learn important work skills, thus evoking change that can break the cycle of generational poverty.
This has made a tremendous impact on young children such as sixth grade student Youdemaylie, one of the many that are supported by the Young Dreams Sponsorship Program.
“I’m really happy. Thanks to this program, I never miss a day in school,” says Youdemaylie. When asked what aspects of school she enjoyed most, she highlighted moments of reading and studying. For Youdemaylie, the opportunity to remain in the classroom has allowed her the space to dream ambitiously. Today, she dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up, wishing to use her knowledge to help her community.
The financial sponsorship has also brought relief for Youdemaylie’s mother, a street fruit seller, as juggling her need to provide for her family while paying for her daughter’s education was initially very difficult.
As of 2026, Dare Humanity has covered tuition fees for up to 30 students in Haiti. Behind each of these students are families that no longer have to choose between having to put food on the table and affording their children’s education.
This has been made possible with the generous help of our donors, whose monetary contributions go towards paying for a Haitian child’s tuition fees. We hope that this life-changing momentum continues to grow through continued support, and that more children can be given the same opportunity as Youdemaylie.
Citations:
Statista Research Department. (2023). Share of Haitian schools in 2023, by type. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1449378/share-of-haitian-schools-by-school-type/?srsltid=AU7gw4WDfq-qPvPMbgU1lY4PFnqPbwcNy_XnOJe5JLojpj13yUtcSx3M
Writers of UoPeople. (2024, June 19). Education in Haiti: An Overview. University of the People. Retrieved from https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/education-in-haiti/
(2025). What Do Most People In Haiti Do For A Living? Breakdown Of The Key Sectors. Best of Haiti Real Estate. Retrieved from https://www.bestofhaitirealestate.com/haiti-employment-what-most-people-do-living-key-sectors
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