Nourishment, Safety & Infrastructure in Haiti

End of Term at Grace and Glory Academy (Lanzac, Haiti)

The past few months in Lanzac have been hot and dry. The kind of heat that builds early in the day and settles in by midday. Dust hangs in the air, and most activity starts in the morning before the sun gets too strong. In that setting, the school continues to open each day, and the routine holds.

Students arrive in the morning with their backpacks, gathering with friends before moving into class. It’s a simple start, but it’s consistent, and that consistency matters. The day unfolds the same way it has all year—lessons, breaks, meals, and dismissal—without much variation. In a place where a lot can feel unpredictable, the school runs on a schedule that students and teachers both rely on.

Inside the classrooms, learning is steady and visible. Younger students are still working through the basics—letters, sounds, reading out loud together. There’s a lot of repetition, a lot of call-and-response, and teachers keeping the pace. In the older grades, students are working through more advanced material, being called up to the board, correcting mistakes, trying again. It’s not flashy, but it’s focused.

One of the clearer moments this term came when student performance was recognized. Several students earned averages of 9.80 and above, while others reached averages around 8. They were given medals and small cards in front of their peers. It was a simple acknowledgment, but it reflected something real—students are not just attending, they’re progressing.

Reading has also been a visible part of the classroom environment. Around World Book Day, students spent time with books in hand, working through reading exercises and stories. For some, it’s still very early stages, but the habit is being built. You can see it in how they handle the books, how they follow along, how they try.

Meals continue to be part of the day, and while they don’t draw attention to themselves, their impact is obvious. After students eat, the classroom shifts. There’s more focus, more participation, fewer distractions. For many of them, this is a dependable meal, and it makes the rest of the day possible.

The school itself remains a controlled environment. Teachers are present, students are supervised, and the day moves with purpose. Even during lighter moments, that structure doesn’t fall away. One student, for example, has been practicing a welcome song she’ll sing at the year-end gathering in July. She stands up in front of others and works through it, getting more comfortable each time. It’s a small moment, but it shows confidence growing in a real way.

There have been other moments throughout the term—students exchanging Valentine’s cards, small group activities tied to things like Earth Day—but they fit into the larger rhythm of the school rather than distracting from it. The focus remains on learning, on showing up, on moving forward.

As the year comes to a close, preparations for the July end-of-year activities are underway, but the core of the work hasn’t changed. Students continue to arrive each morning. Classes are being taught. Meals are being served. The environment remains steady.

In Lanzac, that kind of consistency is not something to take for granted. It’s something that’s built and maintained day by day.

This past year has been a remarkable chapter in the life of Grace & Glory Kids in Lanzac, Haiti—a year marked by growth, resilience, and steady forward movement, even in the face of uncertainty. With the support of our partners and donors through GlobalGiving, we continued to do what matters most: keep children learning, safe, and moving toward a future they can believe in.

One of the most important milestones this year was the expansion of our school into the upper grades. For the first time, students in Lanzac now have a complete high school pathway within their own community. In a rural region where families often have no safe or affordable way to send teenagers elsewhere for schooling, this change is life-altering. It means students no longer have to drop out just as their education becomes most critical. It means continuity, stability, and the chance to graduate with dignity and opportunity.

This progress came during a year when the wider region was tested by extreme weather. A major hurricane system swept through the Caribbean, brushing Haiti while devastating our neighbors in Jamaica. Although we were spared the worst of the storm, the risk and uncertainty were real. Through it all, Grace & Glory Kids remained open. Our classrooms stayed standing. Our teachers showed up. Our students returned quickly and continued learning. In a country where schools often close for long stretches during crises, maintaining that continuity was one of the most powerful ways we could protect and support our children.

For the families we serve, school is more than education—it is safety. Every additional year a child remains in school dramatically lowers their risk of exploitation, child labor, and forced migration. By expanding into upper school and keeping operations stable during crisis, Grace & Glory Kids is not just preparing students academically—we are helping safeguard their futures.

None of this would be possible without our partnership with GlobalGiving. Their platform allows us to connect with donors around the world, share transparent updates, and build trust that resources are being used where they matter most. This partnership has helped us grow responsibly and stay accountable to the people who believe in our mission.

As we celebrate what has been a truly fabulous year, we are also clear-eyed about the work still ahead. A larger student body means more teachers, more materials, more classroom space, and stronger support systems for food, health, and learning. With continued support, Grace & Glory Kids is on track to graduate its first full class of high school students—young people who will carry knowledge, confidence, and leadership back into their communities.

Thank you for standing with us and for being part of this story. Through your support, you are not just funding a school—you are helping build a future for children in Haiti who deserve every chance to thrive.