"UNIF Celebrates 20 Years" by Walter Darius, Third Year Agronomy Student

The University of Fondwa (UNIF): 20 Years of Continuous Commitment and Success

The University of Fondwa (UNIF) is located in the Fondwa area, up the mountain of Leogane, in the West Department of Haiti. It is about 90 kilometers southeast of Port-au-Prince.

It is the first rural university in Haiti, located far from city centers and urban tumults, on the road that goes to Jacmel.

In this idyllic setting, a memorable day unfolded on January 20, 2024 with three highlights: 

1. The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the University of Fondwa, 
2. The inauguration of a brand-new School of Veterinary Medicine building, and finally,
3. A welcoming party for the freshmen students that beautifully concluded an exceptional day.

January 20, 2024 marked two decades of existence for this institution. The project started in 2004 with the vision and commitment of Fr. Joseph Philippe, CSSp, who is also the founder of (1) the Peasant Association of Fondwa (APF) with whom he co-founded the University of Fondwa, (2) Fonkoze, a microfinance institution committed to helping families work their way out of poverty, and (3) the Congregation of Saint Antoine of Fondwa, a female religious community.

Anne Hastings, who lived in Haiti for 17 years working with Father Joseph, also participated in the event: 

What motivated me to support UNIF is my unwavering confidence in its excellence. UNIF’s goal is to train a new generation of citizens for the sustainable development of rural Haiti. I understand the importance of the rural environments from which the students come. I have faith in these students, having met them in person and having heard them speak about their commitment to their country. They aspire to become leaders in Haiti's development, and I know they will succeed. I know this because I have maintained a connection with some of them since the university's opening in 2004.

The university's rector spoke to highlight this major achievement. In his passionate speech, he emphasized the crucial importance of constructing a new building and the university's mission. He highlighted the training of young people, aiming to develop in them the ability to identify Haiti's hidden wealth. His speech emphasized the need to transform these resources not for personal gain but to serve the entire community. He also took the opportunity to express gratitude to the donors, supporters, the sisters of Saint-Antoine, and the uFondwa USA team, all working tirelessly to advance Father Joseph's vision.

During the event, Professor Monise, a faculty member at the School of Veterinary Medicine was asked to reflect on this question: "Today, you are celebrating 20 years of The University of Fondwa and inaugurating a brand-new building for the veterinary medicine faculty. What does this mean to you?" Her response was filled with emotion and pride: 

Indeed, today we celebrate 20 years of the university. I can affirm to you that things have not always been easy, as I myself was a veterinary medicine student at the university for five years from 2009 to 2013 as part of the second UNIF class. I don't have words to express my satisfaction with this great achievement. I have never regretted studying veterinary medicine at the university. This new building is of great importance not only for the university but especially for the veterinary medicine faculty. The learning space is as important as the teaching itself. I am proud of the veterinary medicine faculty, and I want to thank the donors for believing in higher education in Haiti.

Once the building was inaugurated, the day did not end. A succulent meal followed to crown it all, with exquisite dishes served to all participants, including students, the administration, and members of the community. 

What about the university's rector, Ludsonde Lafontant? What does he feel celebrating the university's 20 years? His response was filled with honor and determination: 

As the rector, I feel honored to participate in this vision. It is not an easy task, especially with the difficult situation in Haiti. UNIF is an original vision of Fr. Joseph Philippe, who had the bold vision to create a university in a rural setting. At that time, many considered him as an eccentric visionary, but he wanted to break down this discriminatory barrier. He believed that people living in the countryside also had the right to a high-quality higher education to fully integrate into society. In this regard, he mobilized his contacts worldwide and officially established the university in January 2004. Today, we celebrate 20 years of existence that have not always been rosy, but with determination, we are only just beginning. The inauguration of this new building marks a new page in the UNIF's history. I want to express my gratitude to the entire team for this achievement.

This article would not be complete without giving a voice to the generous family whose exceptional support was crucial for the construction of the new building. As they said:

Every year, we participate in a meeting organized by Father Joseph, bringing together all the organizations he has created. During this meeting, we noticed the absence of a veterinary school, a critical gap. That's where we got the idea to create a school of veterinary medicine. We want to encourage Haitian students to learn veterinary medicine and help the people of Haiti take care of their animals. That is our motivation. It is simply natural for us to contribute to helping people in rural areas, helping them take care of their animals, and helping them generate income. This will have a positive impact on Haiti's future.

*We are very pleased to bring to you an article written by Walter Darius, a third-year agronomy student at the University of Fondwa and his collaborator Jaques Africot, who is both a linguist and journalist. Together they have created Magmedialive – an engaging platform dedicated to teaching Haitians about the vital importance of agriculture.