My name is Mario Pierre, founder of Union in Action for Haiti (UIAFH). I was born and raised in Savanne Plate, Haiti. My wife, Marlene, and three of our eldest sons, Wilny, Sony, and Youvick, were also born there. I can remember carrying my oldest son, Wilny, on my shoulders up the hills and down the valleys of Savanne Plate to get him to the small elementary school where I once taught. What could have been a five minute drive took hours. His frequent questioning of everything he could see along the way usually animated these long trips. The hills were often too steep for him to climb, and the valleys too dangerous for him to walk, for he was still just a young boy.  But I did not let the long daily commutes get in my way, because I understood one thing: Education matters; education can make a difference.

I moved to Port-au-Prince for better work opportunities while my family stayed in the remote town. Then the whole family moved to Anse-Rouge where the opportunities were better; then to Port-au-Prince, and then on to the United States of America.

I am convinced that it was the hand of God that carried me through all along, that has brought me here in the United States to share my story with you, and the vision He has given me for my hometown. The small building that was constructed 30 years ago still houses the community church and only school. By God’s grace I have been sending the little money I could find to help with the school. It did not take long for me to realize that many more hands, your hands, need to reach those children (over 200 attending the school, sitting outside, under a tree) in order to help them with a better future. This is the mission of Union in Action for Haiti. They count on you.

Short term:

  • Raise funds to:
    • Financially support the school board and the parents who are not capable to pay for their children to continue to go to school (support to the baord in terms of payments for the teachers; funds to acquire school supplies. This will allow for lower tuition for the parents). This will be supplemental to the support that they are currently receiving from the mission now.
    • Acquire the appropriate documents for UIAFH to become a legal organization in the state of Michigan and nationwide, for the purpose of organizing fundraiser. (See Organization Objectives below).
  • Long Term:
    • To help with the construction of the classrooms for students, a better facility.
    • Provide a nutritional meal to the students during the school day in order to help better assimilate the materials that are being taught to them.
    • Promote physical education (outlets for the children to let loose: soccer, volley-ball and other games that promote physical well-being).
    • Teach the students and community about diseases and preventive measures against those diseases.
    • Build or help build with the help of interested partners a Health Center for the small community.
    • Food and clean water. (Can include education on how to reach water more efficiently; agricultural education: planing of trees…)
    • Help build a sustaining community by integrating renewable energy, fresh water access, and economic development.