By Brian McElroy

As a former teacher at the University of Fondwa (UNIF) and long time supporter, I’m intimately familiar with the deep impact this unique institution is having on its extraordinary students.

For some, it may be hard to understand how UNIF isn’t “just another university.” What makes it completely unique (and so important) is its distinction as Haiti’s first and only rural university.

Though Haiti is 80% mountainous, and the majority of its population lives in rural areas, nearly all of the universities are located in urban centers.

All, that is, except for UNIF.

In 2004, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Haiti’s Independence from France, UNIF was founded in the small mountainous village of Fondwa.

Beginning with just 20 students, 10 young men and 10 young women from throughout rural Haiti, the University set its sights high with this mission:

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.

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 are encouraged to stay within the rural areas they come from and work for their development.

In fact, UNIF’s students pledge to return to their home communities for at least 6 years after receiving their degree.

Again, it can be difficult to understand how a young person with a world of opportunity might choose to return to their small village, where hard work and little monetary reward await them.

But the history of Fondwa offers hopeful insight into this dilemma.

A local organization, the Peasant Association of Fondwa, has sent more than 20 young people abroad to pursue specialized training and higher education in the past two decades.

Remarkably, every single student has thus far returned to participate in the development work being undertaken in Fondwa.

Fondwa thus serves as an inspirational example of young people using opportunity to work for the common good in Haiti’s rural areas.

The University will bring needed stimulation to 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.

Even with the great turmoil of the years since its inception, UNIF has somewhat miraculously continued to offer its students the highest quality higher education available anywhere in Haiti.

Its students speak four languages (Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, and English), and spend fully half of their time doing practical work in the field.

This year, 2008, marks the graduation of the first class of students from UNIF. These are the same students I had in English class, who taught me the true meaning of dedication by never missing a class, learning without textbooks, and studying by candlelight to come fully prepared.

To see them graduate is a momentous occasion, for the students, their home communities, and the group of people who have made UNIF a reality. Let us celebrate by ensuring UNIF will continue to train rural Haiti’s future leaders for generations to come!

To learn more about UNIF, please visit www.UNIFUSA.org.