Focus Area
Education
Location
De Varenne Grand Riviere, Jacmel, South Haiti
Beneficiaries
250 current students, with capacity expanding to 400 children from families unable to afford school fees
Safavi's Role
Partner-funded support toward facility transformation
Key Impact
Facilitated transition of St. Raphael from a temporary “street school” to a permanent, safe, and functional educational facility for vulnerable children in a remote rural area
Project Overview
The Safavi Philanthropic Initiative partnered with the St. Luc Foundation to advance a core educational infrastructure initiative in rural Haiti. This effort focused on converting St. Raphael School—originally a makeshift facility built with wood and stone by parents—into a permanent school building with modern educational resources. The school serves the remote community of De Varenne in Jacmel, accessible only after a 3-hour drive and an additional 2.5-hour walk from Port-au-Prince.
This work builds upon the Foundation’s earlier efforts, which since 2013 included the stabilization of student attendance at three schools (St. Philomene, St. Augustin, and Notre Dame du Rosaire) and the formalization of education services in the area.
Beneficiary Profile
The project directly supports 250 students currently enrolled in St. Raphael School, with expansion capacity for up to 400 children. The initiative also indirectly benefits over 1,200 local residents by improving access to education and creating employment opportunities for teachers, construction workers, and staff. Many beneficiaries are from farming families practicing subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry in the surrounding area.
Safavi's Role
Safavi’s support helped enable the acquisition of proper land and the construction of a new, safe, and fully equipped school building. This included infrastructure upgrades aimed at delivering education aligned with national and international standards. The initiative focused on improving educational quality and safety through modernized classrooms, teaching materials, library space, computer labs, and a functional canteen.
Safavi’s role was part of a broader coalition coordinated by the St. Luc Foundation, which continues to lead the local implementation.
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: Beneficiary Website
Impact Achieved
Thanks to support from partners including Safavi:
A safe and functional school building is being constructed for St. Raphael School in Jacmel
Student capacity is expanding from 250 to 400, enabling more children from the region to attend free school
Classrooms are being upgraded with updated curricula, teacher training, learning tools, and support spaces
Parents of students were employed in the construction, strengthening community engagement and income stability
St. Raphael joins a network of formalized schools that have transitioned from temporary street setups to stable institutions recognized by local communities
Purpose & Signifigance
This initiative aligns with Safavi’s commitment to long-term educational access in areas of extreme need. In supporting the formalization of St. Raphael School, Safavi contributed to a scalable model of school development grounded in community involvement, dignity, and opportunity. By addressing both physical infrastructure and instructional quality, the project aims to uplift Haiti’s rural youth and create lasting educational equity.
Future Outlook
The redevelopment of St. Raphael School marks a pivotal step in the EDU Project’s multi-phase roadmap. As the school opens its doors to more children, the St. Luc Foundation continues to lead ongoing improvements in teacher training, curriculum development, and student services. Future collaboration opportunities may extend to other underserved regions across Haiti, following the success of this integrated approach.
