Friends of Haiti in New York Corp (FOHNY) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist and empower youth and families in rural Haiti by providing a Pre-K to 13th grade wholistic education, quality preventative healthcare, access to clean potable water, and the development of sustainable economic opportunities.

The Community We Serve

In 2007, volunteer members of FOHNY traveled with other educators to Haiti to assess the educational needs of children in rural areas. While visiting the village of Bois Tombé, they encountered a makeshift school with 60 children ages 3-18, divided by chalkboards into three classes under a tarp. They saw a community that valued education, despite a lack of resources and preparedness. This spirit inspired them to adopt this school and commit themselves to having a real impact on these children’s lives.

Bois Tombé is one of the 10 villages located in the remote, mountainous region of Terre Froide, in southeast Haiti, bordering the Dominican Republic. It is home to approximately 20,000 residents, 60% of which are under the age of 25. Through collaboration with local partners and community liaisons, FOHNY has worked tirelessly over the last 17 years to provide essential services that were previously nonexistent in the region.

The village of Bois Tombé has become a central hub for progress, where critical infrastructure has been built. Presently we have a complex which includes a 16-classroom school and cafeteria serving more than 500 students, a health clinic serving the community, an early childhood center, a community room, a corn mill shop and cisterns providing access to clean water.