Friends of Montfort. Inc.
347-541-4122
Letters from Sister Lamercie Estinfor, FOLS
Echos Sur La Vie De L'Institut Montfort
2nd Semestre 2025
Parents’ Meeting – For the 2025–2026 School Year
With the goal of listening to parents and teachers regarding their experience accompanying students online, as well as planning the reopening of classes for the 2025–2026 school year, a meeting was organized. This gathering took place on August 26, 2025, at Notre Dame du Rosaire School, located on Ogé and Magny Streets in Pétion-Ville. We were delighted by the strong presence of parents.
​
The meeting began around 10 a.m. We opened the session by warmly welcoming parents and teachers and thanking them for attending this important gathering. A moment was dedicated to hearing testimonies from parents and teachers about their experiences. The question asked was: “How did online learning go with the children?”
Testimonies–2026 School Year
Several parents expressed their gratitude to the educational staff for the efforts and sacrifices made to maintain contact with the students. They noted that, despite the challenges, their children showed adaptability, often seeking help from older peers to better understand their assignments.
​Some also shared the difficulties their children faced with the workload, while highlighting increasing motivation as exams approached. The children’s preference for in-person learning was noted, with many parents sharing that their children strongly wished to return to school rather than stay home.
​
Reflections were shared on the effectiveness of online learning, with suggestions to consider a return to in-person classes to better address learning gaps observed in some students.
Teachers’ Testimonies
One teacher emphasized that despite the challenges inherent to the situation, he was able to make English learning enjoyable by incorporating explanatory videos into his lessons. This approach kept students engaged and improved understanding.
​
Another teacher recounted an incident with a parent who claimed not to have received assignments. She then created videos to help parents support their children with at-home learning. She also noted that some students’ difficulties were often due to insufficient collaboration between parents and teachers, highlighting the importance of effective communication for students’ academic success.
​
After listening to these testimonies, the administration of the Montfort Institute congratulated the children who had worked online despite the challenges. We reviewed key guidelines for the new school year and announced the reopening of classes for October 1st, in accordance with the ministry’s calendar. During the meeting, we also informed families that there would be no boarding program this year—news that caused much consternation.
​
During the summer, we had to send some boarders to Cap-Haïtien, to the Institut Marie Louise for Deaf Children, especially those without families. Others remained at home and will lose the school year, particularly those in secondary school, since the Cap facility only offers the fundamental grades. Due to lack of resources, the Montfort Institute is unfortunately unable to continue its boarding program this year. About fifteen children will not be able to return to school this year, as some have joined the Institut Marie Louise in Cap-Haïtien.
​
​
​
The meeting ended with words of thanks, and with everyone’s renewed commitment to ensuring a successful new school year.
​
We ourselves are currently living as displaced persons, as is the case for many throughout the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Insecurity forced us to leave Croix-des-Bouquets; and once again, we found ourselves in the same unbearable situation: the Institution du Sacré-Cœur in Turgeau, which had taken us in, was also looted and burned by armed gang members. We found ourselves running with the deaf children, searching for refuge somewhere. Where to go? Where not to go?
​
​
​We refused to give up or abandon the deaf children to the chaos around us.
​
The most difficult challenge was finding a new space to reopen classes for the 2025–2026 academic year. Our commitment to educating these children with disabilities kept us going. We searched desperately and, finally—by God’s grace—we found a place in Delmas.
​
This year, seven of our students were able to sit for the official 9th Fundamental Year exams. Despite the turbulence caused by the insecurity in our country, they worked hard and managed the stress of these exams with courage. On September 1st, we received the results with immense joy: all of our students passed, achieving a 100% success rate. We warmly congratulate them.
“As the child goes, so goes the family; as the student goes, so goes the school.”
Guided by this outlook, the Montfort Institute organized a day of recollection for teachers on October 3, 2025. The theme of reflection was carefully chosen:
“The Role of Education in the Development of Our Society in Crisis (Jesus, the First Educator).”
​
The recollection was led by Sister Evelyne Cetoute, a Daughter of Wisdom. She helped us step away from stress and fear; her compassionate humanism allowed us to rediscover divine love at work in creation.
​
Despite this long nightmare, the students of the Montfort Institute—153 in total—returned joyfully for the 2025–2026 academic year. As every year, it was a festive atmosphere as students and teachers reunited on October 6, 2025, to begin the school year.
​
In Haiti, and especially in Port-au-Prince, the social and political situation has become increasingly difficult, unbearable, and unlivable. The situation discourages any forward movement; yet, we remain committed to forming and educating deaf children, whose human development and social and economic balance depend greatly on this work.
​
The Montfort Institute cannot accomplish this alone. With this conviction, we celebrated a Mass invoking the Holy Spirit on the first day of school. We praised, glorified, and adored the Lord, and entrusted to Him all activities of the new school year. We remain in prayer, imploring the Holy Spirit for our country, for the students, the teachers, the support staff, the parents, ourselves, and the Montfort Institute as a whole.
October 28, 2025: Creole Language Day
To celebrate World Creole Language Day on October 28, we took the opportunity to interest our students in the cultural values of their country. We organized a cultural day centered around the Creole language. The rich flavor of Haitian Creole heightened everyone’s enthusiasm.
​
The day included conferences, discussions, recreational activities such as dance, and exhibitions of paintings, crafts, and other local products
November 20, 2025: World Children’s Day
The celebration of the International Day of the Child allowed the entire Montfort Institute for Deaf Children to engage in discussions about children’s rights and responsibilities. We gathered the students in a friendly, joyful atmosphere to allow them to relax, unwind, and escape for a moment from the insecurity that has paralyzed the country for far too long.
​
The children did not hide their joy, which they wished could have lasted longer. Nonetheless, they enjoyed refreshing juice and ice cream that comforted them.
Week of November 19–26, 2025 Life goes on despite everything
—and it goes on at the Montfort Institute.
​
On November 19, we launched the first academic-period exams for the 2025–2026 school year throughout the institution. With anxious hearts, the students took on the challenge. In the end, the results were not satisfactory.
​
Here is the situation of one brilliant student who usually earns excellent grades. When asked, “What is happening to you? You’re not working?” he replied:
“I don’t sleep at night. We run all the time. I can’t study. It’s exhausting. There are gunshots in the middle of the night—‘pow, pow.’ It’s terrible; it’s not right.”
​
The country’s situation prevents him from studying, and he is exhausted.
​
Like many institutions in Port-au-Prince, the Montfort Institute has worked tirelessly to overcome obstacles and move forward. The path is what it is; we must take it in order to reach our destination. No society can progress without education. Yes—education is the key that leads to success, individually and collectively, to the progress of a nation or society, lest it regress into ruin.
​
The Lord allowed us to escape this difficult situation and find refuge, while maintaining hope that one day we will return in peace.
December 3, 2025: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Throughout the world, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on December 3. The Montfort Institute could not let this memorable day pass in silence. A Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated for the occasion. It was a beautiful and joyful day in which both older and younger children had the chance to play and return home happy. It was a day of deep fraternal closeness.
Despite all these difficulties, the Montfort Institute has done its best to help students continue their school year in the best possible conditions.
​
Once again, thank you for your generosity and your commitment to the cause of the Deaf children at the Montfort Institute. Your support is precious, and we hope we can continue to rely on you.
On behalf of the entire team of the Montfort Institute for Deaf Children, please accept my deepest gratitude and appreciation.
​