Ahead of Port-de-Paix’s patronal celebration, the Digicel Foundation inaugurates its 197th school: Ecole Nationale Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Wednesday, December 3, 2025 – The Digicel Foundation has officially inaugurated the Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours School in Port-de-Paix, marking its 197th project under its school construction program, which aims to provide students with safe, modern learning environments tailored to their needs.

Founded in 1875, the institution is among the oldest schools in the country. It is managed by the Filles de la Sagesse, also known as the Sisters of Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours, a congregation that has been active in Haiti for nearly 150 years. Over time, they have built a strong reputation for their commitment to education and their support for vulnerable communities, promoting values such as solidarity, compassion, and service.

Over the years, the building housing the school’s public section had significantly deteriorated, making learning conditions increasingly challenging. In response, the Digicel Foundation stepped in to fully fund and oversee the reconstruction of this section. The project includes a new three-story school building with twelve classrooms, upgraded sanitation facilities, and the rehabilitation of the perimeter fence.

With an investment of nearly US$600,000, the new infrastructure will provide hundreds of students with a safe, standards-compliant environment that supports both learning and personal development.

This inauguration carries special symbolic importance, taking place just ahead of Port-de-Paix’s patronal celebration on December 8, held in honor of the Immaculate Conception, and on the eve of the 150th anniversary of both the school and the congregation in Haiti. As such, it represents a dual celebration: one of a remarkable educational legacy, and another of a renewed commitment to the future.

The ceremony brought together representatives from the Ministry of National Education, local authorities, community leaders, members of the press, as well as representatives from Digicel and the Digicel Foundation—highlighting the strong collaboration among stakeholders dedicated to advancing education in Haiti.

With this latest milestone, the Digicel Foundation continues to expand its impact nationwide. To date, it has built and inaugurated 197 schools, serving more than 60,000 students each year. As part of its goal to reach 200 schools, the Foundation has received over a hundred applications from institutions seeking support. Site visits are currently underway at around twenty shortlisted schools, ensuring the continuation of this momentum and strengthening access to quality education across the country.

Finally, the Digicel Foundation wishes to emphasize that these achievements would not be possible without the continued loyalty of its customers, whose support directly contributes to the realization of sustainable projects in education and community development.

This inauguration in Port-de-Paix once again reflects the Digicel Foundation’s commitment to building, step by step, a brighter future for Haiti’s youth—and to investing in what remains the true foundation of progress: education.