Teaching the Next Generation to Cherish Their Roots

Ann Retounen nan Kilti Nou: How One School in Haiti Is Teaching the Next Generation to Cherish Their Roots

At High Hopes for Haiti, we believe that education is about more than textbooks — it’s about identity, community, and belonging. That’s why we were so moved to hear about Green Day 2026 at our partner school in Haiti, a day that brought those values to life in the most beautiful way.

A Theme Worth Celebrating

This year’s Green Day was led by Mr. Laguerre, the school’s science teacher, around a theme that stopped us in our tracks the moment we heard it: “Ann retounen nan kilti nou” — Let’s go back to our roots.

In a world that often asks children to look forward, this day invited them to look back to the traditions, foods, clothing, and customs that make Haitian culture so rich and worth preserving.

Dressed in Pride

The color and elegance of the traditional Karabela dress shine through the photos from the day. Staff and students alike wore this iconic Haitian outfit with pride, and the school’s director, teachers, and administrative staff came together for a full parade through the grounds. It was a visual reminder that culture is something you wear, carry, and pass on.

A Campus Transformed

Behind every beautiful event is a team that works tirelessly to make it happen. Mrs. Salomon, Mrs. Pierressaint, Mr. Olais, and Mr. Deliverance decorated the entire school campus with coconut braids and banana trees harvested directly from the school’s own farm. Teachers stayed late into the night before the event to get every detail right, and it showed.

Food, Heritage, and Storytelling

Green Day wasn’t just about what you could see — it was about what you could taste and learn. Mrs. Danie prepared a spread of traditional Haitian dishes that filled the school with the aromas of home. Parents brought in Haitian antiques, and alumni sat with younger students to explain the stories behind each one. This kind of intergenerational storytelling is irreplaceable — it’s how a culture survives.

Music, Dance, and Joy

No Haitian celebration is complete without music, and Mrs. Taine made sure of that. She animated the entire day with traditional songs and dances, getting the whole school moving and celebrating together. Joy, it turns out, is one of the most powerful teaching tools there is.

Why This Matters to Us

At High Hopes for Haiti, we support schools and communities not just with resources, but with a deep belief that Haitian children deserve to grow up knowing and loving who they are. Days like Green Day 2026 are proof that the teachers and staff at our partner school share that belief and act on it, even when it means working late into the night.

Mr. Laguerre’s vision, supported by an entire community of dedicated educators and families, created something that no classroom lesson alone could teach. It created a memory — the kind that stays with a child for a lifetime and reminds them that their roots are something to be proud of.