The University of Fondwa (UNIF)
Founded in 2004 by residents of Fondwa, the University of Fondwa’s mission is to educate young Haitian women and men in order to create wealth in rural Haiti.
Students choose among three academic areas of study: Agronomy, Veterinary Medicine (Haiti's only!), and Business Administration.
Students interesting in applying to the University of Fondwa can visit unif.edu.ht and contact UNIF's administrative team in Haiti. The UNIF website is in Kreyol, French, Spanish and English.
Throughout their courses of study, students spend significant time in their home rural communities working in practical application with the knowledge and skills they acquire in the classroom.
In addition to traditional classroom-based learning, students engage in community needs and resource assessments and education, which guides them in developing their senior thesis projects required for graduation.
Students and faculty at the University of Fondwa also engage in rigorous academic research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals in English, French and Spanish.
What makes UNIF Unique?
- Located in the mountains of Fondwa, UNIF is Haiti’s first rural university.
- UNIF understands, respects and seeks to build on the knowledge and experience of rural peasants who represent nearly 1/2 of Haiti’s population.
- UNIF offers unique opportunities for individuals and academic institutions in the U.S. to partner in their efforts through educational exchanges and rural community-based research.
Core Values of the University of Fondwa
- Solidarity with farmers
- Mutual respect and inclusion
- Respect for knowledge and traditional values of Haiti’s peasant population
- Spirituality
- Democracy
- Service
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental stewardship
