The Calling Placed on Miquette McMahon’s Heart
When Miquette D. McMahon arrived in the United States in 2000, her life changed in ways she never could have imagined. For the first time, she no longer had to worry about survival, where her next meal would come from, or how her family would afford school. That freedom gave her something priceless: the ability to dream.
But those dreams were never only for herself.
As she reflected on the many people who had helped change her life, she felt a deep responsibility to give back. Generous mentors and supporters had invested in her education and helped break the cycle of poverty in her life. Their sacrifice inspired her to create opportunities for other children to experience the same hope and transformation.
While living in the United States, Miquette always knew her story was connected to Haiti. Many friends believed that once she experienced the opportunities available in America, she would choose to stay and build her life there. But she knew in her heart that wasn’t the path she was meant to follow.
She felt called to return home.
During her senior year of college, she began thinking seriously about how she could help her country. For the first time in her life, she had the space to reflect not just on survival, but on Haiti’s future, especially the future of its children.
The Educational Crisis Facing Haiti’s Children
As Miquette began researching the realities facing Haiti, one issue stood out above the rest: access to education.
For many children in Haiti, attending school is not guaranteed. Education often comes at a cost that families simply cannot afford. Parents must pay for tuition, uniforms, books, and supplies, forcing them to make heartbreaking decisions between feeding their children or sending them to school.
Hundreds of thousands of children across Haiti remain out of school because of financial barriers.
The statistics were shocking, but for Miquette, they were also deeply personal.
She remembered sitting in the fifth grade when her own dreams nearly ended because her parents could not afford 100 gourdes, less than one U.S. dollar, for her school tuition. That moment stayed with her.
As she reflected on that experience, a question began to form in her heart:
How many other children are losing their dreams for the same reason?
That question shaped her prayers. Over time, the answer became clear.
Education was the key.
Education had changed her life, and she believed it could change the future for countless children across Haiti.
The First Steps in Launching Teach Haiti
In 2007, Miquette took the first step toward turning that vision into reality by founding Teach Haiti, a nonprofit organization committed to helping Haitian children access education.
Her first goal was simple but bold: raise enough money to send ten children to school.
She wasn’t sure if she would reach that goal, but she was determined to try.
To her surprise, by June of that same year, just weeks before traveling to Haiti, she had raised enough support to send 41 children to school.
Teach Haiti began by partnering with local schools in Port-au-Prince and St. Michel, providing students with tuition assistance, books, uniforms, and school supplies.
The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of children qualified for support, yet only a fraction could be helped. Still, the program continued to grow as more supporters joined the mission.
Each student accepted into the program was expected to work hard in school and serve as a positive example in their community. The goal was not just education, but transformation.
From One Classroom to Multiple Campuses
In 2010, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake that changed the country forever. In the midst of that tragedy, Miquette felt a new and clear calling: Teach Haiti needed to open its own school.
She envisioned a place where children could receive a quality education in a safe and supportive environment, something many students in Haiti rarely experience.
Her dream was to provide opportunities she never had growing up, including qualified teachers, daily nutritious meals, physical education, fine arts, and early English instruction.
The first school began humbly.
A small four-room house in Port-au-Prince became Teach Haiti’s first campus in October 2010. With the help of volunteers and supporters, classrooms were prepared and supplies were gathered. Sixty-one students were selected to begin this new chapter.
Each year, another grade level was added as the school grew.
What began in a small house has since grown into two thriving campuses, one in Port-au-Prince and another in St. Michel, Miquette’s hometown.
Today, Teach Haiti serves more than 650 students and is widely recognized for academic excellence. Students consistently score among the highest on national exams, and every graduating senior receives a full scholarship for one year of trade school, equipping them with practical skills for their future.
The Mission: Restoring Haiti Through the Next Generation
Teach Haiti has always been about more than education.
It is about restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope.
Stories like Dina’s remind the team why this mission matters. One day, Dina came to school visibly sick. When her teacher asked why she hadn’t stayed home to rest, she quietly replied, “Miss, if I don’t come to school, where will I get my food for the day?”
For Dina, school was not just a place to learn, it was a lifeline.
Teach Haiti works to ensure that children like Dina receive more than an education. They receive encouragement, mentorship, and the belief that their lives matter and their futures are worth investing in.
Since its founding, Teach Haiti has impacted more than 1,000 students, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers and support their families.
Education restores what poverty tries to steal. It gives children the ability to dream, imagine a future beyond their circumstances, and build better lives for themselves and their communities.
That vision continues to guide Teach Haiti today.
Because when children are empowered through education, they become the leaders who will shape the future of their nation.
And that is the heart of the mission:
Restoring Haiti through the next generation.