Fondwa is a rural mountain community located approximately 45 minutes from Leogane and almost equidistant from Leogane and Jacmel. The 30 minute walk to Fondwa begins at the right fork of the road, which exits the back of the Anba Tonel market. The road is paved ~80% of the way down the hill & the view on the way down is spectacular.
Continue to one of the following sections, or read more about Fondwa below.
Fondwa, Haiti is a small rural mountain community of approximately 5,000 people. It is found in a valley about one mile off the mail road leading from Leogane to Jacmel. Fondwa is part of the Leogane Commune which is also home to Leogane, Haiti. Family Health Ministries provides services to approximately 40,000 people in the surrounding area.
HISTORY OF FONDWA
Over the last 20 year, under the coordination of Fr. Joseph Philippe, a Haitian Catholic priest, the Association of Peasants of Fondwa (APF) has established a strong organizational structure with more than 400 members representing all 20 “zones” in the Fondwa region. With deliberation and in spite of tremendous obstacles, APF built up local infrastructure: a road, more than a dozen water catchment projects, tree nurseries to support reforestation, and a radio station – Radio Zetwal – that is the principle means of disseminating information in the Fondwa valley.
In the area of local economic development APF established numerous small businesses: a bakery, a community restaurant, carpentry and welding shops, a credit union, an auto parts store, and a beverage depot.
Believing that “education is the means to overcome misery”, APF has created a noteworthy array of educational opportunities for the population of Fondwa including the St. Antoine school, which enrolls more than 600 children in preschool through secondary. Other educational opportunities include a system of "animators" (extension agents) and the University of Fondwa 2004.
FHM in Fondwa
1993
FHM began sending supplies and mission teams to Fondwa to support education initiatives
1997
Children's education, health and nutrition programs begin.
2000
FHM began sending financial support to Fondwa for teacher salaries, computers, books, and nutritional supplements.
Duke University Seminary graduates Dave Williamson and Jamalyn Peigh-Williamson began a partnership with Family Health Ministries to do work in Fondwa full-time.
2004
Six additional rooms added to the Fatima House Orphanage
2005
Missy Owen joins Family Health Ministries in Fondwa as Family Health Ministries new Missionary to Fondwa.
July 2006
FHM expands Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs from Port-au-Prince to Fondwa.
September 2006
Meredith Barkly joined the Fondwa in-country staff for 9 months teaching English and providing computer technology expertise, and working with other FHM projects
February 2007
A formal clinic-based infant nutrition program was launched with money provided by the Presbytery of New Hope Hunger Fund.
2008
Duke University Medical Center Students work with the Sainte Antoine School to evaluate the effectiveness of daily meals, anti-parasitic medications, and nutritional supplement support. Duke University Global Health students continue to visit each spring to record height, weight, and hemoglobin counts for students in preschool through the 3rd grade.
2009
Additional bedrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen facilty, and indoor bathrooms added to the Fatima House Orphanage.
2010 - current
FHM began (and continues) to rebuild the Fondwa school that was completed destroyed in the January 2010 earthquake.
Fondwa 
