Project updates from Haiti

The Steve Sinnott Learning Resource Centre is being used every day. 302 students and teachers use the resource here every week: 1st grade to High School students take at least 2 hours of computer classes and English, the virtual lab is used for high schoolers for chemistry and physics, our 82 pre schoolers also use the lab for audio visual English and Lakou Kajou educational materials. All the other extracurricular activities (sewing, crafts, culinary arts, dance, painting) benefit 85 students. 23 Community youths and 8 VSLA Community Supervisors take online English and computer courses on Saturdays and Sundays. In total 350 beneficiaries every week benefit from the resources.


Gender Based Violence and Positive Periods Training:

We had a surprise visit in March from Jean Jean Roosevelt, the well-known Haitian Canadian artist, in support of our GBV campaign. JJR is also a UNICEF Ambassador, he had a special program for just our boys to share their opinions about GBV. They wrote a paragraph on how it is affecting them personally and their communities and what message they can share to stop GBV. Several boys were able to come up onto the stage to perform and he arranged everything into a music video that will be released shortly. He is visiting several schools to record boys' voices about GBV issues, and the best song will win the contest. I hope we do. 


Gender Based Violence Awareness Campaign:

Steve Sinnott Foundation, Sonje Ayiti, SosPsy and SAGE SERVICES. In March we dedicated a campaign called Violence Basée sur le Genre (VBG) to women's rights and the fight for equality The Steve Sinnott Foundation, Sonje Ayiti, SosPsy and SAGE SERVICES launched a joint awareness campaign to combat Gender-Based Violence (VBG). This initiative aims to educate, prevent and mobilize the community against all forms of gender-related violence, whether physical, psychological, economic or social. Through workshops, inspiring testimonials and awareness sessions, these structures are committed to: - Breaking the silence surrounding the VBGs. - Strengthen access to resources and support services for survivors. - Promote a culture of respect and fairness in all areas (home, work, school, church, etc.) ). “Every act of awareness is a step towards a fairer society. Together, let's denounce violence and support the voices of the victims," the coalition states. How to participate? It's simple! Share our awareness posts on social networks with the hashtag #NoToVBG. 


An awareness session against VBG:

On March 09 2025 as part of the campaign to raise awareness against Gender Based Violence, Sonje Ayiti, SAGE SERVICES and SOS PSY Haiti continued their actions in Ba-Fossé, in the Evangelical Church of Light and Life. Many thanks to all the partners who support this initiative: The Steve Sinnott Foundation , CECE, LHDRadio, Radio Francophonie. 


A special thank you to the Soroptimists  International Foundation for match funding GBV and Positive Periods training this month. 


Together we continue to work towards sustainable change! 


Soroptimist International Foundation is pleased to support the Steve Sinnott Foundation’s ‘Ensuring Girls’ Equitable Access to Education’ project, which tackles period poverty and violence —key barriers to girls' education. The initiative will train women and girls to produce reusable period pads, promote menstrual hygiene, and educate communities to challenge harmful myths. It also empowers school leaders to address violence against girls and advocate for equal education opportunities. With £16,000 in funding, Soroptimist International Foundation is helping drive lasting change in Haiti and Nepal, ensuring more girls can stay in school and thrive.

Gabrielle Aurel • May 26, 2025

UNESCO UK ASPnet celebrates young people planting seeds of hope around the world

By Ann Beatty • October 8, 2026
The 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Competition Online Awards Ceremony took place on 30 September 2026 and was attended by over 70 participants, including young people, teachers, the Competition Judges and UNESCO Commission representatives. The ethos of the Competition was ‘ to recognise, value and celebrate the efforts of all young people who entered the Competition, and their contribution towards helping UNESCO realise many of its key objectives, especially with regard to sustainability and climate challenges’. 2026 is the second year that UNESCO UK has undertaken the Seeds of Hope for a Better Future Competition. The Competition featured 50 projects, involving 13 countries across six continents, and representing 67 educational institutions from all sectors (early years, primary, secondary and tertiary). Significantly, this was more than double the participation in the 2025 Competition, with thousands of young people taking part in, or being impacted . Eight winners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia received Gold Certificates and shared the £5000 prize pot. Seven Kenyan Teacher Training College projects were also collectively recognised for projects that strongly support the sustainability and climate change objectives of UNESCO through ongoing work of local, regional, national and international importance, and received the 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Legacy Award . 

UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

By Ann Beatty • September 25, 2026
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.

Change Starts with a Will: Leave a Legacy That Helps Transform Education

September 7, 2026
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide.  https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.