On Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Pétion-ville, the Ministry of the Environment (MdE), in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, officially launched the 4th edition of the national Eco-Genius competition, with technical and financial support from UNESCO, Helvetas Haiti, Heifer International, and the Resilient Productive Territories (Territoires Productifs Résilients - TPR) Project.

This event took place in Pétion-ville, notably in the presence of Joseph Emmanuel Philippe, Director General of the MdE, Ecclésiaste Thélémaque, Chief of Staff to the Minister of National Education, and Jean-Luc Tondreau, National Education Officer at the UNESCO Office in Port-au-Prince.

According to Joseph Emmanuel Philippe, Director General of the MdE, "The Eco-Genius competition is part of the State’s efforts to train new generations of responsible citizens, aware of environmental issues."

For his part, Professor Ecclésiaste Thélémaque emphasized Haiti’s vulnerability to environmental challenges. "Every year, natural disasters remind us of the fragility of our territory. Floods, erosion, deforestation, pollution, and the effects of climate change directly impact our communities, our schools, and, more broadly, jeopardize our shared future."

But, he stressed, "to confront all these problems, the country has a crucial asset : its youth. They are intelligent, creative, engaged, and capable of developing a critical understanding of contemporary issues." Hence, according to him, the vital importance of organizing this type of competition, which aims to encourage Haitian schoolchildren to reflect on such issues.

"It is precisely this capacity that education must support, structure, and value in order to meet current challenges," emphasized Vijonet Déméro, Chief of Staff to Minister Déméro.

As for Jean-Luc Tondreau, he sees this competition as a strong call for student engagement in environmental protection : "At a time when our country is facing formidable challenges, particularly environmental ones, the decision to organize the fourth edition of the Eco-Genius competition is an act of faith in the future. Holding this competition affirms an essential truth: Haiti’s future cannot be left to chance."

At the end of the event, Walex Pierre, Director of Support for Private Education and Partnerships at the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP), reviewed the various sub-themes that could stimulate student reflection, mentioning, among others: climate change; waste management and sanitation; reforestation and renewable energy; biodiversity and protected areas; watersheds and water management; and environmental monitoring and assessment.

The Eco-Genius Competition is open to students in the upper elementary grades. Beyond students, it will engage school administrators, teachers, and parents, and serve as a platform to raise awareness within the wider community about environmental issues and potential solutions.

Each school is eligible to enter a team of seven members (five students and two chaperones). The team must be named after a specific ecological site in Haiti.

See also :

Test your knowledge by playing at https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en menu Haiti Theme : Environment

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