Marie Erline Lamy dedicated her life to transforming the lives of young people through the power of education. As an educator and visionary leader, as the founding Director of the Leadership Academy at the Haitian Institute, she touched the lives of the academy’s members through her unwavering belief that education can forge leaders that Haiti can count on..
The Academy was founded in 2018 under the name of Académie Défilée Bazile. At that time, it had 24 teenagers aged 12 to 16 who we selected from 6 schools in the Artibonite department. The goal of the Academy’s creation is to accompany and guide them with kindness on their path while helping them grow and transform themselves into responsible and prosperous young adults. We train them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving while accompanying them in their development.
After Erline died in 2023, the Haitian Institute deemed it important for the Academy to bear Erline’s name in memory of all her work as Director of the Academy. We changed from the Académie Défilée Bazile to the Académie Marie Erline Lamy (AMEL). By naming the Academy after Erline, the idea is to honor the boundless love, patience, and dedication she always showed throughout her time at the helm. This name is a testament to her sacrifice, a reminder to all who passed through the Academy of the importance of her approach that always put people first and built a solid foundation that allowed each student to grow and develop in an environment that wanted to see them succeed. It is a name that reminds us of her strength, wisdom, and positive impact on our lives.
The work is Growing !!
Since its creation in 2018, the academy has always been committed to accompanying adolescents and giving them the necessary means to succeed in becoming good leaders who can participate in the country’s development. The academy started with 24 adolescents from 12 to 16 years old. The academy took charge of their school fees, and we provided them with books and other pedagogical materials to succeed in their educational path. The academy proposed leadership training sessions to them so that they could develop the skills to become leaders who can analyze and solve the problems of their communities. Thanks to this initiative, we have observed concrete impacts on their personal and intellectual development. Today, the Marie Erline Lamy Academy (AMEL) continues its commitment while seeking to reach more adolescents. In March 2025, we launched a campaign to recruit adolescents living in the most remote areas where access to quality education remains a major challenge. We have already met with over a hundred teenagers in 3 regions of the Northwest department (Goden, Janklè, and Cotdefè) to integrate them into the Academy. The goal of our interventions in these remote and disadvantaged areas is to offer these teenagers the opportunity to flourish and become good leaders and agents of change.
Dayana’s Story
Dayana was part of the Academy’s first cohort back in 2017. She has now graduated High School and is currently attending University in Haiti.
I am Dayana DESINORD, a sacred child of the Academy. For 7 years, I had the privilege of being part of what was the most beautiful experience of my life. With Ms. Erline as my director, I felt unconditional love in every gesture, every word of encouragement, and every hand she gave me in difficult times. She looked at me with the eyes of a mother; she was always there for me, patient with me, and pushed me to believe in my abilities even when I doubted myself.
At the Academy, I not only learned book knowledge but also how to build a strong future, conduct myself with dignity, and live in harmony with the community. I will always remember those who made me a better person and gave me the tools to think and see life with more love and hope. Every training, every discussion, every step along this path helped me discover a new Dayana who did not know what she was capable of.
Today, wherever life takes me, what remains in my heart is pride. I am proud to say that I am the fruit of these sacrifices and honored to introduce myself as a member of SAC. The Academy is not only a part of my history; it is a part of who I am becoming every day.
Thank you for accompanying us on this most just journey. Please click on the DONATE button below to proceed to Paypal and complete your gift.