Support
Frequently asked questions
Who can join, what our programmes cost, how to apply, and how to support the work.
General
- What is EdLight Initiative?
- EdLight Initiative is a not-for-profit organisation working to make quality education free and accessible to students in Haiti. We run online courses, a coding platform, a summer leadership programme, and a scholarship programme, and we connect students with mentors and opportunities beyond Haiti.
- Where is EdLight Initiative based?
- EdLight Initiative is a not-for-profit corporation registered in Canada (Corporation No. 1376443-5), based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Our programmes serve secondary students across Haiti, and our operations team works in Haiti year-round.
- Who can participate in EdLight programmes?
- Our programmes are built for secondary-school students in Haiti and for young people preparing for the Baccalauréat or for university. EdLight Academy and EdLight Code are open to anyone who can reach them online. ESLP and EdLight Scholars select participants through an application. Eligibility for each is described on that programme's page.
- What do EdLight programmes cost?
- Nothing. All EdLight programmes are free for students, including course materials, certificates, and — for selected ESLP participants — the sessions, the excursion, and the closing celebration. There is no paid tier and no upgrade.
- How is EdLight Initiative funded?
- Through individual donations, grants, and partnerships with organisations. Programmes stay free for students because the costs are carried by donors and partners rather than by participants.
EdLight Academy
- What does EdLight Academy teach?
- Academy covers the six subjects Haitian students need for the national exams: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life & Earth sciences (SVT), Economics, and Languages (English and Spanish). Courses are organised around 9e Année, the Baccalauréat, and university entrance, and include structured lessons, mock exams, and a daily trivia game.
- Are the courses really free?
- Yes — all of them, with no fee for materials or certificates. Academy is free and bilingual.
- Do I receive a certificate?
- Yes. Students who complete a course and meet its requirements receive a digital certificate they can share or add to a CV.
- What do I need to take a course?
- A phone or a computer with an internet connection. Lessons run in a web browser and in our mobile apps, and they are built to work on an ordinary phone with an intermittent connection. There is nothing to install and nothing to buy.
EdLight Code
- What is EdLight Code?
- A hands-on coding platform with six learning tracks — Python, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Terminal & Git — taught through lessons and practical labs you complete in your browser.
- Can I learn in Haitian Creole?
- Yes. EdLight Code teaches in Haitian Creole, French, and English. Having to learn a second language before you can start learning to program is a barrier we would rather remove.
- What do I get at the end of a track?
- A certificate with a verification link an employer can check, and the projects you built along the way, which matter more than the certificate.
ESLP (EdLight Summer Leadership Program)
- What is ESLP?
- ESLP is our two-week summer leadership programme for secondary students in Haiti. It combines expert-led seminars, mentorship, project development, civic learning, and a company excursion, and it closes with a graduation.
- Is ESLP taking applications right now?
- No. The 2026 cohort ran from 10 to 21 August 2026 and has graduated. Dates and application details for the next edition have not been announced yet. Join the notify list on the ESLP page and we will write to you as soon as the next cycle opens.
- What does ESLP cost participants?
- Nothing. Selected participants attend on full scholarship. Programme costs — sessions, materials, the excursion, and the closing celebration — are covered.
- What does the application involve?
- When a cycle is open, applicants complete an online form and submit supporting essays, a recent ID photograph, and current school transcripts. The ESLP page carries the full requirements while applications are open.
EdLight Scholars
- What is EdLight Scholars?
- A programme that funds Coursera certificates for Haitian students, run in partnership with Coursera, so that students can earn recognised professional credentials at no cost to them.
- Can I apply now?
- Not yet. The inaugural cohort is being finalised and applications are not open. Join the notify list on the EdLight Scholars page to hear when it opens.
Volunteering & partnerships
- How can I volunteer?
- By mentoring students, teaching a course or workshop, supporting events, or helping with operations. Tell us what you can offer and when you are available through the form on the Get Involved page.
- Can my organisation partner with EdLight?
- Yes. We work with schools, universities, businesses, and NGOs to widen what our students can reach — our current partners are UWC, Coursera, and IICA. Start a conversation through the Get Involved page or write to info@edlight.org.
- I want to teach a course. How do I start?
- Fill in the volunteer form and say what you would teach. Someone from the team will follow up to talk through the topic, the format, and the schedule.
Donations
- How do I donate?
- Through the donate page, using PayPal or a credit or debit card. A PayPal account is not required.
- Is my donation tax-deductible?
- Not at present. EdLight Initiative is a registered Canadian not-for-profit corporation, but it does not yet hold registered-charity status, so we cannot issue tax receipts. We would rather say so plainly than let a donor assume otherwise. Write to info@edlight.org if you need documentation of a gift.
- How is my donation used?
- It funds the things that keep programmes free: course materials and platform costs, equipment, scholarships for selected programmes, and the operations that run them.
Contact & support
- How do I reach EdLight Initiative?
- Write to info@edlight.org or use the form on the contact page. We usually reply within two to three business days.
- How do I keep up with what EdLight is doing?
- Subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of any page for monthly highlights, student stories, and programme openings, or follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Still have a question?
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