The Village Marie project stems from the personal story of its founder, Jac-Ssone Alerte. He grew up in a very poor community in Haiti, in a family of 12 siblings whose parents worked in agriculture. His mother, Marie, was always his greatest inspiration, instilling in him the value of education as a means to get ahead. “I remember my mom telling me that I had to leave there to study and then come back to help the children in our community,” recalls Jac-Ssone.
In 2010, when a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, Jac-Ssone was in Brazil studying dentistry. The tragedy made him rethink his path, leading him to switch majors to study civil engineering with the goal of contributing to his country’s reconstruction. That’s when the idea for Village Marie emerged as his final thesis project, but he lacked guidance on how to carry out a plan of such magnitude.
His path changed in 2017, when he came across TETO Brasil and began volunteering. “TETO’s emergency housing projects were my first source of inspiration for getting involved on the ground,” he says. A year later, he discovered that TECHO had a presence in Haiti and managed to connect with local volunteers.
Finally, in 2020, Jac-Ssone launched Village Marie, a project that initially aimed to build 15 permanent homes. These homes, built by the residents themselves using local materials such as clay, are more earthquake-resistant and environmentally sustainable. More than just infrastructure, the project’s participatory construction model allows families to play an active role in the process, boosting their self-esteem and fostering community unity.
Jac-Ssone Alerte's journey shows that dreams can become concrete actions that change lives. What began as a promise to his mother is now a project that is building a future for Haiti.
In 2025, Village Marie and TECHO the next step in this mission by building 50 permanent homes and expanding their self-build model to other regions. Join Jac-Ssone’s dream and be part of the change in Haiti. Each home is another step toward a more dignified and sustainable future for hundreds of families.
Written by Lucía Carabelli.