It Started With One Woman’s Example
Vertile Changeux spent her life caring for people in her community in Haiti, feeding those who were hungry, opening her home to children who needed one, and showing her family what it meant to serve others.
Her compassion and strength continue to inspire everything we do. After the devastating 2010 earthquake, her son Rico carried that example forward, reopening her former home to care for children who needed a safe place to belong.
What began with one woman’s example has grown into Vertile House, a K–13 school, and a community that has supported more than 400 children.
OUR STORY
A Journey of Home
From one home to a school and a brighter future - here are a few milestones along the way.
2010
A Home Opens Its Doors
In the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, thousands of children were left without stable homes or basic support. Rico Changeux returned to his mother’s former home and began caring for children who had nowhere else to turn.
2019
Our School Opens
As the children grew, so did the vision. In 2019, Vertile opened its school with a single 7th-grade class. Year by year, the school expanded adding grades, classrooms and opportunities for children throughout the community.
2026
Our First Graduates
In 2026, the students who entered Vertile as 7th graders became our first graduating class. Their achievement is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when children are given stability, opportunity and people who believe in them.