Alexandra is a dreamer. At 15 years old, she carries herself with a quiet confidence—one shaped by years of growth, discovery, and transformation within the walls of One 17. Her journey is one of resilience, faith, and the realization that she is capable of more than she ever imagined.
She was just three years old when she first stepped into the small school at Ephraim. Back then, she didn’t fully understand the significance of what was happening around her. But she remembers the feeling—of safety, of love, of being part of something bigger. She recalls the moment the school moved to a larger campus. It was more than just a physical change; it was the first time she truly saw a vision beyond what she had known.
Description of photo
“One 17 has helped me have a new idea in my head,” she says. “I am not the same. I think higher thoughts.”
The transformation wasn’t just academic. In June of 2020, Alexandra made a decision that would shape the rest of her life. While listening to Manoucheka share the story of Jesus in the wilderness, something clicked. The words, “Man does not live on bread alone,” resonated deeply. They reflected what she had experienced—how the school had provided for her, not just physically, but spiritually. That day, she gave her life to Christ.
Faith, education, and community have shaped her journey. She remembers a defining moment in 2018—a trip to Port-au-Prince with a team from One 17. It was the first time she saw her country through a different lens. “It helped me understand that there is more to my country—more possibilities.” This newfound perspective fueled her ambition and gave her hope for the future.
One of her proudest moments was passing the ninth-grade exam. She remembers the late afternoons spent studying with her classmates, the shared determination that brought them together. They dedicated three months of after-school study sessions, pushing each other toward success. And when the results came in—when she realized their entire class had passed—she felt something new: pride, accomplishment, a sense of purpose.
It’s not just the lessons inside the classroom that have shaped her. The feeding program ensures that she is ready to learn each day. Counseling—both formal and informal—has helped her see her life through a different lens, shifting her mindset and giving her hope. And the teachers at One 17? They are more than educators. They are visionaries, mentors, believers in the potential of their students.
But Alexandra has always been a leader in her own right. In the fifth grade, she and her classmates were dissatisfied with a substitute teacher. They didn’t just complain; they gathered as a class, discussed the situation, and Alexandra, without hesitation, stepped forward as their spokesperson. She walked straight to the administration, ready to advocate for change.
Now, as she looks toward the future, she carries with her a deep conviction: “This isn’t just a school. It is a place that helps us think bigger about our lives. It is a place where all things are possible.”
One 17 is more than an education—it’s a catalyst for transformation, a space where dreams take root and futures are rewritten. And for students like Alexandra, it is the foundation upon which they are building lives of purpose, faith, and endless possibility.
9/11/2024
To: one 17 international staff
Object: a thank you letter
It's a pleasure for me today to write this letter. I have an opportunity to write this letter with a very special goal; to thank every single person who is a part of one 17 international which is always there to help us move forward.
First of all, I want to thank Mr. Curtis and the international staff, who came up with the vision to open a school in Haiti to help children have access to education.
Mr. Gregory, who is the general director of the institution, is always there to help us move forward day by day.
I also thank Miss Wolcarline who doesn't consider us like an empty jar that they are filling but like a soul they are forming.
I want to thank Mr. Moïse and Mr Valmy who are always there to boost us.
Miss Pharbiola, Miss Woudmirline, Miss Yvrose, Miss Wanguerlie, and Miss Manouchecka are always there to show us the necessity of working. And who also help us to develop a positive spirit.
That spirit of positivity that they have been developing in us made it possible for us to cry out victory for One 17. We succeeded in the exam 100% as the first class. When I felt stressed out, sorrowful, dark, and down, a simple word from our staff comforted me and brought me straight to the light.
In one word, I will send a great thanks to every teacher that I don't have time to mention by name.
In fact, I don't have words to explain how I love you guys and how you are so important in my life.
I hope you are receiving the thank you letter.
From Alexandra Montel.