One Haiti's great liberators, Toussaint Louverture, was a former slave who learned to read and write at the age of 40. Eventually, Mr. Louverture was arrested by French soldiers and taken to the Jura region of France, where he was imprisoned in a freezing cell at Fort de Joux. Historical accounts show that he passed away not long after due to those frigid conditions. Before his death, he pleaded with General Bonaparte to allow him to see his wife and children one last time—a request that was tragically never granted. These events took place in 1803.
Now, some 223 years later, we have another Toussaint: Toussaint Saint-Louis. His father, Louverture Saint-Louis, was my mother’s first cousin. Today, this Toussaint is completing the 13th grade at the age of 72. It is incredibly inspiring to see someone pursue their education with such fierce dedication at this stage in life. He truly carries a meaningful legacy with his name.
At 72 years old, Pastor Toussaint Saint-Louis of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) of Bayonnais sat for his final secondary school exams (Philo) on Monday, July 13, 2026. Through this incredible milestone, Pastor Toussaint sent a powerful message to our youth: after converting to the Lord, education remains a vital necessity for a life of respect and dignity. He completed his entire academic journey—from the 3rd grade all the way to NSIV (13th grade)—at the Institution Classique de Bayonnais (ICB).
Thank you, Pastor Toussaint Saint-Louis, for your humility and for being such an inspiring, tangible role model within the Bayonnais community. While we do not know if you will still be able to pursue your lifelong dreams of studying accounting and theology, one thing is absolutely certain: you are a man of profound vision. You firmly believe in the message, "Learn to go to school! Learn to keep books! Learn to humble yourself so that God can lift you up!"
Thank you again, Pastor Toussaint, and best of luck to all the exam candidates across Haiti, especially those from ICB!
