Through Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), an organisation supporting education and community development, the effort helped establish a free school in Port-au-Prince following the devastating 2010 earthquake. What began as a school for 300 students has grown into a larger educational programme supporting more than 1,400 students each year, according to the organisation’s official website. APJ also credits its wider work with helping over 32,000 children access education, healthcare and other opportunities.
Hollywood actress Olivia Wilde has been associated with an initiative that has worked to make education more accessible to children in Haiti, a country that has faced years of political instability, poverty and humanitarian crises. The connection between Wilde and the organisation goes beyond celebrity support. She is listed on APJ’s official website as a member of its board of directors. She has also spoken about the importance of supporting organisations that work closely with local communities rather than relying solely on outside aid. Her association with the initiative dates back to its early years, when the organisation was expanding its education programmes in Haiti.
APJ says the Academy now supports more than 1,400 students and employs approximately 180 teachers and staff annually. APJ continued supporting the institute until 2018, and it is now run by Haitian staff, including former students. The organisation’s work received another boost in September 2026, when its 18th annual Artists for Peace and Justice Gala raised more than $700,000 during the Toronto International Film Festival. The event was held at the Windsor Arms Hotel and recognised three prominent Canadian personalities: Actors Andrea Martin and Emily Hampshire, and musician Jann Arden, according to NOW Toronto and a September 14 announcement from the organisation.
Over the years, the six-acre campus has expanded considerably. The organisation’s wider programmes have also extended beyond traditional schooling, with support for healthcare, scholarships and vocational opportunities. Another part of its work was helping rebuild and expand Haiti’s film school into the Artists Institute, a professional training centre supporting the country’s film and music industries.