Heritagekonpa
Special Report
A
Scholarship Program in Haiti Provides Hope for Promising Students
By
Tequila Minsky
Haitians
in the United States and friends of Haiti continuously ask themselves, "What can
I do
that will
improve the lot of Haitians back home?" Family members send remittances which
in 2003 totaled 800 million dollars, almost 25% of Haiti's Gross National Product.
This number is expected to be higher for 2004, totaling possibly 100 million dollars
in remittances from abroad. Sometimes this doesn't feel enough.
In
early November, a fundraiser, attended by mostly 30-something young professionals,
the next generation of Haitian Diaspora and Friends of Haiti, was held in lower
Manhattan for the Haitian Education and Leadership Program-HELP, a higher education
scholarship program. HELP pays tuition, books and living allowances for academically
promising men and women in Haiti who finish at the top of their public high school
class but cannot even afford bus fare to college.
In
1996, American Conor Bohan was teaching in a high school in Haiti that educated
children from poor families. He was asked by student Isemonde Joseph whose home
was in Cite Soleil for a loan of $30 so she could go to secretarial school.
Bohan
recognized that Isemonde 's ability and talents exceeded the skills needed to
be a secretary and he encouraged her to go the University which really was her
ambition-and beyond her dreams. Assisted by a scholarship personally funded by
Bohan and family, Isemonde began medical school in 1998. This was the beginning
of HELP. Her first semester anatomy grade was 100%.
The
annual cost of university in Haiti, including textbooks, is almost $1500-- low
by American standards but an astronomical sum in a country where the majority
live on less than a dollar a day.
A
group of scholars at the HELP's computer lab- photo
HELP
was organized with many others to address the issue: Here are students with a
good academic foundation, excelling in school, then what? HELP provides must-be-in-need
students, coming only from public schools with a basis on merit.
A
yearly fund raiser with Haitians and non-Haitians and generous support from other
donors supplies the funds. HELP covers students' fees, textbooks, transportation,
and other needs. Each year more students join the program. Fifty-three scholars
are enrolled in the 2004-5 academic year, studying medicine, computers, accounting,
business management, electrical and civil engineering and agriculture. They are
expected to perform very well in school.
Five
of the 40 students finished at the top of their class in the 2003-4 academic year.
One student finished 2nd out of 100. Two others have made the Dean's list and
all the students most recent grades are not in yet.
The
Port-au-Prince office grapples with the student's challenges of being poor and
attending a university. It offers crucial back-up and support. In the midst of
tragedy, unrest and misery students are told if there is a problem they should
come to the director
Last
year one student came by and shared his story of hardship, "I live at home with
6 brothers, a mother and father and an aunt. Usually I've gone to school and I
haven't eaten. I don't eat until 4 pm. It's hard to concentrate, I'm dizzy and
weak. I'd do better if I could eat."
A
stipend to cover food was provided. For some of the students HELP might not just
be providing school but also the only real meal of the day...
continue on next page
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