About
Our Mission
HELP’s mission is to create, through merit and needs-based scholarships, a community of young professionals and leaders who will promote a more just society in Haiti.
We envision a Haiti where every Haitian has access to quality education, the opportunity to live up to their potential, and the ability to contribute to a just and prosperous society.
Our Story
HELP began in 1996 with a single donation: tuition and books for a promising young Haitian woman with a dream of studying medicine. Thanks to the contributions of our generous donors, HELP has grown to support the transformation of over 200 students and boasts 325 graduates and counting.
HELP students and alumni are able to lift their families out of poverty and work constructively to address Haiti’s challenges. HELP graduates constitute a new class of ethical leaders invested in galvanizing collective action for a better future.
Our Approach
For decades, the primary drivers of poverty and economic stagnation in Haiti have been a lack of access to higher education combined with a rate of brain drain that ranks among the highest in the world. HELP believes the best way to address social, political, and environmental problems and build a brighter future for Haiti is to elevate and empower the people who understand those issues best: Haitians.
Our Programs
To plant the seeds of opportunity in Haiti, HELP supports students in the following areas:
University Scholarships
HELP provides students with full tuition and books at internationally recognized Haitian universities; stipends; dormitory housing; a computer lab; reliable electricity and internet connections, and a library. In addition to their undergraduate degree, HELP students take English and Computer Literacy courses taught by HELP faculty.
Leadership Development
HELP’s Citizenship & Leadership curriculum develops students' individual leadership styles and teaches the values of Asset Based Community Development. Through classroom curriculum, filed trips, lectures, and community service projects, students are exposed to new ideas and experiences that shape them as leaders while gaining the skills to enact change in their communities.
Job Readiness
HELP’s Career Services department, provides training on topics from CV writing to job search and interview strategies, as well as soft skills and workplace expectations. HELP connects participants with internships and full-time employment at scores of local businesses and organizations, empowering students to rise out of poverty and positioning them to be leaders in their community.