Industrial Engineering ‘21

Vanuela Fatal wants to be an entrepreneur who creates opportunities for others. When Vanuela was accepted to study Industrial Engineering at the University of Quisqueya, she first had to explain to her family in Gonaives what exactly that meant. “They were delighted, but they asked me, ‘What is it?’” she says, laughing. “ But industrial engineering was made for me, I love to get things done.”

Law ‘24

Stael Toussaint plans to practice law and help other students pursue their education. Stael grew up in Carrefour, a densely populated suburb of Port-au-Prince. Stael’s mother died six years ago and his father, who never completed secondary school, works as a tailor earning a monthly income of just $40. In this difficult environment, school was Stael’s only outlet and he used academic competitions to stay engaged.

Environmental management ‘21

Nel-Ange St-Cyr is part of the next generation of environmental activists, working to improve how Haiti manages natural resources and preserves the environment. Growing up, she was dismayed by the heaps of garbage she saw in the streets of Port-au-Prince. "Ever since I was little, I've felt a sense of responsibility," said Nel-Ange. "Every time I walk along the road, all I see is trash, trash everywhere, that's what's motivating me."

Law ‘22

Jeffnie Louis is determined to help vulnerable women realize their legal rights. Jeffnie grew up in Carrefour with her mother, father, and older sister. Her father sold charcoal at the local market and was a loan officer in the community. When Jeffnie was 14, her father was robbed and lost all the assets from his loan operation; a few days later he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away.

Education ‘21

Edwine Estinfil is passionate about teaching. During high school, she volunteered at a free community school for low-income students and children living on the streets. After finishing her own classes in the morning, Edwine taught at the community school every afternoon. She realized that making students feel safe and nurtured was just as important as teaching them reading and math.

Psychology ‘20

Verlanda was raised in a large family with five siblings. Her mother worked as a schoolteacher and her father earned a living as an artisan, making crafts for the local tourism market. Verlanda’s family did not have the means to pay for all of their children to attend school, so she prepared herself early on to earn academic scholarships, all the while maintaining her student leadership and volunteering responsibilities.

Management ‘18

Valencia grew up in Cité Soleil, an extremely impoverished and densely populated area in Port-au-Prince. Few children in the area can afford to finish their education. Despite the hardships of her early life, Valencia persevered in school and obtained a scholarship from HELP that enabled her to attend university.

Industrial engineering ‘19

When Rodney found out about HELP in the 9th grade, he became determined to win a scholarship. Although he had no access to books or materials beyond what was given to him at school, he did everything necessary to ensure he had the grades to apply for HELP, joining study groups with classmates who had more resources and devoting all his energy to schoolwork.

Economics ‘19

From the moment Nikelson set foot on the HELP campus for orientation in 2015, a world of possibilities opened up for him. “I saw all the people working in different fields, and it was a lightbulb moment. It inspired me and I saw that I could continue helping people and accomplish my professional goals. I was always told that I should become a priest, but at HELP I saw that I could serve the world in even bigger ways.”

Agro-economics ‘10

Jacques grew up in lush Léogâne with his mother and sister. Jacques’ mother worked hard as a domestic cook to give her children more opportunities than she had. “If I failed, it was like my mother failed. So, I didn’t have the right to fail. I had to push hard to succeed through education.”

Agronomy ‘14

When Ronel was 13, he was awarded a scholarship to high school, but the school was in a different town. “Three of us from my hometown received scholarships, so we rented a room together. That was the first time I lived away from my parents. I had to take care of everything – do my laundry, prepare my food. Usually, we would go to school without eating in the morning…

Agronomy ‘02

Florenal and his siblings were raised by a single mother. She worked hard to send all her children to school despite having barely attended school herself. “She is a hard-working lady, all the credit goes to my mom,” Florenal says with pride.