HP Helps HELP Rebuild Computer Lab

On a normal weekday, the computer lab at the HELP Student Center is full of students hard at work studying and completing assignments. Fortunately, at 4:53 on January 12, 2010, the lab had just emptied for the day when the earthquake hit. The ceiling collapsed and crushed the equipment below, destroying everything.

Today, thanks to a partnership facilitated by the Clinton Global Initiative, HELP’s computer lab is as good as new with 50 new laptops donated by HP, along with two color printers and a supply of toner for each. This valuable in-kind technology donation is just in time for the start of the new academic year this fall.

“HP has a long-standing history of helping people in need in communities around the world. The people of Haiti had to cope with overwhelming challenges after the earthquake and we are pleased to support HELP in their excellent work of bringing education to the young people of Haiti” says Paul Ellingstad, Director of Global Health at HP.

Among the many students who will make use of the new lab will be nine HP-sponsored scholarship recipients who are studying subjects such as agronomy, engineering, and computer science and economics. One of them is Giovanni Diogene, a budding economist. Growing up several hours from the capital, Giovanni excelled at school. He wanted to pursue a degree in higher education and help improve his country, but the cost of university made his dream seem impossible: “I didn't know what I would do after I finished my secondary studies,” he recalls.

Today, Giovanni is well on his way to becoming a professional and contributing to Haiti’s economic development. “HELP reassures me,” he says. “University is a new way of orienting the rest of my life. I’m determined to work hard to succeed and help others.”

Thanks to the generous support of HP and our many other wonderful donors, Giovanni and his HELP peers will continue to achieve great success, both in their studies and in the ongoing effort to rebuild Haiti.