Inspired by Helping HELP
Guest writer Sandra Macías del Villar shares the story of how her work with HELP and with Haiti have grown from a summer of interning to an enduring passion.
Sitting in the office of the HELP Student Center, an oasis in the midst of a crowded and chaotic Port-au-Prince, I can’t help but feel inspired and extremely proud. Students are dutifully reading their textbooks, others are taking classes in the computer lab, and still others sit on the patio sharing ideas and talking, in English, about the latest news, practicing what they have learned in their ESL classes. There is no doubt in my mind that HELP is providing Haiti with a cadre of incredibly talented individuals who are becoming key actors in the development of their country’s future. But HELP has not only changed the lives of the hundreds of students enrolled in its program – it has also changed the lives of the staff who work tirelessly for the success of its mission.
In the summer of 2008, shortly after I finished my graduate studies at the University of Oregon, I was lucky enough to serve as a summer intern with HELP. I travelled to Haiti to interview members of Haiti’s academic, private, and non-governmental institutions to evaluate HELP’s role in higher education and get better insight into the impact of its work. Little did I know this would be the first step in almost four years of nonstop engagement with the country and its people on their long journey towards a more just and brighter future.
One of the findings during my internship project was that, at the time, HELP was missing the “L” portion of its acronym: leadership. Consequently, HELP invited me back to work as a consultant, creating its first leadership curriculum. Today, the expanded leadership program, intensive English courses, and extracurricular activities are among the additional tools HELP provides to enable its students to build critical skills to become successful. This is how HELP is helping Haiti’s brightest students succeed while becoming a development hub for talented leaders and professionals around the country.
Prior to coming to HELP, I knew from personal experience what the chance to obtain a higher education means for those with limited economic resources. Being a scholarship recipient myself, I wanted others to have those same opportunities. Working with HELP provided a way for me to be a part of this process, and my conviction in the importance of creating access to education for everyone became stronger the minute I started interacting with HELP students on a daily basis. I felt so empowered that, once my work with HELP came to an end, I assisted in the creation of Konbit Pou Edikasyon, a scholarship program for younger students across Haiti to obtain their primary and secondary education. To date, we have helped to provide education to 30 children from underprivileged households through full scholarships that cover tuition and fees, uniforms, school materials, and food stipends.
Thanks to my experience with HELP and the opportunity to live in Haiti, I have since had the honor of working with many other Haitians. For instance, I assisted the International Rescue Committee in treating one of the largest cases of Haitian human trafficking survivors in the United States. In my current role as the Associate Program Officer for Brazil and the Caribbean at The Global Fund for Children, I have also been able to work alongside grassroots Haitian organizations in their efforts to support vulnerable children and youth throughout the country.
Even after all this time, on each visit to Haiti I am still taken aback by its wonderful hospitality, by the warmth of all Haitians, and by its beautiful culture. Looking back over the years, I am extremely thankful to HELP for enabling me to be part of its growth and to support its mission. I hope HELP continues to leave a strong mark, not only on its students but also on those of us that have the chance to be part of its journey, for many years to come.