Alumni interview: Jean Maurice Dumas
Fédorah Pierre-Louis, HELP's Career Services & Alumni Affairs Coordinator, catches up with Jean Maurice Dumas (computer science ’07), who fills us in on the exciting things he’s been up to recently.
Fédorah Pierre-Louis (HELP): Tell us a little bit about your background.
Jean Maurice Dumas: I was born in Cité Soleil, the oldest of four children. My father worked at a state-owned mill as a carpenter, but he lost his job after the government was overthrown in 1991. To take care of the family, he worked odd jobs and my mother sold food in the streets.
I took my studies seriously from a very early age. I knew that, given my situation, it was the only way for me to realize my dreams. Because I lived in Cité Soleil, I knew very hard times. These difficulties mainly originated from confrontations between armed gangs in the area. Sometimes there were entire weeks when I could not go to school because it was too dangerous to leave the house. When my mother fell ill, our already precarious economic situation collapsed altogether. I started teaching private lessons to students from more well-off families to earn a little money. But these obstacles only strengthened my conviction and my determination to work harder and to stay at the top of my class.
HELP: How did you come to HELP?
Dumas: I received my high school diploma in 2002, and the following year I learned about HELP from Salomon Asmath, a friend of mine who was a HELP student and who was also from Cité Soleil. Given my strong academic record, Salomon persuaded me to apply to HELP, and the next year I enrolled at the Information Science Institute of Haiti (ESIH), studying computer science. In addition to my courses at ESIH, I took English classes at HELP and assisted with various administrative tasks, from cleaning the Student Center to organizing student records. At HELP, I learned that everything worth doing must be done well.
HELP: What happened after graduation?
Dumas: After earning my bachelor's degree in 2007, I was hired as a computer technician at HELP, where I worked for three years. This was a very enriching position, as it allowed me to gain professional experience and a greater understanding of the technical and organizational responsibilities of an IT expert. In 2010, I received a scholarship from the French Embassy to pursue my Master’s degree in communication and information systems design at Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse.
HELP: What was it like going to France?
Dumas: My studies in France allowed me to develop skills in designing and developing information systems, networking, and telecommunications. The first year was very difficult because I had to complete prerequisites for many subjects. But I worked very hard and always kept in mind HELP’s motto: Ability + Will + Opportunity = Success. I got an internship at the prestigious National Scientific Research Center, where I worked for six months. The second year of my program was even more demanding, with a major project in the first semester and another internship in the second semester. For that internship, I helped to develop a system for clients, such as banks, telephone companies, etc., that allowed them to pay bills, generate electronic invoices, report problems in the system, and track real-time statistics related to their accounts.
HELP: So, now that you’re back in Haiti, what’s next?
Dumas: Yes, I just returned to Haiti in September, and ESIH has asked me to assist in training undergraduates. I welcome this opportunity to make a contribution to the education of the next generation; the country needs new skills and competent people. In the long term, I’d like to start a network engineering company, as there is a great need for these services if Haiti is to move forward.
HELP: Any final thoughts?
Dumas: For decades, Haiti has experienced major problems across all aspects of national life. I've encountered a lot of these problems myself: a weak educational system, no electricity, no water, and insecurity in all its forms. I had to overcome all these constraints in order to achieve my goals. Much remains to be done and the road is long and difficult, but I want to align myself on the side of HELP and other organizations working to change these systems and to educate the daughters and sons of Haiti.