Students Experience Summer Abroad

Since Daphnée Charles (agro-economics ‘12) and Ronel Lefranc (agro-environment ‘13) journeyed to Dartmouth College in the wake of the January 2010 earthquake, HELP has seen the significant impact that studying abroad has on our students. Dartmouth has accepted HELP students every summer since 2010, and this year HELP students participated in a new summer program at Cornell University, made possible by the Ming Tian Fund for Haiti’s Tomorrow. So, as winter comes hurtling towards us and we look back with fondness on the summer that was, we thought we’d share the exciting experiences of three of our students who studied abroad this past summer.

Marc-Evens Cadet (rural engineering ‘13) was the first HELP student to attend Cornell University, where he worked on his undergraduate thesis, which analyzes the properties of river sediments and their effectiveness as the basis of building materials. Under the guidance of Professor Ken Hover, Marc-Evens had the chance to conduct many experiments in Cornell’s engineering lab. He writes:

It was my first time spending that much time working in a lab, and it was very interesting. I realized that experiments are one of the most important parts of any project - before doing something in the real world, we have to experience it in a controlled environment to see how it works. My experience at Cornell also gave me a better understanding of what it means to work efficiently, and I look forward to the opportunity to share these practices with my peers and colleagues in Haiti.

Though Marc-Evens was impressed by the amount of work he had in the lab, he still found time to have some fun. “The best personal experience I had outside the lab was my trip to Niagara Falls,” he says. “It was so magical. Even though it was raining, I had a very good time.”

At Dartmouth this summer, Emmanuela Delsoin (medicine ’16) took classes in biology and the sociology of international development, did lab work, and shadowed doctors at Dartmouth's teaching hospital. Reflecting on her time there, Emmanuela says:

I learned a lot about physiology and how to write a strong lab report. I also learned a lot about international development, including different theories behind global economics and humanitarian aid. And these experiences have already been useful. For example, for a group project in one of my classes this semester, I took responsibility for the data analysis and presentation. I was able to make a great contribution to my group thanks to the new knowledge I acquired from Dartmouth. My shadowing experience at Dartmouth also taught me new ways to interact with patients, which I am putting to use in my clinical rotations. Overall, my time at Dartmouth has helped me learn to be not only a talker but also a doer. I hope to use this attitude to encourage my classmates and to show them that we can do great things if we commit ourselves.

Daphnée Charles's first trip to Dartmouth in 2010 was marked by an aversion to American rice, amazement at the way that U.S. academic institutions collect and analyze data, and a 90% on her final paper. Upon returning to Haiti, Daphnée quickly put her Dartmouth experiences into action, organizing a student union at her university to open the first-ever copy center on campus, while also completing her degree in agro-economics. This past summer, Daphnée was offered a scholarship to attend Dartmouth’s Tuck Business Bridge Program, an intensive introduction to accounting, marketing, finance, and leadership. Daphnée writes:

Luckily, my employer allowed me to spend six great weeks in Hanover. I loved it! It was quite challenging to attend very intensive classes in a third language, but my previous experience at Dartmouth helped a lot in terms of keeping up with course readings and lectures. I did so well that several professors encouraged me to consider earning a full MBA.

I especially enjoyed collaborating with my six-person team throughout the program. Our final project was to present an evaluation of a solar panel company to senior executives. We had challenges working together, and our group was even close to dissolving a couple of days before the final presentation, but the outcome was an extraordinary success. We learned to make concessions, to respect each other’s opinions, and to present a product that reflected our joint ideas. This experience will definitely help me in my current job, where I work with community leaders from different backgrounds, different educational levels, and different social classes.

As Daphnée, Emmanuela, and Marc-Evens settle back into school and work in Haiti, they are sharing what they learned with colleagues and classmates: new approaches, methods, and solutions to everything from group dynamics to engineering research to patient care. In the meantime, the study abroad application process for next summer is already underway, preparing more HELP students to travel internationally and to bring a part of the world back to Haiti.