HELP at Work: Andye Sanon

I grew up in Haiti until, like many other Haitian families, my family immigrated to the U.S. when I was twelve years old to “search for a better life.” Over the course of the years that ensued, I constantly questioned why many Haitians believed that in order to progress they had to leave Haiti. My question was answered during the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake that exposed the uncertainty in Haiti’s future and made it painfully evident that the country needed sustainable solutions. As a result, I majored in International Relations, and devoted my time to understanding the vast array of development theories and ideas that could benefit Haiti’s reconstruction.In my attempt to understand Haiti’s development, I participated in two study abroad programs. I studied in France for a semester, in order to understand Haiti and France’s complex history and to gain perspective on the role that France’s colonial rule played in Haiti’s development. A year later, I participated in a program in Senegal, where I took courses related to international development. These experiences reinforced my belief that the true development of a community could only derive from the locals. But how do you persuade Haitians that their skills are necessary in the advancement of Haiti, when the majority believes that leaving the country is their only chance to prosper? Moreover, how do you convince those who leave that they should return because they constitute an important part of the country’s prosperity?In 2014, I returned to Haiti for the second time since my family’s immigration to participate in the Haiti’s Future Leaders Fellowship Program in the Cabinet of the President of Haiti. It wasn’t until this fellowship that I became convinced that education had to be the foundation of the development of Haiti, a country where the cycle of brain drain persists throughout generations. The opportunities that exist for socioeconomic mobility in Haiti are limited. This led to my discovery of HELP.After continuous research for organizations that worked in Haiti, I found HELP on Idealist. One of the many aspects of HELP that appealed to me was the fact that it provided scholarships to Haitian students to attend Haitian universities. In my opinion, this symbolized an investment, not only in the Haitian students and their families but also in the entire country as it reinforced the notion that Haitian universities are of the same caliber as universities abroad. It offered hope that Haitians could provide for themselves if given the opportunity to reach their full potentials through education. I became a fan of HELP and soon after, an employee.Working at the HELP office in the U.S., my part-time position quickly became full-time due to the amount of work the process of providing scholarships to the students required. I witnessed my colleagues’ dedication through the long work hours, the meetings and the networking events. “Who knew changing Haiti required all this work?” we like to joke after a long day. But the work is completely worth it.When I hear the student’s testimonies on the way that HELP has elevated them, when I meet the students behind the documents that I process, I am reminded that they are the future of Haiti and there are many more like them who deserve a chance to further their education and elevate their families. And as the first member of my family to graduate college, I connect with their testimonies. Nelson Mandela says, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” As a short-term employee, it has been clear to me HELP believes in these wise words. During my time with the organization, I witness that HELP’s mission is more than words. A lot of work is done to create, through merit- and needs-based scholarships, a community of young professionals and leaders who will promote a more just society in Haiti.