Our organization has been operating for less than two years now. We figured right now is a good time to share with you how we started. YHS started from a heart for helping others, because we’ve seen the struggles of those who don’t have firsthand. I, along with Nesken Weche (the president of YHS) have both had a yearning to help Haiti. When we started tossing the idea around, we were both making efforts individually, whether it was through volunteering, sending money to individuals we know back in Haiti or sending food around major holidays.
After leading a back to school supply drive for a local church in Long Island, we realized that together we can join forces and create something with a greater impact. So in September 2014, we founded what you now know as Young Haitian Scholars. Our reach is currently in one school. But in this school alone we’re able to help hundreds of kids.
We believe we are citizens of this planet and it is our duty to make the world a better place. The avenue we chose to help through is education. We’ve accepted this calling and take our responsibility very seriously. We do our very best to help. Most of the funds for the programs we currently run come directly out of our pockets. But to us it’s a blessing that we even have enough to give.
Many people in Haiti and in other nations around the world struggle to even find their next meal on a day-to-day basis. The money to send their children to school is often far from a priority. Haitian parents, regardless of their economic circumstance, do in fact recognize that education is a gateway to a better life. If they were able to afford it, they would send their kids to school in a heartbeat.
The trouble they face is that they can’t afford the tuition, the books, the supplies and most importantly the uniform, required to attend school (yes schools in Haiti require uniforms). So, many of them don’t even try because the dream is so far out of reach. We live in a country where public education is accessible and if you try hard enough, and I mean really try. You can make it. You can afford yourself a roof over your head, food on the plate, clothing and oftentimes, the luxury to travel and vacation at your will.
Poverty is a fact of life and it will take generations to overcome it. We aren’t asking you to support eradicating poverty directly today. But support us in offering a gateway to a better life through education.
