Over the years, LCS grads have done everything imaginable to find sufficient support to continue their education at the university level and gain degrees in medicine, law, computer science, accounting and management, mathematics, physics, chemistry, education, languages, diplomacy, economics, and agriculture. Due to our students' academic quality, being accepted to university in Haiti is the least of their problems. The difficulty is paying for university. Even when an LCS grad gains a seat in the highly competitive national universities, which are tuition free, they struggle to purchase books and keep themselves housed and fed.
Tuition, books and fees for a private university ranges from $1,000 to $2,500, inexpensive in US terms, but is completely out of reach for our grads without assistance. A few early grads found private sources of funding from individuals. Realizing that this "informal source" would never provide sufficient funding for the upcoming graduates classes which were increasing in size, THP began looking for other sources of support. Fortunately, FOKAL, the Xaverian Brothers' Sant Xaverian and H.E.L.P. (Haitian Education and Leadership Program), an organization started by Conor Bohan, a '96-'97 THP volunteer, quickly stepped up to provide assistance. These organizations continue to provide support for our students.
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Lapaix Carmelle, an LCS gradutate, works as a manager for Dynamic Enterprise. |
In 1998 Father Jack Roach (St. Joseph Parish, Shelburne Falls, MA) began raising money for work-study funds so LCS could provide jobs and university scholarships for recent grads. This funding, provided by the parishioners of St. Joseph, St. John & St. Christopher Churches and the generous friends and family of Fr. Roach, have allowed THP to begin providing the first "in-house" scholarships.
Recognizing that a university degree was a necessary tool for future leaders of Haiti, the THP Board of Directors designated $100,000 of the $500,000 Founders' Challenge capital campaign to establish an endowment for university scholarships. Since its inception, LCS has given out 2 or 4 scholarships annually using the earnings from this endowment.
In 2004, the Keppel Family established a scholarship in honor of their son, James F. Keppel, the deceased brother of Steve Keppel, '03-'04 THP volunteer and now head of EGI for Haiti.
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Luknel is second year medical student at The University of Notre Dame of Haiti. |
In response to the immediate needs of current LCS grads caught in truly tough economic times, THP volunteer alumni raised $10,000 to provide one year emergency scholarships for stranded students.
Even with the generous support of the above mentioned organizations, the work-study program, and endowed scholarships, many of our graduates continue to struggle to find scholarships. Soon, THP will need to embark on raising another $100,000 to provide more endowed scholarships. If you are interested in helping us increase the available support for our graduates, please contact us at development@haitianproject.org.
Today, we have 30 LCS graduates participating in work-study or supported by LCS scholarships. Twenty-six of our graduates are supported by individuals, businesses and other organizations in Haiti. 77% of our graduates are currently in or have graduated from University.
LCS alum Andre Makendy graduated from University with a degree in Management. He is now one of the top managers at a local textile factory. |