Dyaspora-Haiti Scholarship Fund: Progress Amid Uncertainty

Since launching the Dyaspora-Haiti Scholarship Fund in 2017, we’ve held fast to a simple belief: that education is transformative, and every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Thanks to your unwavering support, that belief continues to bear fruit, even in the face of significant challenges.

After the joyous milestone of our very first Dyaspora-Haiti Scholar graduating at the end of the 2021–2022 school year, the fund continued to provide tuition and book allowances for the remaining five scholars throughout the 2022–2023 school year. Unfortunately, in the 2023–2024 school year, due to personal circumstances, one student exited the program.

Still, the Dyaspora Coordinating Committee (DCC) has remained committed to the remaining four scholars, three of whom have been with us since the early days of the fund. These young women are now approaching the final stretch of their secondary education, and we couldn’t be prouder. Their path has not been easy. In different instances over the past two academic years, the start of the school year was delayed, and instruction was interrupted by temporary closures due to the ongoing political unrest in Haiti. Yet these scholars continue to persevere with the steadfast support of their families and the continued generosity of our donors.

More than just a scholarship, this fund is a promise -- a bridge between hope and opportunity. The Dyaspora-Haiti Scholarship Fund was developed because publicly funded education is limited in Haiti, and the financial cost of private schooling is often out of reach for most families. We are proud of the fact that the Fund has been instrumental in ensuring that these young women are not left behind. Research has shown time and time again that investing in the education of girls is one of the most impactful ways to transform entire communities. Studies show that when girls are educated, they are more likely to pursue careers or entrepreneurship, increase their earning potential, invest in their families, and become changemakers in their communities.

Each of our scholars carries not just a backpack, but the weight of possibility. Indeed, they are future educators, entrepreneurs, advocates, and leaders in their own right.