Investing in Hope: The Full Scholarship Pilot in Haiti – First Quarter Impact Review

At a time when the world seems to be shifting unpredictably, the steady progress of the Full Scholarship Pilot (FSP) in northern Haiti offers a story of hope, transformation, and purpose-driven collaboration.

As detailed in the March 2025 First Quarter Report—authored by Herlin Jacquessaint, Program Coordinator at INEB—the partnership between CanEducate and Help for Haiti (APMCH/H4H) is not just about tuition; it’s about reimagining education access for students who are eager to learn but face enormous financial and social constraints.


Introduction

Education is one of the fundamental pillars of development and represents a true hope for many children and their families in Haiti. Through the Full Scholarship Pilot (FSP), CanEducate is committed to providing students with the opportunity to access quality education despite the country’s economic and social challenges. This first-quarter report highlights the launch of the inaugural cohort, the considerable progress of the FSP, student interventions, and the concrete impact of the support provided thus far. Despite the challenging context marked by political and economic instability, schools continue to be dynamic learning spaces where students, teachers, and parents work diligently to build a better future. This report aims to demonstrate how, thanks to the partnership between CanEducate and Help for Haiti (APMCH/H4H), education in north Haiti and within the communities we serve is the source of hope and social status transformation. Such demonstration will occur through updates on the current educational situation, images illustrating the progress made, questionnaires, and immersive photos with minimal captions.

News in Haiti

The current social and political crisis in Haiti—primarily in the capital areas, Port-au-Prince—marked by a resurgence of banditry and increasing poverty, poses a significant challenge for the entire country. However, Cap-Haïtien, the city where CanEducate supports beneficiaries of the Full Scholarship Pilot (FSP), remains relatively active and dynamic. The local economy is experiencing modest growth, and several ongoing projects provide opportunities for those who can benefit from them. People from various parts of the country are migrating to this city, attracted by better economic prospects, which adds vitality to the region. Consequently, the atmosphere in our partnered schools is stable. The students are motivated, and the school leaders continue to organize enriching activities that complement their academic journeys. Through various academic initiatives implemented by Help for Haiti (APMCH/H4H), the students and the schools strive to maximize their potential and improve their academic goals. With such emphasis on educational expectations, APMCH/H4H is able to steer students, parents, teachers, and communities away from the negative aspects of Haiti, instead focusing on concrete ways to enhance their personal and academic outcomes. CanEducate supports—the Tuition Assistance Program and Full Scholarship Pilot—play a fundamental role in this process. They ensure access to quality education despite students' and parents’ financial and social difficulties. Thus, they allow students to concentrate only on their studies and aspire to a more stable future, positively changing their lives and Haitian civil society.


 

APMCH Scholarship Pilot

The APMCH/H4H education program supports gifted and spiritually dedicated students by offering full assistance to secondary students with outstanding academic abilities. Currently, FSP is in a pilot phase, with plans to evolve into a more extensive and dynamic program that will further develop students’ academic skills, leadership qualities, and spiritual involvement. Selected students must follow strict criteria to maintain their scholarship eligibility for the two years.

 

Girls’ Education

Because of persistent cultural behaviors and beliefs, boys continue to have higher school enrollment rates in Haiti, with the gap even more pronounced in rural and disadvantaged communities. In light of this disparity, APMCH/H4H is committed to advancing gender equity in education while ensuring that efforts to support girls do not come at the expense of boys.

Our strategic approach focuses on supporting older female students, who are often deemed at higher risk of dropping out due to social, economic, and cultural pressures. As part of this initiative, the scholarship program is designed to help retain and empower female students by addressing some of the unique barriers they may encounter while continuing their education. Currently, the program supports three female and two male students, reflecting this intentional emphasis on ensuring young women have equal and sustained access to learning opportunities.


 

Recent Developments Related to the Program School, with Specific Details on the Impact of CanEducate's Support

Questionnaires that the CanEducate Team Can Transform into Articles to Be Published on the CanEducate Website

In the first quarter report, the questionnaire we provided to the recipients was an opportunity for them to introduce themselves and for us to get to know the parents and guardians.

General Information

Name: Augustin Rodachka

Age: 17 years

School Attended: New Star of Bethlehem Institution (INEB)

Grade Level: NS-I (Freshman)

How has this scholarship changed your school life?

I’ve been attending INEB since Kindergarten, but in 2024, my family removed me from the school to enroll me in a more affordable institution due to significant financial hardship. I didn’t like the other school because the teachers were frequently absent, making it difficult to keep up with my studies. When I expressed my dissatisfaction with the other school and my desire to drop out, my mom sent my brother, now my legal guardian, to speak with INEB’s leadership about allowing me to return. I feel very fortunate that APMCH/H4H made an exception and admitted me back into the tuition assistance program. Little did I know that my good grades would now enable me to become a beneficiary of the FSP. Thanks to the FSP, I will achieve my academic goal of finishing my studies and attending university. Everyday, I work harder to improve academically.

What difficulties did you face before receiving this scholarship?

As I stated already, before the FSP, it was difficult for my parents to pay my school fees on time due to both of them who have fallen ill. I had to change schools, but fortunately, God helped me return to INEB.

What are your dreams and ambitions for the future?

I would like to become a fashion designer because I love fashion. I would like to have my own clothing manufacturing business.

How will education assist you in achieving this goal?

The education I am receiving today enables me to expand my knowledge to pursue my future profession better. Do you have a message for those who support the program? A message for those who support the program would be, "Thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

 

General Information

Name: Anneval Marc-Anderly

Age: 15 years

School: INEB

Grade Level: NS-I Freshman

What has changed for you since you received this scholarship?

Since receiving this scholarship, what has changed is my motivation to succeed in school.

What were the main difficulties you faced before receiving this support?

It was difficult for me to stay fully focused on my studies and to stay stable in one school.

What is your favorite subject?

My favorite subject is Math. It is precise—if we work hard, we can excel; if we don’t, we struggle. It all depends on us. What are your dreams and plans for the future? In the future, I aspire to be a musician, achieve success in life, and help other children find scholarships like this program.

 

General Information

Name: Desroches Jean Romain

Age: 50 years

Relationship with the student: Guardian

Number of children in the household: 17

What were the main challenges in sending your child to school before the scholarship?

God has blessed my wife and me with four biological children and 13 adopted ones, and our main challenges lie in seeking support to care for our large, blended family. We strive to assist these children who lack support as much as we can. Previously, some organizations eased our burden through food or other resources. Such assistance is no longer available since we had to relocate from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien. APMCH/H4H is the only organization from which we receive support. At first, they paid 50% of the tuition; now, our child receives a complete scholarship for her secondary studies. The situation in the country makes it difficult to find assistance as often as we used to, but we have faith in God and our own strength to provide for our 17 children as we continue to do our best and remain optimistic about the future.

Did you have to make sacrifices to pay for school? If yes, which ones?

We’ve made many sacrifices. Sometimes, we reduce our food consumption or other essential resources to ensure that the school fees are paid promptly. We pay the fees immediately with whatever we have and even pay in advance to ensure that the children don’t face any issues related to their schooling.

What has changed since your child has been benefiting from the scholarship?

Of our 17 children, only one is enrolled at INEB and an FSP recipient. The FSP will allow us to deviate from her schooling fees to support the other children. It will also motivate our daughter to stay at school and have a brighter future.

How has this support eased the financial burden on your family?

As one of the eligibility requirements, we are informed that, as parents or guardians, we need to open a bank account to deposit our child's school fees in case the FSP is discontinued. I believe this is a superb decision, as it encourages us to save money for our daughter, which will certainly aid in furthering her studies. We have much to do, and the little we can receive, even if it’s just $1, means a lot to us.

What message would you like to send to the donors?

We want to express our gratitude to those who support this program. Thank you for your help, which is more precious than anything. May the Almighty continue to bless you, especially since you don’t know us but possess the kindness in your hearts that motivates you to assist us. It’s truly great and noble. Thank you, and thanks to the donors.

 

Conclusion

The first quarter of the Full Scholarship Pilot (FSP), supported by CanEducate, has demonstrated a profound impact on the lives of its recipients. Despite Haiti's ongoing social and political challenges, the program has provided students with stability, motivation, and aspiration and the opportunity to focus on their academic and personal growth. These students enhance their academic performance and cultivate essential life skills through access to quality education, participation in enrichment activities such as entrepreneurship training, and strong collaboration with parents and guardians. The friendships and support networks they are forming further strengthen their resilience and determination to succeed. CanEducate’s ongoing support is a beacon of hope for these students, their families, and their communities. As we look forward to the coming months, the program’s positive impact will continue to grow, promoting educational excellence and creating opportunities for a brighter future for these young learners.

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CanEducate Funding to Help for Haiti: An Overview of Past, Present, and Impact