Invest in Haiti's Future Leaders

The REBUILD globally Apprenticeship Program was created to support vulnerable youth in Haiti by providing an academic scholarship and job skills training.  We are thrilled to announce that eight of our students will be graduating this year.    This is such an unbelievable accomplishment, as the national average of high school juniors to pass their national exams in Haiti, is 30%.  Yet, 100% of our juniors passed this year!

The Apprenticeship Program was born in the wake of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake as an effort to get young people off the streets, in school, and eventually secure them with a job at our Deux Mains sandal workshop in Port Au Prince.  However, our students’ dreams have changed.  Thanks to the training they are receiving, the world has opened up to them, broadening their vision for their future.  Most intend to go on to University, and many have expressed the desire to share the knowledge they have gained with other Haitian youths and start their own businesses.

 We are pleased to highlight three of our students:

Jonise is a 21 year-old young woman who has become an entrepreneur based on the business skills that she is learning through the Apprenticeship Program.  Jonise is an excellent student who sells cookies and soda to the other students in the break time during the Saturday Program at REBUILD globally. This allows extra money to help pay her transportation fees to and from to school and to come to Saturday program each week.

Jameson is15 years old.  He used to spend all of his time begging in the streets because his family could not afford his school tuition and basic needs. Through our Scholarship Program, Jameson is now going to school and is maintaining high marks. His teacher said that: “he is one of the best students in his class.”

Betiana is 18 years-old.  She is one of the best students in our Art Program. Betiana plans to share the knowledge she has gained to children from different orphanages in Port-au-Prince by teaching them arts, specifically how to make handbags and purses using re-purposed trash.

We are so proud of our 20 students and honored to support them. We could not do any of this without your support.Thank you for all you are doing to invest in Haiti’s future!

The REBUILD globally Apprenticeship Program begins its 4th year with a reason to celebrate - this year, because of a 2-month IndieGoGo campaign and several outside donations, all 8 of our seniors are completely funded for their school fees, books and uniforms!

A Senior Year in Port au Prince can range from $400 - $600 per year, including the books they are required to buy and the uniforms they are required to wear.  It is by far the most expensive year, and in order to better fund the program as a whole, we decided to run the IndieGoGo campaign for a more personal, individual approach to sponsoring the students.  Upon graduation, the students will have exponentially more opportunities for either university, vocational schools or a different career of their choice - choices they would not have without a high school diploma.

The results of the campaign were fantastic - due to generous contributions from New York, Florida, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and everywhere in between, we were able to reach 96% of our goal!  Individual donations ranged from $10 to $500, and one group together raised over $1,500 in one afternoon.

We are not only grateful for the contributions, we are amazed at the energy and time our supporters have put into sharing the link, sending along email chains, and spreading the word.  We are truly grateful for the community that has been built and for the extensive support for the Program.

REBUILD globally would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed, for every dollar, for every Facebook "share," for everyone who mentioned our campaign this summer!

Links:

• REBUILD globally website
• REBUILD globally Facebook page
• REBUILD globally Store