Last week 74 graduating 13th graders attended Ewo’s 3rd annual Career Breakfast. These students were joined by a panel of guest speakers. Careers highlighted included a doctor, policeman, plumber, mechanic, chef, teacher, computer technician, lawyer, journalist, and an accountant. This vital event provides students with the opportunity to explore different trades and career paths they might be interested in.
With the increasing challenges in Haiti and the lack of ability to move freely, opportunities for our graduating students have become a real concern. Being able to enter a trade school, attain the required skills and start a profession quickly allows them the ability to learn, work, and earn a living. For those students wanting to enter a university, our panel of guests were also able to guide them in the process of entering a government university here in Haiti.
This 3rd annual career breakfast was another successful one where our Executive Director, Melissa Hoffmann, was able to join this wonderful event through Zoom. She shared her career experience with the students, her experience in Bayonnais in 2018 and 2019, and also her experience working for them as the next generation of Bayonnais and Haiti. Encouragement and motivation were the best part of Melissa’s speech.
“Some of you may choose a career and work in that field for the rest of your life. Some of you, like me, will have several careers throughout your life. No matter which you choose, or which chooses you, make sure you work hard and do your best. This school and this community have provided you with much more than an education. They have given you love, a family, and a place to call home. I know you want to make them proud,” said Melissa to the students in her speech.
Also, our Team Lead Olguens Saint-Louis in his speech emphasized that Haiti is not going to remain as it is today.“ The country needs young professionals of all kinds for its development. I want you to know that you are the future of Bayonnais, Gonaives, the Artibonite department, and Haiti. We need you and can’t wait to see you in 5 years,“ said Olguens.
According to the testimony of Fenock Donatien, one of our sponsored students who graduated in 2021, participated in the first Career Breakfast in 2022, this activity helped him to orient his choice and to integrate trade school and university. “To be honest, this activity had a great positive impact on my academic and professional career, since it helped me to make the right choice that, today, boosts my employability,” is the declaration of Mr. Donatien. He continues to say, “During my time in school, I was confused and understood some manual trades very badly. Thanks to this initiative, I was able to consider another profession.”
In Haiti, most of the population think that the only way you can get a career to find a job is to go to university. As a result, many students don’t know that manual trades are careers as well. Instead they consider them worthless means. “I graduated from high school 2 years ago. It’s true, I’m studying to be a lawyer. But the first job I had a lot of prejudices about, which puts money in my pocket, is plumbing,” is the testimony of Fénock Donatien.
He believes the initiative must be continued because of how it impacted his life and others. He is also thankful to the board of EWO and the office in Bayonnais for this wonderful activity.
Wadny Aristilde (teacher) and Florcie Joseph (chef), two guest speakers, congratulate the board of Ewo for this wonderful initiative taken to help and guide the students with their professional career and their future. Wadny thinks that is something all of the schools in Haiti should be involved in .
Geneltha Simeon and Loveckendy Maurice Charles, two 13th graders that have been sponsored from kindergarten to 13th grade are very thankful for the help they received to be where they are today.
“I was sponsored when I was in Kindergarten. I don’t remember how I felt when I got sponsored but I can tell now how being a sponsored student helped me and my family. I am so thankful and grateful for Ewo. I love receiving and reading letters from my sponsor,” said Geneltha Simeon.
For Loveckendy, being a sponsored student meant a lot for him and his family. Lockendy thanked his sponsor for all the letters that they sent to him and also for thinking with him everyday. “No one can reward you for everything you have done for me, only God can do it. Your work in Bayonnais is priceless,” were Lockendy’s words to his sponsor.
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