Leila Saint-Louis is a multi-talented woman with a passion for nurturing children and creating beautiful art. 

While many students receive education in trades or business, Leila decided to follow her love for children and graduated top of her class with a degree in Kindergarten Education. While being one of the top students in her cohort, she also pursued certificates in Computer skills and English literacy. These will help her become more marketable and expand her opportunities both socially and economically. 

She interviewed for a teaching position in her hometown and will start teaching at a school called Le Bourgeon Vert (The Green Bud). Leila’s tenacity propelled her forward into another avenue: artisanal goods. Now Leila creates beautiful leather goods, sandals, jewelry, handbags, and more! Because her teaching position does not start until the fall, it will also provide income on the side. 

Putting her servant’s heart to use, she also provides community work with Restavec Freedom as a Child Advocate. Those she works with there have nothing but amazing things to say about how good she is with the children. 

We are so proud of Leila and excited for her wide open and successful future, and are grateful to have provided the scholarship needed for her to receive her unique and expansive education. 

In life we never know what can really happen. We might plan things or have great schedules but we cannot build our future like an engineer building a wall to start up.

I am Jean Baptiste Moderson and you may have read one of my blogs in the past. If so, I am still on that journey to complete my degree of Agronomic Sciences in my fourth year.

Being Haitian is more than just being a human being but it also means that you are a fighter too, because every single day is a struggle.

Unfortunately my lovely country has been an unstable country for longer and every day we have to face all kinds of difficulties you may imagine or think of. Even though things are so difficult, we cannot afford to give up. We have too many people who count on us. We must go on and move forward. However, I have a lot of dreams and a lot of things that I want to accomplish.

First of all, let’s imagine that everything is working for the better in our country. Now, days are brighter without these problems, where we will be able to walk on the street without worrying about gangs, and the government works on behalf of the people for a better future. That would be great! In this time I would grab the opportunity to complete my studies and get my license which would be a huge accomplishment for me.

I would also start my first company, a chicken coop. I know it’s a modest start but I know as time goes by it will get bigger. To start I will just need a space to build and host the chicken coop and plenty of chickens naturally. Since I know how to take care of them, I would make trade with eggs and sell some chickens, too. How wonderful would it be to work on this chicken coop!

Next, I have always wanted to have fish farming. As you may know, in our country we have problems getting fishes because we don't have any equipment to go fishing properly. That's why we need fish farming. I know how much resource that will take but in the end it would be a profitable company. 

If one day our country becomes safer and everything is better than today, I will have a lot to do and create in Haiti. This day may be right now or tomorrow or in five years. We never know! That's why I will make sure to be prepared so whenever this day comes I will be ready to realize them and even more because I know where I come from, where I am and where I want to be. It’s just a matter of time… but currently so out of our reach!

Until next time,

Moderson