Haiti on the Rise Gives Hope to Students During Summer of 2018

Meet Two of Our Students:  Katiana and Ronald Bellevue

Before January 12, 2010 Katiana and Ronald Bellevue had a normal life with their parents in Port-au-Prince.  Their mother was a small retailer and the father worked as a freelance messenger.  They both were able to provide great care for Katiana and Ronald and their other four children.  While their small home was crowded and life was difficult at times, they were able to make end needs.  Importantly, their six children were all in school and happy.  

A monstrous earthquake took only a few seconds on January 12, 2010 to turn everything upside down for many families of Haiti, including the Bellevues.  Amidst chaos and ruin, the news came that Katiana’s and Ronald’s father had been killed during the quake at a different location.  He left behind his wife, Norcilia Louis, and his six children.  Norcilia would later learn that she had not only lost her husband, but also her mother, sister, two of her nieces and her nephew.   That was the darkest period that Norcilia and her children had ever known.   

Consequently, Norcilia had to continue moving forward.  She was not able to grieve, because she had to ponder how to take care of herself and her children.  Norcilia found herself doing all kinds of jobs to provide for them.  Without the financial support of her husband, she didn’t have enough money to send all her kids to school at once. While public schools in Haiti are less expensive than private ones, they are underfunded and unreliable. Therefore, she chose to send her eldest one, whom she thought would either find employment upon graduating from high school or continue his education at a university or professional school.  

As planned, Norcilia’s eldest child graduated from high school but unfortunately didn’t find employment nor go on to further his education.  Meanwhile, the other five children stayed at home.  Norcilia walked daily in her neighborhood to sell products for the home.  Very often she had Katiana and Ronald walk with her.  One day, Ronald with a raspy and depressed voice complained to her in front of a customer and said, “Mom, I cannot wait anymore; I need to go to school!” Norcilia embarrassingly replied, “I want you to go to school, but I just don’t have the means right now”.  The customer overheard the conversation, and asked them a few questions.   Norcilia rapidly seized the opportunity to tell her story.  After listening to Norcilia’s plight, that customer responded by paying for Ronald’s education for the next 2 years.  While Ronald completed primary school, the sponsor was not able to continue paying for him anymore.  

During Jackie’s 2017 summer trip to Haiti, she met with Ronald and her mother.  After hearing their story of struggle, Jackie decided that Haiti On The Rise would provide funding for Ronald to continue his education.  Although Ronald’s sister, Katiana also wanted to attend school, Haiti On The Rise didn’t have enough funding to support her at that time.  Upon returning to California, Jackie talked with a friend who agreed to sponsor Katiana’s schooling. Because of people like you, Ronald and Katiana have both been in school for the past 2 years and are now starting their third consecutive year of scholarship.  In our interview with them, they told Jackie that they are so thankful to Haiti On The Rise.  Ronald said that he has a lot of hope and his dream of becoming an engineer is being realized. Katiana is also content that she is back in school, and on her desired path to someday become a nurse.  Although both Ronald and Katiana have years of schooling to go before embarking on their preferred fields of study, their development is possible because of supporters like you! 

Words are not enough to express my gratitude to you.  I feel tremendous joy when I experience the transformation of these young students and their whole family from 2017 to the present.  They are happy, hopeful, and healthy.  Thanks again to you and the Haiti On The Rise family of which you are a key member of.