The First Univers 13th Grade Graduation
June 21, 2009 was a Univers Milestone
15 Students Received High School Diploma
By: Dave Mann
Fifteen years ago, five young Haitian men put their hearts and heads together to raise a new generation of Haitian leadership. They began with a preschool in a rented building. Today there are 1600 students, 125 school staff, a fully functioning medical clinic with 21 staff and 5 residents/interns.
June 21st, 2009 was a milestone in the ever evolving ministry of Institution Univers. On that day, fifteen young men and women “walked across the stage” to receive their high school diploma. Their futures are not certain, but they have a good education and Christian foundation on which to build. As of July 1, 2009 five have received scholarships (from individuals, families and churches, colleges) for college education in the U.S. and five have scholarships in Haitian colleges. Others will need to find their way forward in more traditional ways of looking for resources from within the family structure to continue their studies.
Here are some thoughts from a few of the graduates.
Marie-Claire Charles, headed to Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster, PA
- My country needs help. I think that every Haitian is concerned. And I think that help will come from Haitians themselves. To get ready to help, we have to study very hard, and we ought to study in a college which assures us a good education. I would like to study in the United States of America to get a good education and come back to Haiti to integrate in its development, in order to be an example to those who prefer to stay in the foreign country where they have studied instead of coming back in their own country.
Ezéchiel Isaac, headed to the University of Akron, Ohio
- I would like to come back to Haiti and Ouanaminthe to serve at our clinic, to help the sick and to serve God. I would like to become a renowned doctor, also to help my family have a better life.
Jean-Gardy Saintvil, headed to a university in Port-au-Prince
- I hope to be able to serve my community, as well as benefit my school that has taught me well. I want to become a computer engineer to be able to work on computers and set up networks.
Frandy Cador, headed to the University of Akron, Ohio
- I plan to come back to Haiti to help the sick as a doctor. I hope to establish good relationships with foreigners to have resources for effective medications for my people. I also hope to bring new teams of American medical professionals to Haiti. In this way, I want to participate in the development of my community and all of Haiti.
Emmanuel Joseph, headed to Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Prestonsburg, KY
- I plan to go to a university to study and become a professional, perhaps a teacher of science. All of us will die one day, but I have a mission to accomplish before then. After my death, I hope people will look back and see that my life served to benefit the community and the world.
For a larger image click on the above photo
