Transition Academy 2019 graduates’ bright plans for the future

28 students graduated from GO Haiti’s Transition Academy in August with newfound skills and bright plans for their future. After two years of training, the students received their certificates in agriculture and sewing and are prepared to embark on their journey into the workforce. Some of the students shared their inspiring post-graduation plans with us. Read on for their plans:

Fanel Lebon, Agriculture Graduate | “My post Transition Academy plan is to start a chicken farm in my community. We have just one chicken farm serving the whole community. The demand is higher than the supply. Launching and running the chicken farm successfully will enable me to get a substantial portion of the market.”

Jean Kenson Marcelin, Sewing Graduate | “Without our parents, my sister enrolled me in school for the very first time. I was very smart, but I didn’t want to stay in school because I was passionate about football. Every time she sent me to school, I went to a soccer field to play soccer with my friends. At 13 years old, I started taking my education seriously, but didn’t have enough money to pay for my school.

Fortunately, when I turned 18 my sister knew about Transition Academy and contacted a pastor in the community to learn more about it. Thankfully, they enrolled me in the sewing program and took care of me for two years. I am so thankful and blessed! Now, I am equipped with skills to gain my life honestly. I am very optimistic about my future.

My post Transition Academy plan is to set up a shop that allows me to make money to pay for my school so I can finish high school because I will definitely get back to school. In less than 10 years, I want to open a large sewing workshop where Transition Academy students can come to take internships. That will be a way to thank Transition Academy for all they have done for me. Thank you.”

Paul Salem, Agriculture Graduate | “After the leaving Transition Academy, I would like to find support to launch an agriculture products store!”

Francois Chrislet, Sewing graduate and President of the Sewing Student’s Committee | “I grew up in a community where most of the people living in do not go to school. My mother could not take care of me, so I asked her to send me to an orphanage. This is where I began to learn the importance of education. I went to school and started to fall in love with education. When I turned 18 I was in ninth grade, I enrolled for the Transition Academy program. For the two years spent in the program, I realized how education can transform lives and how the society is suffering due to lack of access to good education and how trade skills can make people gain their lives honestly and with dignity. I am so thankful for that!

My plan after exiting the Transition Academy is to launch a clothing shop. I have taken an entrepreneurship class at Transition Academy, which will enable me to take care of myself, create jobs for people in the community, as well as supply my needed skills to the community.”

Joseph Ricardo Will, Agriculture Graduate | “My post Transition Academy plan is to have a chicken farm and pursue my academic studies.”

Syndia Elmidor, Sewing Graduate | “My post Transition Academy plan is to use the money from my savings account to buy a sewing machine in order to start a sewing shop. This shop will allow me to be financially independent, take care of myself, help my family and offer services to the community. I may start small, but it will ultimately grow because I will apply the good principles to run a business I successfully learned in the entrepreneurship class. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn sewing and life skills lessons for two years. Now, I am very passionate about sewing and ready to enter the market.

I will also go back to school in order to get my high school diploma which will put me on a platform to get more opportunities. Thank you so much!”

Dejoie Pierre Steevenson, Agriculture Graduate | “My post Transition Academy plan is to raise pigs to take care of myself and get back to school to pursue my dream.”

Debrosse Gutemberg, Sewing Graduate | “I have lived in an orphanage since I was a child. I loved school very much but my parents could not afford to pay for me to go to school. I finally registered for school at 8 years old. Though I went to school late, my intelligence and my dedication helped me to land among the top students every year. Interestingly, I was already in 11th grade at just 17. I like reading scientific topics and researching. I also like to compose songs and sing.

It has been a great privilege to be enrolled at the Transition Academy program to study sewing for two years. I am so happy during my two years at the Transition Academy, I was always featured as best students of the month and top student. In addition, was never being sanctioned or disciplined for bad behavior. Thanks to God.

My parents could not take care of me because they did not have an education or technical skills. By the grace of God and through the Transition Academy, I am a professional tailor and a development agent in my community.

My post Transition Academy plan is to go back to high school and get my diploma while running my clothes shop that I want to launch. The shop will help me to pay my school fees and create jobs for other people in the community.”

Meristil Joanelus, Agriculture Graduate | “I look forward to launching a chicken farm after leaving the Transition Academy.”

We are so excited to see what incredible things this group of young women and men will accomplish. Thank you for investing in their futures that we know will be bright!

Help Next Year’s Graduates!

The program aims to cultivate young adults who are committed to serve, lead and give back. It’s sustainability relies on contributors moved by its mission. To impact the next group of graduates, consider giving to the Education Fund.