Bencille Jeune

Meet Bencille Jeune, from Port au Prince, Haiti. She lives with her mother, Besita, in a very poor tent camp away from the city over bad roads. Because it is on a fairly secluded hillside, it is not a well-known camp and has not received the kinds of services that more visible camps have received (such as water delivery, portable toilets, and so on). They have no running water and no electricity. It is a one-room building, made of wood, tarps, and sheet metal.

Every day, after work, she and Bencille walk up the steep mountain to their home in the camp – sometimes in the dark.  The family has one mosquito net, which Besita has given to Bencille; Besita goes without one. Besita is currently trying to get enough money to start building a more permanent house; she has already rented the land, but does not yet have the funds to get the building materials.

Bencille was introduced to us by our friend Laura, a medical anthropologist who lived in Haiti while she was doing her doctoral dissertation. Laura says that Bencille is bright and funny and eager to learn. She was at the top of her class in school, but her school is so substandard that it means very little. Laura believes that Bencille would benefit immensely from a better school. According to Laura, “Bencille is currently in an ‘école pasteur’ – an elementary school run by a Protestant pastor. It is not a good school. Bencille has learned to memorize, but not to do any critical thinking. While she thinks in Haitian Creole, and speaks Haitian Creole at home, all instruction is done in French – and not particularly good French, either. It is a language she has learned to memorize, but she has never learned to think independently in it. These schools profit off people like Besita – well-meaning but poor and uneducated parents who do not realize that they are being exploited. Bencille is a friendly, cheerful, polite, and generous child.” In Bencille’s letter to us, she says she would like to be a nurse.

November 2022

Bencille finished her classes in beauty school, and tells us that she does the occasional work, but there is simply not much work for the less necessary things like hair and nails now. She decided not to go to the Dominican Republic because it would be very hard to make a brand new start there, so she wants to try and make it work in her home. She applied for a scholarship from the foundation to be able to attend a two-year vocational program in “administrative sciences,” which is essentially like being an executive assistant. She would be able to find a more opportunities doing this kind of work, whether in Haiti, or in another country, should she decide to leave. We’re proud of her that despite the extreme challenges of living in Haiti right now, she is still trying to move forward, accomplish something, and support herself and her mother. Haiti is in such horrible straits right now that it would be easy to give up, but Bencille keeps working, and we are very proud of her. So we accepted her for this scholarship, and we have hopes that she will find work when she is done.

Here is a translation of her answers for her application.

Personal Experience

1. What is something that makes you different and unique?

The thing that makes me different is I am kind, and gracious. I have a kind, easy going character.

2. Who do you admire and why?

I admire most my mother. She is everything to me. She has always supported me since I was born. She always provided for me and taught me how to be respectful. She also helped with my education.

3. Describe an event that impacted you and changed your outlook on life?

When my mother had an accident and was in the hospital, I had to find a job and try to be the main breadwinner. Thanks be to God, I found a job in a grocery store. It didn’t pay much but it helped me realize that I had to count on myself and become independent.

Your Influences

1. Who is your biggest influence?

There is a person who lives in my apartment building. He practices English a lot. I appreciate him. I only speak Creole and French so I can’t really speak to him.

2. How has your education impacted you today?

Since my childhood, I have loved to study and learn. This knowledge has helped me to accomplish my goals and dreams. My education has helped me to be respectful and be the woman I am today,

Your Career Choices

1. Why do you want to study at the university and why have you chosen this particular field?

I want to study at the university to be able to prepare my future. At the university, I will learn how to fight for what I want. I will face different problems in live by living on my own. I will overcome challenges and be able to help my mom, my family, my country and maybe even the world. I plan to do this by studying administrative sciences.

2. Why are you interested in this career?

Since I was a child, I have always dreamed of being a business woman in a big company.

3. What are your future objectives and how does this program of study help you achieve them?

My objectives for the future are the following : passion, patience, dedication, motivation, love and honesty. My studies will help me attain these objectives as I study.

The kind of work that I will occupy with my studies is in financial institutions (banks), NGOs, companies, private institutions …. and with all that I could support my community by helping them to having a good job also all depends on the post that I will occupy and help so many other girls that their parents do not have enough means.

Challenges

1. According to you, what types of challenges will studying at the university bring you?

I can say that  good health is a the base of everything. I would not be able to study if my health is not good.

2. How do you plan to handle some of these challenges so you can continue studying?

In order to keep my health good. I will go to the hospital when needed. I will eat different types of healthy foods. I will avoid foods and things that can damage my health.

I can say that health is paramount and I will not get pregnant because if I am healthy why not do my studies although I live in a country where insecurity is established we live in worry there are worst times that nothing can work in the country we can’t go out but I have to stay there because I have no other country to go but I pray to god to protect me on my ways and I will be very careful

The Future

1. Describe your future and what you plan to do in the next 3, 5, and 10 years.

I plan to work for in my future. So I think in the next 3,5, and 10 years I will be working and will be a business woman. 

2. How will you use your education and career to help other women with their education?

To help other women I can share my organization skills. I will teach women what to do and what not to do and how to be polite. Some girls think that after finishing high school, that they are finished studying. I would like to show them that life has only just begun and I will show them what they need to do to become a true administrator. I will also show them how to create the own business. I will show them how to tackle the challenges that life brings them.

With my studies I intend to find a good employ to prepare my future well to meet my needs and to help my mother during her old age and so many other people.

3. What is your community’s biggest struggle and how can you help them overcome this?

I think the biggest challenge of my community is that they do not believe in my ability because I will be inexperienced and new to the work force. I will help them overcome this obstacle by being confident which will change their minds.

Why do you think you should receive this scholarship?

I want to make a difference. I don’t want to be like some girls who don’t do anything with their lives. I worry a lot about my future. I want to accomplish my dreams. I want to make my mom proud and every board member of ONE New Education.

September 2022

Bencille received her national exam scores and she did more than well enough to be able to enter the university, so we are very proud of her! We also received her final letter to the foundation from secondary school. Here is a translation of it:

Subject: Thank you letter for the scholarship

I am writing to thank One New Education. I was very happy and grateful to know I was selected to receive the scholarship. As you already know I come from a single parent home that does not have a lot of means, but who does their best with what they have. With your scholarship and my mother’s savings, I will be able to achieve my dream after I get my degree. As you already know, I wanted to try and get a job, but due to the country’s unrest, I was forced to keep a low profile. My mother is thinking of sending me away somewhere to study so I will be safe.

I would like to study administrative sciences. My mother intends to send me to the Dominican Republic. Because my documents are not yet available (passport, Visa etc.) and these processes will take a little time and during this time I don’t want to stay without doing anything, I would like to take some professional courses, more precisely a Spanish language class. Upon arriving there it will make it easier for me to understand things well. And a course on make-up. My mother had started to pay for this course but her means would not allow her to continue but I  would like to finish with it. In my opinion being young you always have to have a tool in hand to start getting by in life.

The degrees in administrative sciences are of great importance since all the sectors are an integral and vital part of a company. This study program gives students an in-depth knowledge of the internal organization of the company and the intersections between the services that compose it. It is a very promising training between economics, marketing, management, finance, and international trade. The license in business administration prepares the student for different courses and allows the student to achieve her ambitions. With a license in administrative sciences one can be hired In a company, in NGOs, financial institutions, public or private administrations, etc.

My mother and those around me also want me to study either medicine or a branch of medicine or nursing. From my childhood my mother always dreamed of me becoming a doctor for treatment. She does not advise me to study anything other than that.

What do you recommend ?

Bencille

In Christa’s following communication with Bencille, she suggested that, based on her national exam scores, she continue with her idea of studying administration. Bencille’s scores in math, chemistry, and other sciences were not particularly high, but her scores in economics and philosophy were extremely high. Christa pointed out that medical school is very expensive, and she could do very well in administration, well enough to earn money to go to medical school someday if she wants. She said that Bencille clearly has an aptitude for economics and other subjects that would help her succeed in administration. In her response, Bencille agreed.

In the meantime, we are paying for Bencille to take a class in make-up so that she can have a way to earn a living in the Dominican Republic before she goes to the university. We asked her to answer a few questions about why she wants to take a makeup class, just as a way to understand the “mini grant” she was requesting. The questions were:

1. What can you do with this class?
2. Why do you want to take this class?
3. How will this class help you achieve your goals?
4. Will you be able to work in the Dominican Republic?

Here are her answers:

With pleasure I will answer your questions:

1. With this class I can work as a great make-up artist who will make up people for any occasion (wedding, graduation, Halloween clown, birthday etc…) and as a make-up artist I can work in artistic fields, cinema shows, institutions of beauty and so many others.
2. I want to take this course because after completing the course I can start earning my own money; no need to wait until I am finished with university to get by and wait for my mother every time because sometimes she doesn’t have any.
3. This course would help me achieve my goals. For a long time I always dreamed of becoming a great make-up artist and training young people like me to become a professional in make-up, doing seminars with my skill, and earning money. This course will help me to achieve my goals for the university because with this course I will earn money and with this money I can pay for some of the university books copies small work materials I can buy some myself paid for transport to go to university and so many other things according to the means that I will have.
4. Of course I can work in the Dominican Republic. I will make posters on the internet on my WhatsApp about it, and that way I will become more known day by day as a makeup artist.

Bencille

She said her mother is paying for her Spanish classes, so between the two classes, we hope she will be ready and equipped for the next big adventure in her life.

August 2022

We received a couple of beautiful photos of Bencille in her graduation gown, and we are so excited for her. The update on her situation is this: she is probably going to the Dominican Republic, because things are so bad in Haiti. She still wants to go to the university, but will need to learn Spanish first. This shouldn’t be too hard, as she already speaks French, but we will likely be paying for her to take a basic Spanish class to get started. She won’t apply for a scholarship to the university from us until she has a chance to settle in, learn the language, and figure out what she wants to do. So it will likely be a year or more until she is ready to continue with school. For now, we are so proud, both of her efforts in school, but also that she is taking this very hard and challenging step to try and better her life.

July 2022

Bencille is graduating! We were a little taken by surprise, because it’s been a bit confusing as to where she stands (where anything in Haiti stands) at this moment, but we heard from our contact Claudine that she will graduate in July. We are so proud of her. She has really persevered through so many challenges and has come through well enough to graduate from secondary school. She has not received any help with her studies from home, and for the entire time she’s been with us, it seems like something is always happening. The earthquake, hurricanes, political violence—all have made her life challenging in the greatest way. She was a little girl when we met her; now she is nearing 21, and we couldn’t be prouder.

We received a letter from Bencille in March asking us to continue to support her in her next steps in school. We sent her a copy of the application for the post-secondary scholarship and we are eagerly awaiting it. We would love to continue to support her as she moves forward. Here is the very impressive and professional letter she sent us, with a translation as well.

03 March 2022
Jeune Bencille
#82 Avenue Jean Paul

To whom it may concern
Purpose: thank you and a request

It is with sincerity that I would like to thank you on behalf of my mother Besita and I. I wish to thank your organization for having granted me the scholarship of Madame Christa. Thanks to your generosity I will complete my school year with fewer financial concerns, which allows me to concentrate my energies in the success of my studies. Without your help I would not have been at this level in class from the 4th year fundamental until the final class.

I do not consider this help simply as additional income, but more particularly as support that motivates me to work harder to achieve my goals and to persevere. Thank you once again for investing in my future. This scholarship has really helped my mother financially.

For the past three years I put a lot of effort and energy into doing something I’m passionate about. It is gratifying to know that people like you recognize our work. It is with great pride that I finish my baccalaureate this year.

I would like to thank you again for the scholarship I received but also for your commitment to the next generation of university students.

I take the opportunity to ask for your help for the university after the baccalaureate result. I am very interested in the following options:

Banking
Trilingual Secretary

I would put myself into the soul of both disciplines.

I would humbly like to know if you can continue to help me during my university career, without hope you are favorable to my request.

Sincerely,
Bencille Jeune

August 2021

Bencille entered school in Class 4 this August, and we hope that things will remain calm enough and safe enough that she can stay in school in person. Haiti is in such chaos right now that it is hard to imagine being able to study successfully, but she is working hard at it.

December 2020

Bencille is studying back in school in person, and we hope she is doing well. We’ll find out more as the year moves on, but in the meantime, we did receive some photos of her that show she is so grown up.

October 2020

Bencille begins her third year of high school, only one more to go! It’s been a pretty tough year; all the students only received about a half year of instruction, and that was all online due to the pandemic. We asked Bencille to describe some of the challenges of studying online, and she sent us a letter to tell us about it. We wish her all the best, and they she stays safe and healthy in school.

Dear Christa,
Hello dear Christa how are you and your family? I think you might be a little shaken up because of Covid in your country.
I’m very happy to hear from you. I have been praying every day to God to protect you.
Here are the answers to your questions.
What I love about online schools is we are working in groups to work on homework and exercises together. What I don’t like is that the teachers cannot explain the exercises well because we have electricity problems in the country.
The easiest part about online school is when the teachers send us videos of them teaching and we can watch them several times to understand.
The most difficult thing about online learning is that they want us to have a USB and a computer to download books that they send us by email so we can work at home. For me, I didn’t have access because of my computer.

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January 2017

The hurricane in Haiti put a lot of things on hold in the country, and even if people didn’t live in the worst affected areas, everything slowed or stopped for weeks. Bencille’s grandmother, who had been ailing and did live in the part of Haiti most affected by the storm, died in December. Bencille’s grades clearly show the affect of the hurricane in her first quarter in school, but by the middle of the year, she was back up in the top ten in her class. We’re glad to see that.

Our friend Laura visited Bencille in January, and send back some wonderful photos of our 15 1/2 year old girl. She’s so lovely, and we are really proud of her for continuing to move forward.

For her letter to us, we asked Bencille to talk about her best friends. Here is a translation.

My school Sainte Genevieve

When I arrived at the school in fourth year, there were only 12 students in the class, 8 boys and 4 girls, and now when I am in 8th year there are 22 students in my class, 12 boys and 10 girls. My best friends are Gaille, Betoina, Darius and Mai. A group of four girls who have been together since fourth year, when there were only us girls in the classroom.

We have become the best friends at the school. We always walk together, one of us incapable of walking without the other. We make a work group together to provide support with new work.

We always share together when one of us does not have something.

Bencille is now in sixth grade and doing really well. After a bit of a rocky ending to last year, her grades have shot up. She was third in her class at the middle of the year and she wrote us a great letter. We are very proud of all her hard work to improve her grades. Laura tells us that her mother decided to move them to a house further away from the school, so we hope that won’t affect her too much.

“Dear Christa, Here are the responses for the semester’s letter.

1. Tell us what you are learning in school. Choose one class and explain why it interests you. Response: In class I am learning many things: French, civics, social science, natural science, etc. My favorite course is social science. I like it a lot because it teaches us about our history, it helps us know our heroes and the important dates of our country.

2. What interests you the most in life and why? This could be something in school or in life in general. What interests me the most in my life is my future because I am afraid that my life today will not be the same as tomorrow.

3. Give five goals that you would like to accomplish for the rest of this school year. How will you accomplish them? Response: before the end of this year
a. I would like to be first in my class
b. Pass the state exams
c. Have good grades
d. Be a model for my friends
e. Always be on time to classes
For all of this I will make every effort to study all my lessons , do all my homework, respect my teachers, my friends and also get up early enough to be able to arrive on time to class.”

June 2015

Bencille was at the top of her class for the end of the year! Here is the translation of her letter to us:

Answer 1: What I really enjoyed during the year was a scholarly competition that the school had organized.

Answer 2 (what was challenging for you?): It was the journey because the distance from my house to school was very long.

Answer 3: My most difficult challenge was the means to pay for transportation to school.

Answer 4: I succeeded in completing four objectives:
1) I passed the state exam
2) I always received good grades
3) I am always a good example for my classmates
4) Despite the distance from my house I am always on time to class

Answer 5 (how did you accomplish your goals?): I get up very early, I study a lot and always do my homework, I am always well behaved in class.

Answer 6 (how does this make you feel?): Because of my successes, I am very happy and content.

Answer 7: Five goals outside of school
1) I will teach my mother to read and write
2) I will work harder to have a higher average
3) Participate in an honors contest
4) Speak English and ask for help

Answer 8: To make use of my studies I will make every effort to use my knowledge and my capabilities to help people who need it.

Answer 9: I’ll put my studies into practice by helping my mother to read and write.

Answer 10 (how will you do this?): By working with her every day.

Answer 11: I would like to be a pediatric nurse.

It sounds like Bencille is coming into her own and we are very proud of her; congratulations, Bencille!

November 2013

Bencille is enrolled in the 2013-2014 year of school and she looks just about all grown up now! Our contact tells us that her first grade report for the year was a 71% average, which is quite good. Congratulations, Bencille!

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January 2014

Bencille’s letter to us in January was very sweet. We’re so happy she’s doing so well and enjoys her school! Check out the handwriting on her letter!

“Today I am happy to take my pen to write you these words. Before I go on, how are you, your projects and your family? On my end, everything is going very well at my school thank God, so I write you this little letter to tell you about the great activities at my school. Everything is going well this year and I understand much more quickly and much better since I like all the subjects. I also like the way our teacher teaches us. When I am in school I feel very comfortable with my friends and the directors of the school. I really love my school. I can’t forget to thank you for all that you do for me. Thank you, thank you. I love you. Bencille”

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June 2014

Our contact Laura went back to Haiti for a few weeks to visit and sent some wonderful photos of Bencille, who is growing up very fast. According to Laura, Bencille is now taller than her mother! About a year ago, Laura used some of her own money to help Besita and Bencille find a safer, cleaner, more comfortable place in town, so they now live in a nicer spot, and it’s been an important thing for both Bencille and her mother.