Meet the Founders
Conor and Garry met in 1994 and began planting the seeds of change in Haiti, united by a shared vision for education as a force for transformation. In 1996, Conor Bohan officially launched the Haitian Education & Leadership Program (H.E.L.P.) with just $30, building it into Haiti’s largest and most comprehensive university scholarship program. Garry Delice, now H.E.L.P.’s Country Director, has led the organization through political unrest, a global pandemic, and gang violence, ensuring students safety and access to education. Together, their leadership and unwavering commitment continue to drive H.E.L.P.’s mission and inspire the next generation of Haitian leaders.
1996
A Spark of an Idea
Conor Bohan arrives in Haiti to teach English at Louverture Cleary School, a boarding school for high-performing students from low-income families. A life-changing moment occurs when 23-year-old former student of Conor’s Isemonde Joseph asks him for money to attend secretarial school. Conor asks Isemonde if secretarial school is what she really wants to do. When she tells him she wants to be a doctor, he offers to fund her medical school entrance exam instead. Isemonde is accepted, setting the foundation for what would become the Haitian Education & Leadership Program. That same year, another student, Florenal Joseph, receives exam support for admission to Université Quisqueya. We begin by supporting just one student with tuition and books.
2000
First Graduate and Formal Launch
We celebrate our first graduate, Roodly Joseph, who secures a job as a Junior Accountant with a $9,000 starting salary. This milestone marks the shift from informal support to a structured initiative. Open application and recruitment begin, and we expand to support 12 students.
2002
Official Incorporation
The Haitian Education & Leadership Program incorporates in the United States, solidifying our legal and organizational foundation. Student support rises to 28, reflecting our early growth and credibility.
2006
Expansion and Infrastructure
Garry Délice becomes our Haiti Country Director and we expand recruitment efforts beyond Port-au-Prince to reach students in more remote areas. We support 63 students during the 2006–2007 academic year and rent our first student dormitory in the Pacôt neighborhood. The following year, we grow to support 78 students.
2009
Recognition and Growth
Our growing impact draws attention from global leaders, including visits from former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Merten. We support 109 students during the 2009–2010 academic year and continue to raise the bar for access to higher education in Haiti.
2010
A devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits Port-au-Prince, claiming the lives of two students and injuring many. Our center is destroyed, but 90% of our students engage in relief efforts. We formalize our English literacy program with support from the U.S. Embassy, incorporate in Haiti, and open an office in New York City. We welcome international volunteers and receive our first major grant from a local donor. We support 115 students in a time of crisis.
Crisis and Resilience
2014
National Reach
Our student-led nationwide recruiting campaign reaches over 100,000 high school students across more than 1,000 schools throughout the country. Dr. Theodule Jean-Baptiste becomes our first Fulbright Scholar, demonstrating the excellence of our academic preparation. We support 167 students during this milestone year.
2015
Influential Support & Alumni Engagement
We welcome notable guests including former Haitian President René Préval and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Our Career Services department hires its first full-time staff. We purchase a 2,050 m² property in Pacôt with the vision of building a permanent campus. Alumni begin contributing financially through KOREM, a peer-supported initiative that helps fund future students. We support 167 students.
2020
COVID-19 Pandemic
For the first time in our history, we are unable to admit an incoming class due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of this interruption, we formalize our alumni committee, strengthening long-term connections and support among our growing network of graduates.
2025
Here We Are!
Nearly three decades since our founding, the Haitian Education & Leadership Program stands strong—rooted in resilience, powered by community, and unwavering in our mission to multiply opportunity through education. From one student’s dream to a nationwide movement, we continue to prove that talent is universal—even if opportunity is not.