Haiti is in crisis. Armed violence has overtaken Port-au-Prince, schools sit empty, and too many young people are forced to trade their dreams for survival. But even in the face of chaos, there is a way forward. Your gift can help unlock it. I know, because I’ve lived it.

As a young girl, I received a lifechanging call—I had been awarded a scholarship from the Haitian Education & Leadership Program. That call opened the door, and I dared to walk through it. I dared to imagine a different life for myself.

I dared to show up that first day of orientation.
I dared to ask—for internships, for mentorship, for opportunities.
I dared to be great and graduate at the top of my class.
I dared to become a Fulbright Scholar.
I dared to pursue a master’s degree from the University of Alabama.

I dared to dream big—big enough to walk onto the Stanford University campus as a PhD hopeful in Global and Comparative Education.

None of this happened by accident. Every milestone was made possible because someone chose to invest in me—with their time, their resources, and their belief.

That’s why I believe so deeply in investing in one another—especially in Haiti, my home, where potential so often goes unseen, and talent untapped.

Even now, in these darkest days, young Haitians are daring to dream. They are holding on to hope. They are working toward a future that feels impossible—and doing it anyway.

When the guns fall silent, they will be ready to lead. How do I know? Because I am.

Ludmille Lyvert (Education ‘18)