“My best friends have always been my books,” said Hope for Haiti Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator Alex Bonhomme when recounting his childhood in southern Haiti.
Alex remembers being very curious and studious as a boy in Les Cayes, making education something he cherished. Not only did he thrive in the classroom, Alex also represented his school in several academic competitions.
“My parents always considered education a key factor for social mobility,” said Alex.
When Alex started high school at Lycée Philippe Guerrier in Les Cayes, his friend told him about his plan to apply for the Haitian Education & Leadership Program (HELP) scholarship so he could attend college. Having grown up in a low-income family, Alex knew that a scholarship opportunity would be extremely helpful in his pursuing a higher education.
“I promised myself that I would follow HELP closely and apply for the scholarship when I finished high school,” he said.
Alex kept his promise and earned a HELP scholarship in 2016, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics at Université Notre Dame d’Haiti. He completed the academic requirements of HELP and the University in 2020.
“When you’re accepted into the HELP program, you don’t only earn a scholarship. You become part of a wonderful and dedicated community working for a better future in Haiti,” said Alex.
Throughout his four years in the program, Alex learned critical thinking, leadership, and interpersonal skills, as well as IT literacy, resilience, and the ability to read and write in English. He fondly remembers lively classroom debates, service-learning projects, and being inspired by both peers and HELP Founder Conor Bohan. Each of these skills and experiences helped Alex discover his love for MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning), leading him to join the Hope for Haiti team in December of 2022.
Alex originally applied to join the Hope for Haiti team as a MEAL Officer, but when MEAL Manager Nathanaël (Nate) Delva received Alex’s application, he had another idea.
“I was impressed right away,” said Nathanaël. “Alex’s combination of experience, skillset, and knowledge made him the ideal candidate for the MEAL Coordinator position, so I called and asked if he would be interested in that role instead.”
Alex happily accepted and now oversees the MEAL officers in his role. Nathanaël, now Alex’s supervisor, described him as organized, goal-oriented, and strategic.
“[Alex] works with several programs at the same time, is very disciplined, and is always a good communicator to the MEAL officers,” added Nathanaël.
“If I hadn’t been in the HELP program, I probably wouldn’t have met my most valuable friends and business partners. Also, I think that my studies and career would have evolved at a slower pace,” said Alex. “Conor Bohan [HELP’s Founder] believes in the Haitian youth and that higher education and leadership can contribute to more social equity in Haiti. He created HELP to invest in promising young Haitians from low-income families.”
Through his work on the Hope for Haiti team, Alex is supporting the next generation of Haitian students through education, as well as other families in need in southern Haiti. Hope for Haiti’s core program areas–Education; Healthcare; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH); and Economic Development–focus on sustainable development to build communities that will thrive for years to come.
Hope for Haiti and HELP have been collaborating to provide educational and vocational opportunities to students in Haiti since 2017. Learn more and help spread the word about HELP here, and about Hope for Haiti here.
About Hope for Haiti
With experience running poverty alleviation programs in Haiti since 1989, Hope for Haiti has emerged as one of the most trusted non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly women and children. Through an integrated program model focused on long-term solutions and a community-driven approach, Hope for Haiti is dedicated to addressing the root causes of poverty and works to empower individuals and communities in southern Haiti. Hope for Haiti is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator and is a participant at the Platinum Level through the GuideStar Exchange, two leading independent evaluators recognizing the organization’s transparency and careful stewardship of donor resources. Hope for Haiti was a winner of the 2021 Classy Awards in the Social Innovation category, and was named a Top 50 Finalist in 2022 and 2023. Join us in our mission: www.hopeforhaiti.com
About HELP
HELP is Haiti’s largest scholarship & leadership program, providing university scholarships, leadership training, and job readiness skills to high-achieving, low-income students. Founded in 1996, HELP has 187 students currently enrolled in Haitian universities and over 300 graduates.