New Sundt employee-owner and Haiti native Georges Aspervil and is founder of the Haitian Foundation for Neglected Children, an organization that helps provide children with school needs such as tuition, books and uniforms starting at the primary level.
Georges’ firsthand experience of receiving an education in a poor country made him realize his life’s mission would be to help children receive the same opportunity. He recently answered a few questions about the life-changing effects his organization is having on young people in Haiti.
What inspired you to start the Haitian Foundation for Neglected Children?
I was born and raised in Jacmel, Haiti. I have experienced firsthand the privilege of receiving a full education in a poor country, and I knew my life’s mission would be to help children receive the same opportunity. After graduating from high school in Haiti, I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Upon completion of my two-year service, I was accepted to attend the English Language Program at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I graduated from Utah Valley University in 2010 and instantly my dream and desire to help the children of Haiti grew.
What are your organization’s long-term goals?
Haitian Foundation for Neglected Children will help fulfill the needs of the future generation of Haitians. Our long-term goal is to eventually build and run a primary school for children during the day and a technical school for youth at night. Haiti is desperately in need of technology and infrastructure. Its literacy rate is only 61 percent. This results in crimes and abuses of all kinds. Haitian Foundation for Neglected Children believes that education is the key to changing Haitian society.
How hard is it for kids to get a good education in Haiti?
The country’s education system was already struggling before the 7.4 earthquake hit in 2010. Less than 15 percent of Haitian children ages 6 to 11 are enrolled in public school. With the predominance of non-public schools, parents pay more than $300 a year each on average for tuition and other school expenses in a country where most people live on less than $2 a day. In addition, so many parents can only sporadically pay tuition that most of those enrolled in primary school are at least two years above the age appropriate for their grade. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, it has one of the worst education systems in the world. The current education system is doing so with virtually the absence of government involvement. More than 54 percent of school-aged children, averaging well over 1.5 million, do not have access to an education. Less than half the population of Haiti can read and write and Haiti has the lowest enrollment rate for primary education in the Western Hemisphere.
Where does your organization receive its support?
Currently our financial security relies upon donations from generous supporters, especially friends and family. No member of Haitian foundation for Neglected Children receives a salary. One hundred percent of funds go to the needs of educating the children of Haiti.
How would you describe the state of your homeland, especially after the earthquake?
More than 200,000 Haitians still live in tent camps, and many others are in homes that suffered major damages.
What kind of reactions do you get from kids who benefit from the foundation?
The kids are very grateful for this opportunity because it is a life-changing opportunity for them.