Our program in Brazil for Haitian Refugees is where our scholarship program in Haiti originated. When families are separated and saving money for travel documents and flights, every little bit counts. We award scholarships to take the financial burden off of the parents so that they can use their money to reunite their family sooner. In order to receive a scholarship, families apply through the local church, and the board of directors reviews those applications and awards the scholarships. In partnership with them, we award 2-3 annual scholarships each month.

In Haiti, school is a lot different than in other countries. 90% of children in Haiti attend schools that are church-run or international private schools, meaning they are not state funded. These schools are funded through tuition and fees. Typically, the students pay their teachers directly by the hour. Unfortunately, many students do not have enough money to pay their teachers. The teachers have amazing hearts and choose to teach students even when they can’t pay. However, this is problematic because the teachers need to provide for their families and the school can’t function without the funds it needs. That’s why we partner with the schools to pay the teachers and the school fees so that the students don’t have to. On average, it costs $100 per student to cover education costs for one year. Although that does not sound like much from our perspective in the United States, most Haitians live on less than $1 per day.

The Lily & The Sparrow has a team of six volunteers led by Suarel Thelamond, our Education Director and the principal of the high school. They work together to make sure the funds get where they need to go. The Lily & The Sparrow does not give cash benefits directly to the students or their families. Instead, we pay the schools directly to cover the students’ fees and tuition. This gives the school the funding it needs to function with excellence while making sure our sponsored children have continuous access to the education they need to break the cycle of poverty.

Our students are smart, innovative, and hard-working. It is an honor for us to be part of their lives! Thank you for partnering with us to give them a better future.