The quality of education for university students in the community of Jérémie is improving thanks to Thrive Ansanm. By setting up a research center, Thrive Ansanm has changed the game, transforming students into truly knowledgeable individuals. It is important to point out that for some years Jérémie has seen a small rise in graduates yet few truly educated individuals.

There are many causes of this vile and sad reality. First, the environmental factors, such as the deficit of electricity and the lack of cybercafes. Then the economic factors, namely, the inability of a Jérémie student to buy a smartphone, a computer, or activate a data plan on a daily basis because prices are constantly fluctuating. And finally from a knowledge standpoint, for example, a low level of computer skills means that some students cannot even type a document. These three factors were sufficient to generate a vicious cycle that discouraged the majority of students in the community in their quest for scientific knowledge and simultaneously made them prisoners of an archaic system that has left us with limited academic resources. This had to stop!

“Beyond all expectations, Thrive Ansanm achieved the unprecedented and simultaneously gave us a breath of hope.”

Beyond all expectations, Thrive Ansanm achieved the unprecedented and simultaneously gave us a breath of hope. We now have access to a pleasant space, operating eight hours a day, where we enjoy a courteous, respectful welcome. This space also inspires us to work hard, and the famous quote “change begins with the person in the mirror” that is posted on the wall has already awakened a winning spirit in many of us.

On the one hand, this research center (a room filled with computers connected to consistent electricity along with complimentary internet access) is an environment created for us to develop our ambitions and our intellectual pursuits because it provides us with adequate tools that give us a better chance of attaining them. In the same way, we acknowledge that this research center offers us the possibility of becoming better in our field of study. We devote ourselves to self-learning to fill in our gaps and avoid becoming obsolete in our skills. In addition, many of us are taking online language, computer science, or economics courses. We type our homework there, read documents, and analyze them.

On the other hand, access to electricity also allows us to charge our computers and smartphones. As a result, when we arrive at our home, we can continue our research and go on reading our documents or use our phones as a lamp to study when we have no electricity.

“Access to electricity also allows us to charge our computers and smartphones. As a result, when we arrive at our home, we can continue our research and go on reading our documents or use our phones as a lamp to study when we have no electricity.”

It is important to draw your attention to the fact that Thrive Ansanm does not only facilitate better access to knowledge for us, but it also allows us to build an effective intellectual network, which provides us with an excellent tool for personal and social liberation.

To summarize, with this research center established by Thrive Ansanm, Jérémienne youth are nudged toward intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and open-mindedness … in short, towards the intellect. Obviously, many of us frequent libraries, indeed we are thirsty for knowledge and love critical thinking. So without a doubt, we are reading and carrying out our research to better understand, to learn effectively so that we can be productive and act for the well-being of our community. In these words, we find a breath of hope. Yes, yes, in a few years Jérémie will inevitably become a bastion of knowledge! Ann fleri ansanm! (Let us thrive together!)

This post was translated from French. Click here to view the original version.