The ongoing economic crisis in Haiti has only worsened in the last few years, as insecurity has increased due to a violent socio-political crisis. The violence is mostly centered in the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, but this negatively affects the entire country’s economy. This crisis has forced countless children and young adults to drop out of school. Every day, families approach asking us to help them or their children, friends, or family members with their education. Sadly, we must turn most of them away because the need is so great, and our means are limited.

This raises an important question: how do we decide which students to support?

At Thrive Ansanm, we select students based on three primary criteria: need, merit, and motivation.

• Need: While nearly every student here faces hardship, we prioritize those with the greatest financial need.
• Merit: For younger students, we look at grades. For university students, we review official national exam scores, entrance exams, and other academic records. We also value involvement in extracurricular activities—whether sports, debate club, volunteering, or language study.
• Motivation: Talent matters, but determination matters more. We seek students who are driven to succeed and committed to their goals.

To ensure fairness, we partner with schools, universities, community leaders, and Haiti’s Ministry of Education. Every candidate must complete an application. We conduct personal interviews, and we also visit families in their homes to better understand their circumstances. Crucially, all final decisions are made collectively by our team—never by just one person.

We visit the homes of all candidates and their families

Our goal goes beyond simply funding education. We want to support students who will not only excel academically but also grow into responsible citizens, community leaders, and changemakers. Already, many of our students are among the top of their classes, and we are so proud of their achievements.

But the truth is, without access to the necessary education and resources, too many bright and capable young people in Haiti are left without hope. Their potential is wasted, and far too often, they drift into cycles of poverty—or worse, fall into the grip of one of Haiti’s many violent gangs.

When you support Thrive Ansanm, you are breaking that cycle. You are helping young people access the education and resources they need to succeed. And in doing so, you are not just changing one student’s life—you are strengthening families and impacting entire neighborhoods.