I first met Kiki on paper. I was looking through Thrive Ansanm scholarship applications to learn a little more about our students…I wanted to know more about their lives, their interests, and their dreams. I was instantly intrigued by Kiki’s application because she was the first student I came across who is pursuing an education in a creative field.

I recently had the joy of sitting down with Kiki to get an update on her life and find out how school is going for her. She is a delightful young lady with a bright and friendly smile who is finishing up her first year in a program for clothing design and fabrication. She is learning the whole process of creating clothing from initial design through sewing and construction of a garment. It is a difficult and fast-paced program of which many students have dropped out within the first few months, but not Kiki.

Kiki is determined to make her dreams come true and this means adapting to the demands of her program and working hard to succeed. While she has the sewing skills necessary to physically create her projects, designing the garment is her favorite part of the process. She has one more year to complete her education and her hope is to have continued opportunities to study, learn and improve her craft.

I asked Kiki if I could see some of her designs. She responded with a large smile and a twinkle in her eyes as she pulled out her heavily used notebook. As I flipped through her notebook full of sketches, it was clear to me that I was witnessing the magic that creativity has in the life of a young person. It is so encouraging to meet this young woman who has a dream and the courage to pursue that dream regardless of the many challenges and obstacles placed before her.

Thrive Ansanm exists to help youth gain access to the education and resources they deserve. But it is not just about making sure students get a basic education. It is also about encouraging their creative spirit and giving them the opportunity to thrive.

When I asked Kiki what she likes best about going to school, she simply replied, “Going to school for fashion and design has been a dream of mine since I was a girl, and my dream is becoming a reality!”

As a supporter of Thrive Ansanm, you are partnering with young people in Haiti to help their dreams become a reality—what an incredible blessing it is to see this firsthand.