He who has information has power. Keep that in mind. How much information do people in our community have? There is a need for all Haitian Community Leaders to get together for a conference on education (in general) in their local community. Save your $$ (money), and start investing as much as possible (when you are young). Please, teach your children to do that (even before they turn eighteen). In what can I invest? That’s an important question to think of, and to debate it with others who may have some experience in the field or in business. Your time is also precious; don’t waste it. Use it well in your advantage (to work, study, and help your community by volunteering some of that time).

Moun ki gen enfòmasyon gen pouvwa. Pa bliye sa. Ki valè enfòmasyon moun nan kominote nou genyen? Gen yon bezwen pou tout Lidè Kominotè Ayisyen ta ini yo pou yon konferans sou edikasyon (an jeneral) nan kominote lokal kote yo ta ye. Ekonomize $$ (lajan w), epi kòmanse envesti otan sa posib (pandan ou jèn). Souple, anseye pitit ou fè sa (menm si yo poko gen dizuit an). Nan kisa m ka envesti? Se yon kesyon enpòtan pou n panse, e pou debat li avèk lòt moun (ki ta ka gen kèk esperyans nan domèn lan ou nan biznis). Tan ou presye tou; pa gaspiye l. Itilize l byen nan avantay ou (travay, etidye, epi ede kominote ou kote w ka volontè pou bay kèk è d tan nan tan w).

Many of us may have been observing the Haitian Communities (in diaspora) for many years, and there has never been any real talk on investment, teaching people how to invest, in what to invest, and how to prepare for their retirement. By lack of information, most of them remain poor (even when some went far in school). But with good information, you can liberate yourself (economically, spiritually and intellectually) by thinking better. So, you don’t have to work so hard till you reach 65 or beyond. By the time you reach the retiring age (if you are luckly), you may not even have time to enjoy your little retirement paycheck because you’ve been living with stress all your life, and you never learn how to manage it.

Anpil nan nou ka ap obsève Kominote Ayisyen yo (nan dyaspora) pandan plizyè ane, e poko janm gen vrè pale (ki fèt) sou envestisman, anseye moun kijan pou envesti, e kijan pou prepare pou retrèt yo. Pa mank d enfòmasyon, pifò moun ret pòv (menm sa ki ta rive lwen lekòl). Men avèk bon enfòmasyon, ou kapab libere tèt ou (ekonomikman, espirityèlman, e entelektyèlman) pou panse pi byen. Donk, ou pa bezwen travay trè di jiska laj 65 an ou plis. Lè w rive nan laj retrèt la (si w gen chans), ou ka pa menm gen tan jwi ti chèk retrèt ou paske w ap viv tout tan ak estrès, epi w pa janm aprann kijan pou jere l.

If you are lucky to reach 65 and are in good health (nowadays), that’s a blessing. Being healthy is more important than being rich (and have a poor health). We mention that number a few times because most of us may not be in good health at this age in order to enjoy the fruits of our works (e.g., some may be diabetic, have high blood pressure, start showing some signs of Parkinson, or Alzheimer disease, have arthritis, etc.). You may don’t have a house or an apartment anywhere in a warm climate because you didn’t plan that in advance (not because it would cost you a lot of money), and most of you won’t go back to Haiti (to live), because it would be risky (for instance if you go there and suddenly get sick, if you have an emergency and don’t get the proper care on time you can guess what will happen to you, and insecurity may knock at your door at any moment).

Si ou gen chans rive viv 65 an, epi w an sante (sèjousi), se yon benediksyon. Si yon moun an sante, se sa ki pi enpòtan ke si l ta rich (epi pou sante l ta pòv). Nou mansyone nimewo sa a plizyè fwa paske anpil nan nou kapab pa an bòn sante nan laj sa a pou n ta jwi fri travay nou (e.g, sa ki ka dyabetik, ki ka fè tansyon, ki ka kòmanse montre siy maladi Parkinson, ou Alzheimer (azaymè), sa ki gen atratis ou doulè nan zo, elt.). Petèt ou pa gen yon kay, yon apatman oken kote nan yon andwa kote klima a cho paske ou pa t planifye sa davans (pa paske sa t ap koute w anpil lajan), epi pifò nan nou pa pral retounen (viv) Ayiti paske se ta yon risk (pa egzanp si w al la, epi toudenkou ou gen yon ijans, epi w pa jwenn swen apopriye alè, ou ka devine sa k ap pase w, e ensekirite ka frape nan pòt ou a nenpòt moman).

(Most) Haitians in the U.S only work hard to pay bills, and send money to Haiti to help their relatives (giving them no advice how to help themselves to become economically independent). Many never enjoy going away for vacations with their family, or have never been on a boat cruise for a week (where they wouldn’t even pay too much if they book few months in advance). It’s time to open your eyes! Learn how to take care of yourself and your family! If you start investing very early, by the time you reach 40, 50, 60, not only you will be well-off (have enough money, have your own business, and be a professional at the same time), you will also live with almost no stress. Don’t forget to go back to the community (to help others who may be behind). Don’t be selfish (with good information you may have). Share your blessings with others when you are blessed.

(Pifò) Ayisyen k ap viv Etazini travay di sèlman pou peye bil (fakti), epi voye lajan pou ede fanmi yo Ayiti (yo pa ba yo oken konsèy kijan pou yo ede tèt yo pou vin endepandan ekonomikman). Anpil nan yo pa janm pran plezi vwayaje al an vakans ak fanmi yo, oubyen yo pa janm al nan kwouz bato pou yon semèn (kote yo pa t ap menm peye anpil si yo fè rezèvasyon kèk mwa davans). Li lè pou ouvri je ou! Aprann pran swen tèt ou ak fanmi ou! Si ou kòmanse envesti byen bonè, lè ou rive nan 40, 50, 60, non sèlman w ap alèz (gen ase lajan, gen pwòp biznis ou, men tou w ap yon pwofesyonèl an menm tan), ou pral viv tou ak prèske zewo estrès. Pa bliye retounen nan kominote a (pou al ede sa yo ki ka dèyè). Pa fè egoyis (ak bon enfòmasyon ou ka genyen). Pataje benediksyon ou yo ak lòt moun lè ou beni.

All young people in their early twenties would love to have a nice sport car. Yeah! Nothing wrong with what you’d like to have (if you work hard for it). But think beyond that: buying an expensive car is no investment, and you don’t have any economic freedom when you are young and you must work to pay a bank monthly for your loans. Of course, you can have a car when you are young (if you need to go places, to go to work, to help your parents who may not be able to drive, and if you are planning to live on campus while in college). So, it will enable you to move around quickly; in this sense, a good used car would be good to have, and save money at the same time.

Tout jèn moun nan kòmansman ventèn yo ta renmen gen yon bèl espòt kar. Se sa l ye! Pa gen anyen mal nan sa ak sa w ta renmen posede (si w travay pou sa). Men panse o dela de sa: achte yon machin chè pa yon envestisman, epi w pa gen oken libète ekonomik lè ou jèn, epi ou dwe travay pou peye yon bank chak mwa pou lajan li prete w. Sètènman, ou kapab gen yon machin lè ou jèn (si gen kote w bezwen ale, si w pral travay, si w ap ede paran ou ki ka pa kapab kondi, epi si w gen entansyon viv nan yon kanmpous inivèsitè). Donk sa pral ede w deplase byen rapid; nan sans sa a, yon bon machin dezyèm men ta bon pou genyen, e pou ekonomize lajan an menm tan.

If you are planning to go to college, you must start thinking about saving money (from high school where some of you have a par-time job). At this age, you don’t have to pay rent because you are living with your parents or with relatives. It’s the best time to start saving and investing your money. You may wonder in what to invest (e.g., in money market, buying shares, investing in real estate: buying an apartment, buying a house [rent it by rooms with people your age who are responsible], get information from your school on investment, take a course on investment, get in touch with business people, attend some seminars on investment, or go to some investment firms to get informed. You won’t regret it later (when reaching 40, 50, 60 to have your economic freedom where you won’t have to work for somebody, but instead have somebody work for you /for your company).

Si w gen entansyon ale nan kolèj, ou dwe kòmanse panse ekonomize lajan (depi pandan w nan lekòl segondè, kote kèk nan nou kapab travay a mi tan). A laj sa a, ou pa gen pou peye lwaye paske w ap viv ak paran w oubyen kay fanmi w. Se meyè lè pou ekonomize, epi envesti lajan w. Ou ka mande nan kisa pou envesti (e.g., nan labous, nan achte dividand, nan byen imobilye: achte apatman, achte yon kay [lwe l pa chanm ak moun ki laj ou, ki responsab], pran enfòmasyon nan lekòl sou envestisman, pran yon kou sou envestisman, pran kontak ak moun ki nan biznis, al nan seminè sou envestisman, oubyen al nan kèk mezon komès envestisman pou enfòme w. Ou p ap regrèt pita (lè ou rive nan 40, 50, 60 an pou gen libète ekonomik ou, kote w p ap gen pou travay pou yon moun, men gen yon moun k ap tavay pou ou /pou konpayi ou).

Students who are resident of the United Sates don’t have to bother taking any loan to pay for college /university (unless if they are in real need to complete some graduate studies where they may not have any financial aid on time). Some may do that because of lack of information. For students who graduate from High School with high GPA (grade point average), who may play some sports, and who are active in school activities (where showing leadership), that can be helpful to get in some good universities on scholarships. On the other hand, if they graduate from their local high school with a “C”, average (a low one) and are good in some sports, they can still get to a (local) public college /university or a local community college (and work harder to booster their GPA). 1) When working for their local college /university, the student is entitled to at least “two free courses”. So, when living on campus, a student can think of getting a job there. 2) Depending on how much s/he is making (if working off campus), s/he can be a full-time student (taking at least 12 credits a semester, and if his/her parents don’t claim them in their income tax (and if they are 18 or older), they can be qualified for financial aid. 3)  In their 3rd college year, they can use their financial aid to study abroad, pursuing studies related to their field (for a semester, a summer program, or even a full year if they’ve saved enough money (when working) or plan that a head of time.

Etidyan ki rezidan Etazini pa bezwen fatige kò yo prete oken kòb labank pou peye kolèj /inivèsite (amwenke yo ta nan bezwen ijan pou konplete graduate studies (etid nivo metriz, doktora) kote yo pa ta jwenn oken èd finansyè). Kèk ka fè sa pa mank d enfòmasyon. Pou etidyan ki diplome high school ak wot mwayèn, ki ka jwe kèk espò, e ki aktif nan aktivite lekòl (kote yo montre lidèchip) sa ka ede yo antre nan kèk bon inivèsite ak bousdetid. Yon lòt pa, si yo diplome nan high school lokal yo ak yon mwayèn «C», (youn ki ba), e si yo bon nan jwe kèk espò, yo ka toujou antre nan yon kolèj /inivèsite piblik (lokal), epi travay pi di pou monte mwayèn yo). 1) Lè etidyan an ap travay pou inivèsite lokal li, etidyan sa a gen dwa a  «de kou gratis». Donk, lè yon etidyan an ap viv nan kanmpous, li ka panse jwenn yon travay la. 2) Depan de konbyen kòb l ap fè (si l ap travay andeyò kanmpous la), li kapab etidyan an plen tan (kote l pran omwen 12 kredi pa semès, e si paran l pa deklare l nan taks (enpo) yo ranpli (e si l gen 18 an ou pi plis), li kapab kalifye pou èd finansyè. 3)  Nan 3èm ane inivèsite, yo kapab itilize èd finansyè yo pou etidye aletranje, pou pousuiv etid ki an rapò ak chan d etid yo (pou yon semès, yon pwogram ete, ou menm yon ane konplè si yo ekonomize lajan (lè yo ap travay) oubyen planifye sa davans.

These (international) programs can be done through American Universities (Study Abroad Programs) where students will have the credits sent to that college /university (they are attending), and can transfer them easily (before they are 7 years old by the time of the transfer). Even at some expensive private universities, many graduate students can get financial aid (if they have good grades or are in good standing (by keeping up with a total GPA of “B+” or 85%) or show advanced research they’ve published in their field of study (when applying). When a student who resides in a state leaves that state to go to another to attend a public university, their tuition fee will be tripled until that student completes the “residency policy of the new state” (by living there for at least one year, having a driving license in that state, and paying taxes there if working). We would encourage all Haitian students to plan to do some studies abroad if possible (it’s such a great experience to study with no stress in a new environment, to meet or work with key professors /researchers in their field of study, to learn another language and culture, or to do internships through a foreign university to broaden their horizon).

Pwogram (entènasyonal) sa yo ka fèt atravè Inivèsite Amerikèn (Pwogam Etid Aletranje) kote y ap voye kredi etidyan sa a bay konpwoutè kolèj /inivèsite l (frekante a), epi yo kapab transfere yo fasilman (avan yo gen 7 ane lè transfè a fèt). Menm nan kèk inivèsite prive ki chè, anpil etidyan dezyèm/twazyèm sik (nivo metriz, doktora) kapab jwenn èd finansyè (osilontan yo gen bon nòt oubyen yo kenbe nòt yo anfòm (mentni yon mwayèn total «B+» ou 85%), oubyen montre rechèch avanse yo pibliye nan chan d etid yo (lè yo fè aplikasyon). Lè yon etidyan rezide nan yon eta, epi l kite eta sa a pou ale nan yon inivèsite piblik nan yon lòt eta, yo tripe frè d etid l ap peye a jiskaske etidyan sa a konplete «polisi rezidans nouvo eta a» (fò l abite la omwen pandan yon ane, gen yon lisans pou kondi nan eta sa a, epi peye taks (enpo) ladan si l ap travay. Nou ta ankouraje tout etidyan ayisyen pou planifye fè kèk etid aletranje si l posib (se yon bèl esperyans pou etidye san estrès nan yon nouvo anviwonnman, pou rankontre e travay ak pwofesè /chèrchè kle nan chan d etid yo, aprann yon lòt lang ak kilti, oubyen fè estaj atravè yon inivèsite etranje dekwa pou elaji orizon yo).

Many colleges /universities in the US have DSPs (Developmental Study Programs) for incoming minority students (who may have graduated from high school with low GPAs). These programs, in a way, may orient them during their (six week) summer program, before starting their first academic college year, and have a chance to meet with some good academic advisors. But as community leaders, we must organize talks and seminars in our community to educate parents and children, by providing them with key information needed. Their children will be more prepared for college (beforehand), knowing the right courses and programs to focus on while in high school (to prepare them for their future professional studies, and careers). (Most) students who graduate from some good high schools, prep schools, and academies (where they have taken pre-college courses) can get scholarships (since they are well-prepared academically) to attend some of the best (private) American Universities, which are expensive.

Anpil kolèj /inivèsite Etazini gen pwogramDSP (Pwogam Devlopman d Etid) pou etidyan minoritè k ap kòmanse (ki kapab diplome high school ou lekòl segondè avèk mwayèn ki ba). Pwogram sa yo, yon fason, kapab oryante yo pandan (sis semèn) pwogram ete a, avan yo kòmanse premye ane akademik inivèsitè, epi gen chans rankontre ak kèk konseye akademik. Men kòm lidè kominotè, nou dwe òganize senpozyòm ak seminè nan kominote nou pou pale, edike paran ak timoun, pou founi yo enfòmasyon kle yo bezwen. Timoun yo pral vin pi prepare (davans) pou inivèsite y ap konnen vrè kou ak pwogram pou yo suiv bonè nan lekòl segondè (pou prepare yo pou fiti etid pwofesyonèl, e karyè yo). (Pifò) etidyan ki diplome nan kèk bon high schools, prep schools, ak akademi (kote yo pran deja kou ki prepare yo pou antre nan inivèsite) kapab jwenn bousdetid (lefèt ke yo deja byen prepare akademikman) pou al nan kèk meyè inivèsite ameriken (prive), ki koute chè.

Depending on how a student feels (in term of academic preparation after graduating from high school), that student may attend a two-year college or community college (where things may not go too fast, academically speaking; that can be an opportunity to work with a private tutor for at least a full year or with some classmates to catch key subjects (such as math, and science courses) that the student may have not done or completed or didn’t know while in high school). After completing the Associate Degree (requirements), the student may work for a while or can transfer to a regular college or university to complete a Bachelor’s Degree (in two additional years), or attend graduate school (for advanced studies in a chosen field) afterward.

Depan kijan yon etidyan santi l (an tèm preparasyon akademik apre l fin diplome nan high school), etidyan sa a kapab al yon kolèj de ane oubyen community college (kote bagay yo pa ta ale twò vit, akademikman palan; sa ka yon opòtinite pou travay an prive ak yon titè (oubyen moun k ap bay leson) omwen pandan yon ane konplè oubyen ak kèk kanmarad de klas pou ratrape kèk kou matematik kle etidyan an pa t gen tan konplete pandan l te nan high school). Apre l fin konplete Associate Degree a, etidyan an ka travay pandan yon sèten tan oubyen ka transfere nan yon kolèj ou inivèsite regilye pou konplete yon Bachelor’s Degree (nan de ane adisyonèl), oubyen ale nan graduate school (pou etid avanse nan yon domèn patikilye) aprè.

Lack of information can make people in our community suffer a lot. Some of us may remember the headache we had upon my arrival in the United States where we might not have anyone to give us some basic information needed or shortcuts to take to make the transition (since we don’t have a good network of knowledgeable people to orient newcomers). There is also the problem of selfishness within our community where some people would try to make a “monopoly” with some information they have (they wouldn’t share it with others, fearing of empowering them).  He who has information has power but that power can be used (in good ways also) to help oneself, our neighbor, others and one’s community. So, let teach leaders in our community to learn to share information, or go back to the community to help (those who are in need).

Mank d enfòmasyon ka fè moun nan kominote nou an soufri anpil. Kèk nan nou ka sonje tètfèmal nou te ka genyen lè n fè fèk rive Etazini, kote n te ka pa t gen pèsòn pou ban nou enfòmasyon de baz nou ta bezwen oubyen chemen kout pou n ta pase pou fè tranzisyon an (lefèt ke nou pa gen yon rezo moun ki konnen pou ta oryante moun ki fèk vini). Pwoblèm egoyis la egziste tou nan kominote nou, kote kèk moun ta eseye fè yon «monopòl» ak kèk enfòmasyon yo ta genyen (yo pa ta pataje yo ak lòt moun, pa krentif pou yo ta ba yo pouvwa).  Moun ki gen enfòmasyon gen pouvwa men pouvwa sa a kapab itilize (nan bon fason tou) pou ede tèt ou, vwazen ou, lòt moun, epi kominote ou. Donk, ann anseye lidè nan kominote nou pou aprann pataje enfòmasyon, oubyen, retounen nan kominote a pou al ede (sa yo ki nan bezwen).

To conclude, it would be important for us to make a list or a directory of Haitian educators, Haitian leaders, and Haitian centers (in our local community): knowing who is who, who can help with what (where), who are flexible to work (freely) as mentors to guide Haitian students and parents, and publish the information online so that anyone can access it. The more we organize ourselves, the more vibrant community we will have, and we can be a positive model for other communities also.

Pou konkli, li ta enpòtan pou n fè yon lis oubyen yon ànyè edikatè ayisyen, lidè ayisyen, ak sant ayisyen (nan kominote lokal nou, e nan gran dyaspora ayisyen an): konnen kilès ki kilès, kilès ki ka ede ak kisa (kibò), kilès ki fleksib pou travay (gratis) kòm gid pou gide etidyan ayisyen ak paran yo, e pibliye enfòmasyon an sou entènèt la dekwa pou nenpòt moun gen aksè avè l. Plis nou òganize nou, se plis nou va gen yon kominote vibran, epi nou kapab yon modèl pozitif pou lòt kominote tou.

For young people who (may) just arrive from Haiti, keep in mind that education is your future, and the key to success. So, try your very best to be friend with people who can guide and encourage you to go to school. As resident of the United States, you have a great opportunity to attend some of the best universities of the country. It’s just a matter of information that you need to put you on the right track (e.g., who to talk to, and where to get important information to guide you).

Pou jèn moun ki (ta) apèn rive sot Ayiti, sonje edikasyon se fiti ou, e se li ki kle siksè. Donk, eseye tout posib ou pou fè zanmi ak moun ki kapab gide w, e k ap ankouraje w al lekòl. Kòm rezidan Etazini, ou gen yon opòtinite bab e moustach pou al nan kèk meyè inivèsite amerikèn nan peyi a. Se jis yon kesyon enfòmasyon ou bezwen pou mete w nan bon chemen (e.g., ak kilès pou pale, e ki kote pou jwenn enfòmasyon enpòtan pou gide w).

Before leaving Haiti (if you are coming to the US as a legal resident), make sure you have copies of your (university) transcript, report cards (of secondary schools attended) so that you can have them translated to English on time. Have at least 3 (functional) email accounts (for your contacts and to stock research documents), and keep your passwords in a safe place. Depending on your age (if you are over 20, and already have your Secondary School Diploma from Haiti, all you need will be to have it translated to English in order to be used as one of the dossiers you’ll need when applying to college /university). If you want to test your ability, you may try to take the G.E.D Exam (to have the equivalency of US High School Diploma).

Avan ou kite Ayiti (si w ap vin Etazini kòm rezidan legal), asire ke w gen kopi relve de nòt (inivèsite w te ye), kanè lekòl segonè ou te pase, pou kapab tradui yo an anglè alè. Gen omwen 3 kont imel (fonksyonèl) pou kontak ou yo, e pou estoke dokiman rechèch, epi kite modpas yon nan andwa asire. Depan de laj ou (si ou ta gen plis ke 20 ane, epi w ta gen diplòm Etid Segondè w sot Ayiti, tout sa ou ta bezwen se ta genyen yo tradui an anglè dekwa pou itilize yo kòm dosye ou pral bezwen lè w ap aplike tou kolèj /inivèsite. Si ou ta renmen teste abilite w, ou ka panse pran «Egzamen G.E.D» (pou gen ekivalans high school diploma (diplòm fen d etid segondè Etazini.

That exam is also offered in languages like French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc. Since most students from Haiti can’t speak English (or don’t master it) even if they had it for several years in secondary school (but it’s more theory than practice), so your first duty upon arriving in the US would be to find a good and cheap English Program for non-native speaker to master the English language (as quickly as possible) in order to make the transition at college /university level. We would recommend students to do that at a local community college, or at some good language institute (to start preparing them for core courses like: College English I, II, III) to enable to write research papers later (for their academic coursework). While in Haiti, it would be a good idea (while in secondary school) to go to a good English Language Institute to learn English (with qualified and certified teachers) since there is no real foreign language teaching methodology of teaching in the secondary school there, and most teachers are not qualified either in their teaching area (since they are not certified or have a university degree to teach in secondary schools in Haiti).

Yo ofri egzamen sa a nan lòt lang tankou fransè, espayòl, pòtigè, elt. Lefèt ke laplipa etidyan ki sot Ayiti pa ka pale anglè (oubyen pa metrize l) menm si yo ta etidye l pandan plizyè ane nan lekòl segondè  (men se plis teyori ke pratik), donk premye devwa ou lè w apèn rive Etazini se ta jwenn yon bon Pwogram Anglè pou moun ki pa pale l kòm lang matènèl, e youn ki pa chè pou metrize lang anglè a (rapid posib) pou ka fè tranzisyon an (nan nivo inivèsitè). Nou ta rekòmande etidyan yo fè sa nan yon community college lokal oubyen nan kèk bon enstiti lang (pou kòmanse prepare yo pou kou tankou obligatwa kouwè: College English I, II, III) k ap ede yo ekri papye rechèch pita (pou pwogram akademik y ap gen pou pran). Pandan elèv sa yo Ayiti, li ta yon bèl ide (pandan yo nan lekòl segondè) pou ta ale nan yon bon Enstiti Lang Anglè pou aprann anglè (ak enstriktè konpetan, e ki sètifye tou) lefèt ke pa gen vrè metodoloji (ou metòd d anseyman) pou anseye lang etranje nan lekòl segondè la, e laplipa anseyan pa kalifye nonplis nan matyè y ap anseye a (lè n konnen ke yo pa sètifye oubyen gen yon diplòm inivèsitè pou anseye o nivo segondè).