Vincent is an Everyday Hero

Jean-Wesley Vincent is from a town in western Haiti, Cornillon, where he grew up as the youngest child of two parents with two sisters. As he matured, his parents instilled in him values of respect, discipline, hard work, and service. His parents could afford to send him to school, up until university. Thankfully, an instructor at his school introduced him to the Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP), which provides scholarships for high-achieving high school students, and Vincent was accepted into the program. 

Over the course of his five years at university, the students and staff of HELP faced incredible challenges, including political instability and gang violence in the same neighborhood as their student center. These obstacles didn’t slow Vincent down as he worked towards his bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering. He shares, “Difficulties lead to creativity and resilience. If you develop these, you will be unstoppable.” Instead of allowing difficult circumstances to hold him back, Vincent is using them as fuel to create lasting change in Haiti.

While Vincent initially wanted to attend college and leave Haiti, his time in the HELP program changed his future. He says, “At HELP, I developed a love for Haiti.” Living in the HELP community deepened his values and talents, in addition to helping him gain knowledge and experiences. Vincent knows that the future of Haiti depends on the engagement of leaders committed to equity and empowerment.

We’re incredibly proud that Vincent graduated from university in the spring of 2025, and celebrated his graduation recently. Vincent brings his love of Haiti and commitment to his country to his job as an Engineer Officer at Coca-Cola. He believes that he was prepared by HELP’s leadership courses and professional training not just to be a good employee, but to help his co-workers, contribute to his greater community and create change in Haiti. 

Vincent exemplifies participatory hope - the kind of hope that shifts a hard moment into a chance for growth, and invites others to change their perspectives, too. 

Danette Miller shares, “As the Executive Director of the Haitian Timoun Foundation, I have the privilege of meeting many individuals who benefit from our partnerships. This fall, during a Virtual Visit, I had the opportunity to connect with John-Wesley Vincent, one of the HELP students sponsored by HTF. His story reminded me of why our organization began in 2001 and why it endures in 2025 - to create generational change that transforms lives. I hope his courage and commitment inspire you!”