Interview with Horticulture Trainee Ronel LeFranc
Ronel LeFranc felt fortunate to attend elementary school– an opportunity not available to many children in rural Haiti. He inherited the value his family put on education, and not only saw it as the key to success, but as a way to give back to his community.
Ronel LeFranc Overcoming adversity was a common thread in Ronel’s life– from losing his father at age ten (and much of the family’s financial support) , to a four hour bus ride to attend high school. Lack of basic necessities, like food, did not deter Ronel from working hard, obtaining scholarships, and ultimately attending Haiti’s top university with the assistance of the Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP). Then, on January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake rocked Haiti. Ronel lost many friends. Homes and buildings across the country were reduced to rubble, including the university Ronel LeFranc attended. Rising from the crisis, Ronel eventually saw the opportunity to “put our hands together to provide another direction and a better future to the country.” Ronel volunteered to work with U.S. President Bill Clinton’s special envoy program “Voice of the Voiceless.” He traveled to evacuation camps and interviewed underprivileged Haitians on their grievances and perspectives for reconstruction of the country. The program efforts helped financial relief efforts, especially towards a social class that is often overlooked in discussions related to improving the country. Ronel’s stellar academic achievements and volunteer efforts caught the attention of Project HELP once again, and he was offered an opportunity to attend Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, USA. Volunteering at Dartmouth’s organic farm, Ronel was exposed to modern techniques of organic farming. With the assistance of Dartmouth College and Project Help, Ronel applied and was awarded a scholarship by the Communicating for Agriculture Education and Scholarship Foundation for his outstanding achievement and goals. He is currently placed on a CAEP horticulture internship at Cedar Circle Farm near Dartmouth. You can watch a video of Ronel’s experience at Cedar Circle farm by clicking HERE, or go to www.caep.org/videos?&videogalleryid=4“My biggest dream is to have my own organization working on solving agricultural and environmental issues in Haiti,” said Ronel. “I would like to get as much knowledge as possible in these fields...work hard, and be an example for my little brothers and children from low income families to encourage them to take their education seriously because it is the key to success.”
