Every year the 5- and 6-year-olds who are completing their third year of kindergarten at Grace Emmanuel School host a beautiful celebration to mark their passage into first grade.

Jheff, a 2019 JiHM scholarship recipient, began at Grace Emmanuel School as a 9th grader in 2014. His dad, Dieumaître, started teaching at GES the same year, first in 4th grade, then moving to 5th grade and finally 6th grade until he became too sick to continue teaching in 2018.

As gangs continue to expand their territory around the capital of Haiti, the students at Grace Emmanuel School are choosing instead to take part in a battle of the minds.

Ferlandy excelled in high school at GES, where he was valedictorian of his graduating class. He was chosen as a scholarship recipient from Grace Emmanuel School’s Class of 2019.