On the for-profit side, we sell HAITI UP merchandise for profit to create Haitian economic independence. On the non-profit side we accept tax deductable donations to be invested in buidling Haiti UP! International Brand Stores. For a 501 (c) (3) tax deductable contribution you may DONATE HERE through Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, our non-profit fiscal agent. See a copy of their IRS 501 (c) (3) status We also have an international fiscal agent if you desire to make a donation from outside of the United States and Canada. Write us at [email protected] for that detailed information. Whilst many typical American high school boys are leveraging their after school hours to work for money to buy their first car…two very unique Haitian boys have written a book to raise money for funding a business to save a country. That country is Haiti—and they just want to go home. Although 17 and 18 year old Minguito Deshommes and Djunio ValCourt do not yet have a high school diploma, and while English is their third language; they have written, photographed, and published a four-color hard bound 40-page book entitled Haiti UP! Seizing the Haitian Dream, with a goal to fund the start-up costs of the first Haiti UP! International Brand Stores to be located in the Dominican Republic. Project and its directive to "Seize the Haitian Dream," begins with this true story of two Haitian young leaders named Minguito and Junior. The two best friends have lived and worked in The Dominican Republic together since they were 7 and 8 years old; and like so many other Haitians, are in economic exile from their homeland. Imagine being a young boy from a country with no opportunity for work to help support your family—child labor being a necessary part of cultural life in a third world country. Like many Haitians, they left Haiti with family for different areas of the world—looking a better living and to chase the dream of owning a home and raising a family. Since achieving simple survival is the overriding preoccupation in Haiti, Haitians with bigger dreams must leave their homeland to have any hope of seeing their dreams beyond basic survival come true. Once in the Dominican Republic, these two best friends became shoeshine boys near the beach in the Dominican Republic to contribute support to their families. Happy to be eking out a living, they worked with big, beautiful, bold smiles on their faces. One day a while getting his shoes shined a very special traveler was inspired to give them the biggest tip of their lives--seven months of English lessons. And so they learned English. But they didn't stop there. In the last decade armed with their English skills, they have learned to be self-sufficient entrepreneurs. Able to speak and read English, they captured the heart of Author Deborah S. Nelson, (a writer who splits her time between the D.R. and Santa Barbara, CA) and convinced her to help them. She gifted them her "Dreams to Reality" Course through which they uncovered a bold new vision for their lives; and with Ms. Nelson at their sides, they published their first dream plan book, Haiti UP!, Seizing the Haitian Dream. (http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1903761)
Now 17 and 18 years old, they are small in stature with big, bold hearts and even a bigger dream. Their book is the story of a dream for Haiti. Their giant dream will touch your heart and make you cry. Amongst the first of Haitian Social Entrepreneurs, these young leaders realize it could take decades for their dream manifest. However, with this published book, they are undaunted as launch their dream and take the first few steps of that journey!
Mission: Based on the model of "teaching a man to fish," rather than giving him the "one fish," Haiti UP !is a Social Enterprise comitted to helping Haitians all over the world to become self sufficient entreprenuers.
1. Recruiting and Training Haitian Social Entrepreneurs to start Haiti UP! Stores;
2. Building Haitian infrastructure to stimulate Haitian Tourism;
3. Returning financially independent Haitians to their Homeland.
HaitiUP! accomplishes these goals by reaching out through the following venues:
Haiti UP!International Brand Stores
Haiti UP! School of Entrepreneurialism
HaitiUP! Clean UP & Green UP & Tourist UP
Six Star HaitiUP! Resort, Restaurant and Spa
HaitiUP! Music & Arts Exhibitions & Events
