VOA常速英语:美国大学生建立小组帮助海地

Haiti has plenty of challenges, which makes the island nation seem like a long reach for student public service project.But 22 years old Brandon Gosselin wants to rebrand Haiti.

“When we think of Haiti is destruction, we think of hoplessness. .We think of a lot of negative connotations.However, in the past year of research that we’ve done, I found it to be quite the opposite. Haiti is very much hopeful.”

With the help of a former dean of the business school at Freed-Hardeman University, Gosselin was able to start his own initiative called the GMV project.The initials G M V have no specific meaning but the project has defined goals, you first fund it out of pocket.

“We went to the country of Haiti in 2016 of July, went there to see how we can make an economic impact in a small village.I would be serving there and we came back a week later with a plan to help transform that little areas economy.”

Now Haitian businessmen in the US have also taken an interest in and are helping with fund raising.“The idea is having twenty to forty thousands Haitians bringing up to 2 billion-four billions and then have that match by non Haitians.”Gosling says the money will not be used at hand out as Haitians do not want that.

“If you can teach us those basic skills to where we are providing for ourselves, that’s what we’re looking for. We are looking for opportunity. We are tired of you guys giving us food or target as giving us money.”“We are gonna use those funds to create wealth.”That will come from programs, like agriculture education for ages 12 to 30 teaching them everything from planting to cultivating.

“To investing to agriculture for instance, to produce crops that can be sold not only in Haiti but outside Haiti.In such a way that we have, you know, the constant stream of revenues.”

Justima and Gosselin believe that combined efforts of Haitians and foreigners is the key to changing Haiti’s fortunes.

Loic Youth VOA News.