What’s KORE Haiti? A non-profit organization based in Haiti started by future physicians Dany Accilien, Stevenson Chery and Samuel Jean-Baptiste. Follow as the founders (who are in their third year of rotation at Florida International University’s Medical School) discuss their organization, its mission, and why they started it in the first place.
Kreyolicious: How did KORE Haiti come about?
SAMUEL JEAN-BAPTISTE: KORE Haiti Inc came about because three students, Dany, Sam and Stevenson, shared a common passion for helping our people. Having all spent several years of our childhood in Haiti, we knew the dire medical needs of the population because we lived those circumstances. We wanted to apply the medical knowledge we learn in the US to help our own people. We did not have many alternatives in terms of organized medical mission trip to Haiti. We started discussing the option of organizing our own mission trip in December of 2014. We decided to carve our own path where there was none. We recruited the help of Projects for Haiti, another community based non-profit focused on education. We used them as a medium to provide medical care to the Cap-Haitian community where they did not have a local hospital. In the first trip in spring of 2015, we were able to see and treat 368 patients in two days with 17 volunteers.
When we came back, there was a general consensus that we had to do more. We felt it was our duty. Soon after, we founded KORE Haiti Inc as a 501(c)3. We realized that we could accomplish more in terms of a lasting impact as an organization representing an idea as opposed to individuals who shared a passion.
Kreyolicious: At this point, do you feel that most of the goals you have for it have been achieved?
SAM JEAN-BAPTISTE: Although we have had a considerable impact on the health of several communities in Haiti, we still feel there is a great deal left unaddressed. We want to accomplish more than just providing medical care to communities. We want to empower them to manage their own health and this is a process we know will take time. That is why education is a major component of our mission.
Kreyolicious: The word Kore means to support in Creole. What role do teams play in the success of the organization?
STEVENSON CHERY: Teamwork is at the core of our philosophy as an organization. From the beginning, we, as founders, understood the importance of working together in order to achieve our goals. That is why we worked with many established partners in the areas that we seek to provide help. Furthermore, it is essential to come together as a team during our mission trips to be effective and efficient. Thus, our mission team members go through an application and interview before being selected to travel with us. We look for people who value and understand the importance of teamwork.
Kreyolicious: Have you come across any obstacles?
DANY ACCILIEN: All three of our founding members, as well as many of our board members, are either pursuing graduate degrees or developing their own businesses. The main obstacle has been finding a way to coordinate all the things necessary to progress the organization while everyone is attending to their education. With the support of family, friends, and an amazing group, we’ve been able to overcome the issue of time management and coordination .
Kreyolicious: What are you most proud of?
DANY ACCILIEN: When we meet young individuals, whether through educational programs or clinics, we hope to instill the idea that it’s possible to become whatever you’d like in life. A number of children have told us that after seeing people who come from their own country returning and doing such great things, they too wish to become physicians, nurses, engineers, and educators in order to improve the country. It’s difficult to be prouder than that upon hearing such statements. It’s truly been a blessing.
[Photos: KORE Haiti]
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