If there’s anything certain about the road to entrepreneurship, it’s that there will be obstacles. For Ilio Durandis, the brain behind Haiti Bioscience, a science and tech venture targeting Haiti’s youth, funding was initially an issue. He sent around several proposals, and though many of them made the final rounds, he never earned a grant from any of them. Undeterred, the Haitian-American scientist moved forward, and Haiti Bioscience was birthed. It was important to its founder that Haiti’s youths be given the scientific foundation he felt is bound to play a key role in the development of Haiti.

Haiti Bioscience in action!

Kreyolicious: How did Haiti Bioscience initially come about?
The Haiti Bioscience was a process. At first, I wanted to do something impactful and meaningful for young Haitians. Back in 2009, I founded Haiti 2015, which was more a concept than an organization. The main goal was to empower Haitians, in order for them, to be proactive in doing for themselves. Over the ensuing years, since my background is mostly science, and from getting advises from my Haiti 2015 co-founder, it was suggested that I think of something scientific to give to Haiti. Eventually, the idea to create the Haiti Bioscience Initiative evolved, and now we have students enrolled in the program through the Universite Notre Dame Haiti, Hinche.

Kreyolicious: You mentioned that there had been funding issues. What steps did you take to overcome them?
To overcome the funding issue, we were lucky to find partners such as the Universite Notre Dame Haiti, which saw the merit of our initiative and accept to include it as one of their offerings. We also got a break, when a group, who was supporting an orphanage in Hinche was looking to finance a vocational training program for their kids heard about our initiative. These two partners came together, and today the bioscience program is training students in Hinche, and this coming June we will have our first graduating class in the two year bioscience program.

Kreyolicious: When you proposed your idea to others, what sort of response did it get?
It’s hard to get Haitians to support a Haitian’s ideas. When I had the epiphany that such a program could take place in Haiti, I reached out to expert in the field to see what they think. I used social media to pitch the idea. The first person I contacted was Phil Gibson, Ph.D, who was running a similar program in Atlanta, Ga. I asked him if he was willing to work with him on developing this idea. To my surprise, hew was more than willing. To this day, he remains a great mentor and partner as we try to scale up the initiative so that more Haitian youths get access to a quality bioscience training.

Kreyolicious: When you were a teen, were you interested at all in bio-sci?
As a teen, my interest in science was always there. I wanted to become a medical doctor. But when I get to college, in my sophomore year, I took genetics, and from that point on, I became very interested in the subject. So I told myself that I want to do more studies in genetics and molecular biology. And today, here I am. Science is all around us.

Kreyolicious: What do you think can be done to interest more youths in that field?
Most young people like tangible things, whether it’s sitting in front of TV set playing video games or in their backyard building things. Science is not an abstract field. It is very real. If the youth are exposed to well equipped laboratory and get permission to experiment, there is no doubt that the interest in science will come naturally to them.

Kreyolicious: When you think of all the milestones that Haiti Bioscience has met, which has been the most significant to you?
The most significant one, obviously is having the program started at Universite Notre Dame Haiti [in] Hinche. Last year, we had 20 students enrolled in the program,and for this coming academic year, we expect more students to enroll. This is very significant, when you consider the economical challenges facing our people.

Kreyolicious: Most entrepreneur ventures are also learning experiences. Do you think that running Haiti Bioscience has contributed to your personal development?
There is o doubt that running the bioscience program has helped me grow. before this initiative, I had the mindset of doing everything big, and I was not very patient. This program has made me realize that with patience and tenacity, impossibility is an illusion. All it takes is strong determination and focus to turn the impossible to concrete possibility.

Above: Haiti Bioscience founder having a discussion with students in Haiti about biotechnology.

Kreyolicious: What book would you recommend to aspiring entrepreneurs and initiative founders?
There are many books that aspiring entrepreneurs could read. For me, the one book that has helped me and kept me motivating is Creating Innovators by Tony Wagner. When I look at my country, I believe that we need to have more innovators, if we are to become a nation that depends less on others.

Kreyolicious: Where do you see this initiative two years from today?
In two years, in collaboration of Universite Notre Dame Haiti-Hinche, we should have a fully equipped laboratory that will be used not only for teaching, but also capable of proving analytical services throughout the country. It is my hope to expand this program to other institutions of higher learning throughout the country so that we can prepare the workers of the future for the coming of a Haitian biotech industry. I have no doubt that if we train enough youths in basic laboratory techniques that one day Haiti could become an attractive player for major biotech/pharmaceutical companies. I look forward to the day when one of these companies could set up shop in our country to create jobs that will pay livable wages. This could be a great example on how a Third World country could develop. We have to train people for the jobs that can help reduce poverty.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE HAITI BIOSCIENCE WEBSITE!

Putting photographer Olivier Duong in a box is as futile counting sand at a Caribbean beach. The photographer is practically impossible to categorize. On one hand, he’s an artistic photographer, the sort who will travel to the streets of Port-au-Prince and capture still-life-like shots of life there. On the other hand, he is sort of photographer brides count on to get journalistic and artsy photos of their nuptials.

He’s what photography scholar Ben Evans would call a holistic photographer—the type of photographer who is practical and artistic at the same time. But, but then again, he would also fall in what George Bradt would label a scientific and artistic leader, as he inspires many through The Inspired Eye, the photography magazine he co-created.

However attached he is to photography, Duong also dabbles in other creative arts. He’s very much into graphic designing and website development, and lately he’s really been into writing, to the point where he’s thinking of putting together an e-book.

Born in Port-au-Prince to a Vietnamese dad and a French-Haitian mother, Duong was raised in Jacmel.

There’s probably a really interesting story of how your mom and dad met…

Well, I guess so. Here’s what my mother told me: She was at a bar, and she had an unruly little cousin that somehow got a hold of pepper spray. And he was sprayin’ right and left. My dad was a regular and he took hold of the kid cousin and stopped the whole thing. They all had to wash their eyes, apparently that’s where everything started.

Now, growing up Vietnamese and Haitian…what was that like?

It was interesting. Well, first of all, you can’t hide anywhere. All I wanted as a kid –as human nature dictates- was to fit in. I never really could. First day of school and I already had the nickname Ti Chinwa—Little Chinese in Creole. The fact that I was larger back then did not help. I not only had to juggle between ti Chinwa—but also bout patat si—piece of potato in Creole.

Everywhere I went I couldn’t just blend in, I stood out. My friend says every time he went out with me for a walk, he felt like a rockstar because of all the attention he was getting. I didn’t want the attention, but got it anyways. I actually went all the way to Vietnam, where I hoped I would blend in, but that wasn’t the case. We went for a boat ride where Vietnamese pay less, I didn’t need to speak the language to understand that the lady guarding the boat was saying, “There is no way under heaven this guy is Vietnamese.”. I had to pay full price, unlike my dad and all of my uncles.

That event pretty much made me give up on fitting in anywhere. But thank goodness I had some really good friends that tagged along the road. So, it’s not like I was alone or anything. I met them with years of separation, it’s as if time didn’t go by…save a few more strands of facial hair.

In the end, I made peace with not fitting anywhere, and ended up embracing it. Turns out my Haitian wife had a thing for Asians, lucky me!

Interesting. How did you get interested in photography?

Well, it all started with G.A.S—Gear Acquisition Syndrome…it’s when you want something but really don’t need it. My friend showed me her camera and I just had to have it. Living on my own, I saw that I could buy this model—without having a clue on how to use it—and I just bought it. I had to eat rice a few days but hey, I had a camera, so I was a photographer! Or so I thought.

Then I started shooting but saw that my stuff wasn’t like the stuff I saw that was good. I asked myself why my images were bad, and went on from there. I’ll never stop learning, it’s a life long process.

Photography used to be considered as this intricate art. When you study the history of photography and all, it was about expertise. You read about terms like F-stop, focus, quadrants. Do you think that with the advent of digital photography and photography apps that photography is losing that flair?

Photography, with affordable cameras and an affordable process—less costly than film—is officially democratic. Anyone nowadays can become a photographer. I think that’s a good thing. When I get nice images of my kid, I’m happy. So it’s good that others can do the same.

Now a problem arises when people confuse owning a camera and actually being a photographer. When that happen, you see good photographers in the mist of people that just own a camera. Cameras, especially DSLRs are in the list of consumer goods to have after things like a flat screen TV and laptop.

The core issue is, the camera gives you the illusion that you can become a photographer as soon as you have it. And that makes it hard to actually be a vocational photographer when everyone thinks they can do it too. The technical term for these folks is “Uncle Bob”. Uncle Bob is the guy that just brought a camera and thinks that he can do as good as a job as an experienced photographer.

So with the democratization of photography, the flair is still there, just diluted. When everyone thinks that they can do something, it only makes you work harder to put yourself above them, photographically speaking.

What is your most treasured photo ever?

That’s actually a good question, my answer is, not the one I believed it was. At first I believed it was this one [street photo of a young man looking in the camera ] But, after losing my hard drive—and not backing up due to carelessness—I realized the family photos trump other photos because they are the most meaningful ones you can make. You can always get great images tomorrow, but you can’t replace family images. So, so far this image is most treasured by me [photograph of child].

I noticed that on your website, you have all sorts of photos. A collection of photos taken in Haiti as well. Can you please tell us about that?

Well, my mother died in the earthquake. One thing that bothered me was the fact that I never really took the time to actually make a nice image of her—back then, I spent my time taking pictures of flowers unfortunately. When I went to Haiti, it was the first time after the earthquake—I couldn’t get in to bury my mother in 2010—and it’s like I was making amends through my photography. I was searching for my mother in the streets of Haiti.

I really wanted to show the resilience of the people there. I only had access to the streets so I documented the street life there, and sure enough, the resilience showed through the photographs. There’s something about the Haitian spirit that makes it unbreakable. Now come to think of it, maybe it’s what keeps me going when times are tough.

I will turn this project into a book eventually, and I am actively looking for grants to create a project about the earthquake.

Sorry to hear about your mom. Have you already taken your dream photo? Or do you think that’s something to come.

I’ve made several of my dream images. Sometimes I look at them and still can’t believe I made the image! But the quest for the image is a lifelong quest. The images that I dream about are always for tomorrow. Complacency is the photographer’s worst enemy. Some thing they’ve made it, they don’t need to learn anything and it all goes downhill from there.

What does it take to become a professional of your caliber?

My Caliber? Well first things first, I don’t think I’m all that. But to get to where I am at there’s only two words: hard work. I ain’t special in anyway, not smarter than anyone, not better than anyone. I had a camera and I committed myself to learning photography. I just worked harder than everyone else I knew of, pretty simple, no?

My music career lasted just one day of school. After I saw the commitment I had to make to even read music sheets, I gave up. I could have been a guitarist if I wanted to work at it. Fact is, you probably can be anything you want in life, provided you work towards it.

To become a professional, learn the basics, and make sure you are a good photographer. It will be good for you, but also for your clients. I say this because I’ve seen one too many calling themselves pros and giving terrible images to clients.

Then market yourself. Market yourself. And…..Market yourself. Once you put the word “professional” before photography, you basically put “marketing” before photography.

A mediocre photographer will always outsell a good one with marketing. That’s just a fact. Put yourself everywhere you can. But the biggest advice is, work with other vendors in your industry. If you do weddings for example, be close friends to florists, hotels, etc. Brides get married once, these folks will be there for years to come and will refer business to you.

The secret to professional photography is simply marketing. Nothing happens if you don’t market yourself. You don’t even need to be a good to make it in photography, it’s a sad fact. Lots of big names in photography are pretty average photographers, they got there though marketing and connections. But that doesn’t mean you should go the same road, you have to hold yourself to high standards and be the best that you can be. Then market yourself, attend events, put ads in classifieds, create buzz!

When was the last time you went to Haiti?

It was in 2011. It’s in worse shape than I left it, especially Jacmel, a relatively clean and quiet coastal city, but lakay se lakay—home sweet home.

CLICK HERE To visit Olivier Duong’s Website | Visit The Inspired Eye, the photography magazine he co-founded. | Connect with Olivier Duong on Twitter | Connect with Olivier Duong on Facebook |

[ Photo Credit: All photos provided by the subject. ]

App developer and techie Josny Severe favors a technology-friendly Haiti, and he want to make sure that Haitian Creole speakers are not left out of the equation. To that end, he’s started a Haitian Creole hashtag #TiKozeSouTeknoloji to encourage Haitian Creole speakers around the world to take part in native language-centered discussions about tech, apps, and emerging technology.

Kreyolicious: I think it’s cool that you started a technology hashtag, and one in Creole at that! Please explain why? And also how you came up with it!
First of all, I want to thank you for this opportunity given to me to talk about #TiKozeSouTeknoloji, which I started on Twitter not too long ago. It[‘s turned out to be] so important for many that I had to change it [from mere hashtag to an actual] vlog this February. We all know that in Haiti we have two languages French and Creole. But at the same time, it’s crystal-clear that Creole is the most spoken language in the country at every level of daily activities. And as we all know, people learn better when they are being taught in a language that they’ve mastered. Tech terms are being mystified in Haiti, which lead [some] people to be afraid of anything related to this field. So one day, while I was tweeting about a technology [topic], I told myself why not come [up] with something that would help people understand technology [better]. [This way,] these concepts can be demystified, and help them have a better use of it, therefore it is actually everywhere in their entire life.

Kreyolicious: What has the feedback been for the chats?
So far, so good! Since we’ve just started, we are identifying our audience and manage to reach as many people possible. It is important that a great majority get access to the content so the purpose which is educating our people about technology can be reached.

Kreyolicious: And how do you determine what to discuss during the weekly segments?
As for the choice of the weekly [topics], it is like math. We can not talk about multiplication without understanding the basics which are addition and subtraction. So, we start with a series of the basic terminology before we land in more complicated subjects like artificial intelligence, internet of things, to name only these two.

Kreyolicious: Why do you think it’s important to get the youths of Haiti and others engaged in technology?
From simply chatting, sharing media on social networks, banking, and easing [the] process at work, to study, technology is involved in every single aspect of our life in this century. There is no way you can escape the use of technological tools in 2017. But, here in Haiti, we have this issue of invading new stuff coming abroad without really understanding them. On one hand, we [either] misunderstand and misuse them. Or, we just stay away from them. [Meanwhile,] in terms of geopolitics, everyone around us are moving with the era—the Information Era. A simple example: I went to study software engineering in Dominican Republic in 2005. At [that point,] an automated teller machine—ATM—was not a big deal for the Dominican people. So, how can it still be a big deal here in Haiti for clients to use them properly? [And why do] the banks [tend] to advertise them like they’re [the most] high-tech stuff ever to be available to the clients, when we know ATM has been around since the 80s? So, it’s important that we shake [things] up a little bit, get to learn and share the knowledge in the easiest way possible so [that] everyone can understand—no matter his or her background.

This concludes Part I of the interview…Be sure to watch out for PART II.

[Main photo credit: Samuel Dameus]

CLICK HERE to keep up with Josny Severe and his discussions regarding #Yontikozesouteknoloji!

Haiti techie Josny Severe is the founder of an app Lenkop. Last year, he created the hashtag #yontikozesouteknoloji to encourage techies in Haiti and Creole-speaking tech enthusiasts around the world to discuss technological concerns, news and issues in Haitian Creole. In Part I of the interview, he discussed how he got the idea for the hashtags. In this segment, he talks about broader topics in Haiti’s technology sector.

Kreyolicious: When we compare our part of the century to that of others who lived before us, we note that social media has changed, has revolutionized a lot of things over the world. What do you think social media has changed in Haiti?
Here in Haiti, we tend to follow a trend without really understanding its purpose. Social media started back in the days when the web turned from web 1.0 to 2.0…which means before today’s era of the popular social networks, websites were all about serving content for the consumer to just consume. When the web 2.0 hit with possibility for the consumer to participate in the game, we started with the blogs then social networks. Nowadays, in other countries social media goes further then just post[ing] media, interact[ing] [with] media posted by friends and family. We are at a point where employers, before hiring you, go on your social media profiles and check your background. Traditional media uses social networks as sources and publish scoops, and governments identify potential threats to the security of their nation and so on. But in Haiti, [even as we speak] some traditional media don’t use social networks. When news is being spread, there are a few and limited sources you can refer to [verify for] authenticity. Others take advantage [of social media to] create [and amass] popularity…[and do so] by using it [to spread malicious gossip]. Nonetheless, we need to highlight that social media in university is added as a subject in mass communication curriculum and people are being hired as social media specialists in those other countries. Talking about Haiti, there is not too much to say. We use social media on a daily basis for sure, but I don’t think we could say it has changed [anything much]. There [aren’t any] laws [that govern] behavior—good or bad in the country on the internet. We are one of the countries on the planet [who aren’t governed by any established internet laws] which leads people to do whatever they want, whenever they want on social media.

Kreyolicious: Besides taking internet abuse measures, what else would you like to see the tech sector in Haiti do?
Actually, I [think] that we [have this great urgency to] educate our nation about computer science, the use of the internet, and so on. Cause, what we actually know about internet in Haiti is just the edge of the iceberg. Then the community of computer scientist, software developer needs to get together and propose real laws that reflect our culture and morals as a nation in other to move side by side upon the arrival of new technologies. At the end, I think it is very important that the tech sector becomes a real entity as it is for the medical and accounting sector, to name these, where a license is delivered in order for engineers in the field to be recognized accordingly.

Kreyolicious: You created an app as well. How does it fit into everything?
Two years ago, I released Lenkop with the purpose of having a platform for events promotion and helping people interested in events, specially the night life. One year later, I realized I was doing it all wrong since it relies all on me to do everything. So I decided to shut it down for a while, learn some new technologies and actually developing what should be the version 2.0 of Lenkop. In other words, I’ve learned from the mistakes, step back and flexing to make a great and strong come back. Hopefully by this March or early April, I’ll be able to share what the second version of Lenkop looks like in terms of features, and [will be able to expand its] international reach.

Kreyolicious: You said you’ll be concentrating on Lenkop…do you see it tying in somehow with your plans for the hashtag?
They are obviously two different projects with different focus. With TiKozeSouTeknoloji, the purpose is to educate, debate and propose solutions, while Lenkop is here to connect party-goers, assist event planners and create a community for those people where they can really relate. That being said, educating people about technology is the main gate that will empower them to make a proper use of any app or other tools they are interested in.

You can watch a video of Haiti techie Josny Severe having a tech discussion in Haitian Creole below.

CLICK HERE to keep up with the Haiti Techie and his discussions about #Yontikozesouteknoloji!

The capital city of Port-au-Prince will be a techies haven on June 6-7! The Haiti Tech Summit, founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Christine Souffrant-Ntim, will include more than one-hundred speakers, including actress Vicky Jeudy, venture capitalist Ben Horowitz, Google Accelerator founder Roy Glassberg, uber-developer Matt Terrell of Facebook. The two-day event is being billed as Haiti’s largest techie event ever, and it’s not hype!

Haiti’s techies will not be left out of the event, thank you very much! Christian Roy Frombrun, a tech and marketing strategist is among the keynote participants, as are Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Ralph Dupoux, photographer and techie Samuel Dameus, Davidson Toussaint of Haiti Tourism Inc, Cleve Mesidor, Michael Verch, and radio host and multimedia personality Carel Pedre. Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis, a former official as well as Haiti’s current president Jovenel Moise are among the keynote speakers.

Many Haitian-Americans are also on board for the event, including Regine Vital, Guelma Emile Allen, Nancy Douyon, Guerlince Semerzier, Caroline Racine, Marc-Alain Boucicault, L’Union Suite founder Wanda Tima-Gilles, Gilles Sassine, Dori Alexandre, Sandra Florvella-Pierre of Haitian Businesses, LLC; Daphnee Charles of COCREAD, and many many more.

You need more names? Your wish is my command…Naisha Silva of Google, Angie Carrillo, Kairos CEO Ryan Brackeen, Elisa Page, founder of BlogHer, Adi Abili, entrepreneur/inventor Ryan Foland, Laura Pincus Hartman, the founder of Ecole de Choix, the multi-lingual school in Mirebalais, Haiti. And ooh, Black Enterprise’s tech editor Sequoia Blodgett is also be among the speakers, as will be Kyra Kyles of Ebony. And how nice to see that Rhonesha Byng of Her Agenda among those present. Actually am a fan of Her Agenda..

Look, my fingers are getting tired…very tired…so many great minds…so many awesome thinkers…like wow…

So many solid participants, so many speakers from every field imaginable. This isn’t a tech summit…it’s more like a two-day masterclass.

Lawd is all I can say! What a tech show!

And how wonderful that it’s Haiti Tech Summit! This event has so much potential…it gives me vertigo just thinking of what it can grow into.

This is the event’s first year, so can you imagine what organizer Souffrant-Ntim will endure to top herself for the sophomore event!

Haiti Tech Summit! In Port-au-Prince!

To get a more thorough picture of all the participants, go on the Haiti Tech Summit website by CLICKING here.

Hooray!

Miami Caribbean Code, the tech conference that bridges Miami to the rest of the Caribbean, is taking place on June 24th in Miami. Check out this interview with techie Henry Beaucejour, who will be one of the speakers at the event. Beaucejour is the editor of Haiti Tech News, and the Chairman of Haitian Caribbean Information Tech Council (Hacarabtech). Get a first-person handle on the conference through his eyes!

Kreyolicious: Tell us about yourself and what drew you to tech?
Henry Beaucejour is a dreamer, a visionary. I fall in love with anything related to technology. Understanding that technology is the backbone of organizations and companies around the world, especially developing countries. A couple of years ago, as I emigrated from Haiti to the United States, I found myself in a situation to bring [about] some changes. What drew me [to tech] was the passion to innovate and look at a better future for the youth. Our young people represent the future of this generation.

Kreyolicious: How did you get involved with Miami Caribbean Code?
I got involved after a briefing with Firmin Backer, one of the co-founders of the Haiti Renewal Alliance, a non-profit that promotes business development and investment in Haiti. Once Firmin Backer was in it…with his expertise in technical innovation, strategy development, along with his history in investment management, I thought it was something special.

Kreyolicious: Why do you think attending an event like this is important?
An event like this will allow the attendees to have a better exposure [to] and better understanding [of] how technology can bring people together…How technology can change the world to make it a better place to live as human beings, and also how new technology is being used to save lives.

Kreyolicious: What do you think attendees will learn from your session?
I am certain [that] after those attendees leave the session, they will change their minds, be more awakened to the vision that I have been sharing to the world for years in newspapers, different articles and social media. And they can also learn about the experiences of Haitian radio hosts Carel Pedre and JUNO7 who used Twitter and [other] social media [platforms] to inform the world about the earthquake and the cholera outbreak which ravaged their country, Haiti.

Henry Beaucejour being interviewed on his favorite subject…tech!

Kreyolicious: From what you can observe, why is tech so important in the Caribbean and Latin America?
As I said in the beginning, this is a vision. I hope other leaders in the Caribbean and Latin America share that vision to make those places a reference where Microsoft, Google, and others to come and recruit the best programmers and developers.
The Caribbean—and especially my homeland Haiti—needs foreign and local tech investment and technological knowledge diffusion. Creating the requisite infrastructure—from [a] techno park to better interne—would be significant steps. Jacmel, for example, with [its] arts community, walkable architecture and beautiful beaches, might be an attractive place for concentrated technology hub and a tech incubator. Haiti can create a special economic zone to attract foreign companies, with the aforementioned conditions. In return for any incentives, tech giants companies can open doors in Jacmel or Cap Haitian and employ or train local Haitians. I wish the same for beautiful islands Aruba, Jamaica and Trinidad and so on.

CLICK HERE to go on the Miami Caribbean Code website to keep up with the movement and to purchase tickets to this year’s edition of Miami Caribbean Code.