In a moving and eye-opening assembly on April 24, Branson students filled the gym to hear from Benite Jeune, the founder of the Rise Haiti Orphanage. Haiti continues to face poverty, political instability and the aftermath of natural disasters, leaving many communities without access to basic necessities.
Organized by sophomores Ella Rubenstein ‘27 and Anna Jacobs ‘27, the assembly aimed to raise awareness about the devastating conditions in Haiti and to inspire students to get involved in an organization transforming lives through education, clean water and hope.
The Rise Haiti Orphanage, located in Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, is committed to improving the lives of children affected by poverty, gang violence and political instability. Its mission focuses on providing access to education, safe shelter and vital resources–things often taken for granted in more privileged parts of the world.
“When I was growing up, I would walk six miles back and forth to school, and at night we didn’t have power — just a light to help us study,” Jeune said. “When I left Haiti to study and came here [to the U.S.], I saw all the difference between how I was raised and what I see here. And I said, ‘OK, what I didn’t have growing up, I’d like to give to those children since I have had this experience.’”
Jeune’s visit was made possible by the efforts of Rubenstein and Jacobs, who founded the Rise Haiti Club at Branson while in ninth grade. They had known for two months that Jeune would be coming and worked tirelessly to ensure that his story reached the entire student body.
“We coordinated with literally every teacher you can think of,” said Rubenstein. “Also, everyone in our club had really great ideas to help us. They also helped with introducing him. I think it’s really important to get different voices representing him other than Anna and I.”
“The club really helped us create questions, but it was really hard because of the time constraint and there was just so much that we wanted to ask him,” Jacobs added.
Though the event only lasted for a portion of an assembly period, its impact was immediate. As the entire school watched Juene share his powerful story, highlighting both the pain and potential of life in Haiti, students gained insight into a world many had never seen and were reminded of their own ability to create change.
Jacobs’s and Rubenstein’s dedication to making the assembly happen didn’t go unnoticed; after the event, many students shared how moved they were by what they had heard and how it gave them a new perspective.
“I thought it was interesting to hear all of the stories that the founder of the orphanage shared with us,” said Ryder Teakle ‘28. “I mean, the impact that he has on the Haitian kids is inspiring, and that the children that were at his orphanage are now being given a higher-up education.”
