My name is Wilmann Laguerre, I’m the Program and Activities Coordinator here at Brit’s Home.

I’ve been working as an employee here for 5 years. My job is planning activities for the children, preparing materials for the teachers, and supervising the classes and activities. I assist the kids closely, listen to their problems, bring my support where I can, and report to Madam Gina, who is great to work with.

I’ve been here since the very beginning. I participated in cutting trees to clean up this land and I met so many special people with golden hearts. When I came to Be Like Brit I was still in high school. I was able to work hard and help build this home. I carried concrete and blocks, I also spent a long time operating a large mixer when we made the concrete. During that time, I didn’t know that this place would change my life completely. After the dedication of Brit’s Home, I moved here as a caregiver and started working with the first child that came into the house. I was the second caregiver to live here. When the other kids started to arrive, that’s exactly when I realized that my life was going to change.

It has been a whole new world for me. I used to teach kids in my neighborhood and spend time with them. I worked with kids with physical disabilities and mental disorders. I was not a professional but understood what it meant when a kid has difficulty either physically or mentally.

At the beginning of Brit’s Home, the kids arrived and I learned their names. I resolved conflicts with the kids and worked with the new staff. I soon became the Overnight Supervisor while I was still in high school.

(Summer activity- swimming in Grand Goave)

While I was in high school I completed trainings with Mrs. Debbie, from Becker College, on child development. I received training from the medical section and read books that give details about child development. I also learned a lot from my daily life with the children. I then moved from the Overnight Staff Supervisor to the day shift as a full-time teacher and worked with the leading staff.

While I was teaching during the day I became part of a program lead by Mrs. Debbie, where I spent 6 months studying Child Development. During that time, I became the Program and Activities Coordinator. I gave all I had to be successful in this program. This study made me become more qualified for my position. After achieving this program I was chosen to be the instructor for the 2nd cohort where I’m now giving the same class I took in Haitian Creole. I teach English as second language to our older children and to the staff as well. I’m a lover of education and am always looking for new ways to extend my capacity. This has helped me to receive many certificates, such as a diploma I received recently from WEI (World English institute).

I have learned a lot from Papi Len. He has taught me how to embrace the changes in life and guide me to be a good leader. I became fascinated with this place and realized this is the place I call home. Imagine waking up every morning watching all these beautiful faces with great smiles. The love that I receive every day here makes me feel alive and makes me grow spiritually. I am committed with all my heart to help raise the next generation of leaders in Haiti.

Even if I spend a week of vacation out of the house, it feels like I’ve been away for one month. When I come back, the way everyone welcomes me is unbelievable. I could never imagine I would be in a place and never want to move out. The best part of it is that even if I feel a little sad one day, once I spend time with the kids, the affection I receive heals me right away. Not only the kids but the whole family makes the difference. The level of respect, the structure, the rules, the sense of responsibility and good communication make everyone feel the difference. I consider myself not only as a worker but as a student. I learn, I teach, and I discover what real life is about and what it means to feel loved.

(Field trip to a Botanical Garden in Les Cayes)

The level of appreciation that I encounter here is unbelievable and precious. I am determined to teach the staff a curriculum from Becker College with Debbie's oversite so that we can raise the next generation of leaders in Haiti.