Today is World Humanitarian Day—a day to remember those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and celebrate the spirit of humanitarian work around the world. We’re honored to introduce you today to some of the remarkable people who work for World Concern. Head to our Facebook page and check out our World Humanitarian Day album to meet a few of these people. Continue reading here to meet Bernard, one of our #HumanitarianHeroes in Haiti.
Bernard Rozier is a husband and father of two who lives in the city of Les Cayes in southern Haiti. Since 2004 he has worked with World Concern as the Hope to Kids (HTK) Program Manager. This program began in 1998 and provides students with a goat and husbandry training which allows them to earn an income and pay for school.
Bernard is a soft spoken person but is well respected and loved by the children he serves. He would be the first person to tell you that he is not superhuman but simply a man who loves God and wants to do his work well each day. Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with us as we ask Bernard a bit more about his life and work:
Why did you choose to work in this field?
“First of all, as there is a lack of jobs in Haiti people do not always have a choice in choosing which field to work in, but I chose to work in this field as I always have a passion to work with kids and a passion for animals. There is a custom in Haiti where people are afraid of animals like frogs, snakes, and spiders. So animals create fear in the Haitian people and sometimes they kill them. So as I work with the kids I teach them not to kill those animals because they all eat insects and therefore they help us to fight insects without using insecticides, which can be harmful if used on our vegetables. I also teach them the importance of the goat milk as it is a good source a protein for kids. So this field enables me to help educate the kids and I hope this will have a positive result in the future.”
What impact does the Hope to Kids project have on children in Haiti?
“The program teaches the children how to make a living with their work. The care the children provide the goat will allow them to one day sell the offspring and make some income to meet their daily expenses and contribute with their parents to school expenses like buying books, uniform, pens, and other materials. The goat we provide the students with is dependent upon them so the children will act as parents toward the goat, feeding them, leading them to water, and sheltering them.”
What motivates you to come to work each day?
“What motivates me to come to work each day is the hope that I bring for the kids by the goat I provide them and the joy I bring to them by playing with them. When I visit the kids to give the goats shots and the goat cries, all the children are laughing so even the goat clinic brings joy to the kids too.”
Do you have a hobby or activity you like doing outside of work?
“The activity I like to do outside of work is playing with kids and making them happy even for awhile. When some kids see me, they laugh so some of them call me ‘toy.’ I also sometimes act as a mentor for kids.”
What do you hope for the country of Haiti?
“What I hope for the country of Haiti is that all people, including the peasants, would have a source of revenue to respond to their daily needs.”