DESAMY (Develop Empower Smart And Mighty Youths) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit investing in the education, development, and potential of underprivileged youth. We started in rural Haiti and now serve communities in Haiti and the U.S. When you invest in a child, you're investing in the human capital of an entire community.
DESAMY began with Rose Berth François, whose professional journey in mental health counseling shaped the way she saw the challenges facing children and families. During her graduate counseling program, Rose completed an internship in a community setting providing mental health and family counseling. There, she witnessed firsthand how behavioral, emotional, family, and learning challenges can intersect — particularly for children growing up with limited resources.
Her experience led her to see children differently. A child struggling in school should not automatically be viewed simply as an unsuccessful student — sometimes there is a deeper story: poverty, family instability, limited educational resources, unaddressed learning needs, food insecurity, trauma, or simply a lack of opportunity.
When Rose traveled to Haiti, she encountered many of those challenges on an even larger scale, including poverty, food insecurity, violence, and limited access to education. She could not simply walk away. Rose brought together professionals and like-minded individuals who shared her belief that children deserve an opportunity to learn, grow, and build meaningful lives.
"Understand the person. Identify the barrier. Create the opportunity. Invest in the potential."
What began as Wings Of Hope Innovation (WOHI) evolved into Develop Empower Smart And Mighty Youths — DESAMY. The organization became a fully registered 501(c)(3) in October 2017 and has focused since then on underserved children and youth, including children experiencing learning challenges.
DESAMY was never built by one person alone. It has been strengthened by friends, family members, educators, professionals, volunteers, donors, and like-minded supporters who believe that helping a child today can strengthen a community tomorrow.
For a child growing up in rural Haiti, the ability to succeed academically can depend on whether their family can afford school expenses, whether they have the supplies needed to participate, or whether they receive additional academic support when they fall behind.
UNICEF reports that the primary-school enrollment rate is lower in rural areas of Haiti than in urban areas — about 80% compared with 91% — and that children from the poorest households have substantially lower primary-school attendance than children from the wealthiest households. UNICEF has also reported significant disruption to education in Haiti, including school closures and children unable to access education.
Source: UNICEF Haiti – Education
These numbers represent more than an education problem — they represent lost potential. That is where DESAMY believes investment matters: not just in paying a child's school bill, but in supporting the student, teacher, family, and community around that child.
DESAMY doesn't view education as simply paying a child's school bill. Sustainable impact means supporting the student, the teacher, the family, and the community together.
We help underprivileged students remain enrolled and continue their education by addressing the financial barriers associated with schooling. A DESAMY sponsorship can turn "I cannot afford to continue" into "I have an opportunity to continue learning." The current sponsorship model recommends approximately $600 per year, or $50 per month, to support a child for a full year.
Through Let's Learn, DESAMY provides individual and small-group tutoring, helping students strengthen academic skills and prepare for examinations — support that's especially important for kids who don't get enough individual attention during the regular school day.
DESAMY's annual Back-to-School Relief initiative provides backpacks and school supplies. More than 3,200 backpacks and supply kits have been distributed through the program to date.
Bridge the Gap recognizes a simple principle: you can't strengthen education without strengthening educators. DESAMY provides professional-development opportunities for teachers — 65 teachers trained to date — through webinars, seminars, instructional workshops, peer learning, and practical teaching resources.
DESAMY also provides vision and hearing screenings, because unidentified sensory problems can quietly interfere with a child's ability to learn. It reflects a broader philosophy: we don't just ask whether a child is in school — we ask what's standing in the way of that child succeeding in school.
Through education sponsorships, tutoring, school supplies, back-to-school assistance, and youth-development activities, DESAMY has reached more than 1,200 young people in rural Haiti. Program totals below reflect activity across DESAMY's history to date.
Young people reached across DESAMY's programs
Teachers trained through Bridge the Gap
Backpacks & school kits distributed
National exam pass rate among participants in the documented program period
Recommended annual child-sponsorship level ($50/month)
Registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Figures come from DESAMY program records. The 90% pass rate reflects one documented program cohort.
A recommended $50/month ($600/year) covers a child's support for a full year — but any amount helps. Here's one of the children currently in the program:
Whether it's sponsoring a child, giving toward a program, or joining our team as a volunteer — every bit helps a family in rural Haiti build a better future.
Can help provide educational materials and program support.
Can support a child's educational needs for a year under DESAMY's sponsorship model.
Can provide annual support for one sponsored child.
Can help support tutoring, educational materials, teacher development, or multiple students.
Can support a larger education initiative or help DESAMY reach additional students and educators.
Questions about sponsoring a child, volunteering, partnering with DESAMY, or how your gift is used? Send us a message and a member of our team will respond.
Email: info@desamy.org
Headquarters: South Carolina, USA