Jose Naïka, Haiti, enrolled in 2020

High in the mountainous region of rural northern Haiti lives a determined young Scholar with parents who have reaffirmed their belief in her time and time again. Now seventeen, Jose Naïka attends high school where she is steadily working toward her dream of becoming a pediatrician, a dream that is becoming reality because of the multifaceted support system surrounding her: self, family and Mercy Beyond Borders.

Jose Naïka lives with her parents and three sisters in a warm and welcoming concrete block house at the top of a mountain ridge. What began as an isolated home when her family built it shortly after her birth has grown into a neighborhood full of families. Their home is a vibrant space, with colorful curtains, children’s graduation photos, and artwork brightening the walls. Outside, a chalkboard on the porch has become a mini-classroom where Jose Naïka, her sisters, and neighborhood kids gather to study and encourage each other.

The family is saving to install a rainwater cistern to ease the daily burden of fetching water from below the mountain—a responsibility that currently falls on Jose Naïka’s mother, Erilia. Caring for a family of five demands multiple trips a day to gather the amount of water needed. Such is life, and theirs is a home radiating joy, resilience, and a strong commitment to one another.

For this family, education is not optional—it is the foundation of their futures. During the long months of COVID-19 school closures, Erilia invested the family’s tuition savings into hiring a tutor so her girls could continue learning. The results were remarkable: each daughter returned to school stronger than before.

Even now, Erilia carefully balances her work as a seamstress—often stitching school uniforms late into the night—with her devotion to her daughters’ education. Their father, Jean Robert, works as a mason, and despite long hours away from home, he always returns in time to share dinner and listen to what his daughters learned that day. Both parents are unwavering in their support, and their encouragement has fueled Jose Naïka’s scholarly success.

Life is not without difficulties, however. Violence and instability make daily routines more complicated, and prevent the girls from accompanying their father to the family garden — an invaluable resource for them. Yet the family remains strong and steadfast. Erilia keeps her daughters active in church youth groups and provides them with safe, meaningful ways to focus on hope rather than fear.

Jose Naïka has developed deep compassion modeled for her by her parents. In 2024, when classmates at school experienced emotional stress before exams, she immediately prayed for their recovery and participated in counseling sessions to better understand how to support others. Her empathy, combined with her academic dedication, set her apart.

Jose Naïka consistently earns top rankings in her class, finishing the 2024–2025 school year among the top five students. She aspires to qualify for an MBB university scholarship so she can continue on her path of becoming a pediatrician, a path inspired by her love for children and her desire to bring advanced health care to Haiti.

Her mother, Erilia, sums it up beautifully: “Thank God for MBB. You give us hope for the future.”

And hope is exactly what Jose Naïka and her family represent—Haiti’s hope resides within them.