Wideline Leandre, Haiti, enrolled in 2014
From a quiet mountain village in Haiti to the top of her university graduating class, Wideline Leandre continues to defy the stark odds for women and girls in Haiti. In 2026, Wideline became the first MBB university graduate in Haiti, a milestone that represents far more than one diploma. It is the culmination of years of determination, sacrifice, and community support. She represents both possibility and progress, setting a tangible example for those who will follow in her footsteps.
Wideline enrolled in the MBB program in 2014 as a young student entering high school. From the very beginning, she appreciated the structure and encouragement that MBB provided. By 2021, after graduating high school, Wideline earned an MBB scholarship to continue her studies at university. She eventually chose to study accounting at Université Notre Dame d'Haïti in Port-au-Prince.
Social unrest and disruptions were a part of daily life. Political protests frequently erupted near the university, forcing students to seek shelter unexpectedly. Wideline carefully listened to the radio before leaving home each morning and always traveled with fellow students for safety. Such uncertainty failed to derail or deter her but due to the insecurity, she transferred to the university’s satellite location in Gonaives, where she lived with her cousin and was able to walk to campus each day.
Wideline quickly learned how to navigate the new level of discipline and independence that university required. Managing lectures, research, and assignments was difficult at first, but she developed strong habits that helped her thrive academically. By 2023, she had earned a 79 average in her first year and was tutoring classmates in mathematics on weekends, and in the process, discovered that teaching others strengthened her own understanding.
Her impact extended beyond the classroom. Wideline organized community clean-up efforts near a neighborhood well, encouraged local youth to care for communal spaces, and remained active in the development committee for her home village. She helped advocate for infrastructure improvements by assisting with letters to local government leaders regarding impassable roads that isolate the community during heavy rains.
Throughout her university journey, Wideline stayed deeply connected to her MBB family. She maintained close friendships with fellow graduates and collaborated on youth empowerment activities, including educational events for children and creative entrepreneurship projects through her MBB sister’s small-business, BellArt Creations.
Wideline’s academic career reached a pinnacle in 2025 when her accounting capstone project earned the highest score in the entire university. Her research explored the feasibility of expanding local fish production and strengthening the fish market in Gonaives through sustainable cold-chain distribution. Wideline envisions a future where affordable, locally sourced fish can improve nutrition and economic opportunity across Haiti’s coastal communities.
In April 2026, surrounded by her family, MBB staff, and a wide-array of supporters, Wideline graduated with honors from UNDH. Her achievement is historic for MBB, but Wideline sees it as only the beginning. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in accounting while continuing to develop projects that strengthen Haitian communities.
Wideline shares:
“When I hear the dire news reported throughout the country, sometimes I feel defeated. But then I remember all of the people who are counting on me to succeed, and how the hopes of my entire family are on my shoulders, and I pick up my books again. I always remember the MBB motto : When women learn, women matter. This motivates me to push away those thoughts of self-doubt. I am so happy and proud to be the first female accountant in my family. Not only because I am passionate about accounting, but because it is also very practical to manage family finances when so many people are counting on me to support them [economically]. Accounting will also enable me to make an impact in my community.”
