A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER
Our nonprofit (501c3) organization was established in 2008 and has had a presence in Haiti before the earthquake. Our school opened in September 2009 and has been functioning ever since. We can accept tax-deductible donations to help rebuild Haiti by continuing and expanding the great work we have started.
We continue to need the support of friends and family, but what we need most is to find a corporation or a big donor who would like to adopt our school, or help with the construction of a permanent structure. Please share about our projects with your family and friends, your coworkers, or any organization that might be willing and able to help.
We’re into our 10th year and we still need a proper school building. Our children learn in the harshest environment; not properly protected from the elements and not very conducive to learning. We have unsuccessfully been reaching out to local and international organizations to acquire a proper school building. We hope this year will be the year that someone will say “YES”.
I hope together we will rebuild Haiti!
We continue to need the support of friends and family, but what we need most is to find a corporation or a big donor who would like to adopt our school, or help with the construction of a permanent structure. Please share about our projects with your family and friends, your coworkers, or any organization that might be willing and able to help.
We’re into our 10th year and we still need a proper school building. Our children learn in the harshest environment; not properly protected from the elements and not very conducive to learning. We have unsuccessfully been reaching out to local and international organizations to acquire a proper school building. We hope this year will be the year that someone will say “YES”.
I hope together we will rebuild Haiti!
|
Nadia Odjo
Founder |
Our Vision / Mission
The vision of BRITE is to improve the quality of life of underprivileged Haitian children by giving them access to basic social services such as education and healthcare. Our mission is to deliver community-based social services to the marginalized and vulnerable children of Haiti who are affected by poverty, inadequate healthcare and illiteracy.
We endeavor to accomplish our mission by:
Our History
In 2007, my husband Joe and I (Nadia) visited the rural village, Rodaille, where my grandparents and my father were born. We were really overwhelmed by the extreme poverty and the number of unschooled children. My husband and I, being both educators, could not walk away from this opportunity to serve. We knew that God was calling us to act and we responded to that call.
We really wanted to partner with this community, and instill in these kids the same passion for education my father, himself only having studied till 7th grade, instilled in me. We wanted to end the cycle of poverty caused by illiteracy. This was also my chance to give back to the community which gave me my father, his love, and the opportunities I got in life as a result of my education.
I came back 4 more times before opening the school. During my visits, I met with the leaders and parents in order to discuss ways we could help and how they could support the project.
The result was a community school.
My husband and I first used our savings to start the school. As the school expanded and we could no longer support the school on our own, we worked to find funding in the USA from friends, family members, and our church. The community leaders and parents were responsible for bringing the children to school and volunteering their time as a way to contribute to their child’s education. We incorporated strong community involvement in order to help families and the community feel a sense of ownership and pride. The school was for them. In 2009 we opened our school, Ecole Jeremie St. Fort.
We did not even have the means to build classrooms or bathrooms.
Time was of the essence and we were convinced that something was better than nothing. We constructed two classrooms out of thatch and leased a small house nearby for an office and another classroom. Our first students were diverse to say the least. We started with seventy students, ranging in age from five to twelve years old. Due to the lack of prior schooling they all had to be placed in kindergarten and first grade.
We really wanted to partner with this community, and instill in these kids the same passion for education my father, himself only having studied till 7th grade, instilled in me. We wanted to end the cycle of poverty caused by illiteracy. This was also my chance to give back to the community which gave me my father, his love, and the opportunities I got in life as a result of my education.
I came back 4 more times before opening the school. During my visits, I met with the leaders and parents in order to discuss ways we could help and how they could support the project.
The result was a community school.
My husband and I first used our savings to start the school. As the school expanded and we could no longer support the school on our own, we worked to find funding in the USA from friends, family members, and our church. The community leaders and parents were responsible for bringing the children to school and volunteering their time as a way to contribute to their child’s education. We incorporated strong community involvement in order to help families and the community feel a sense of ownership and pride. The school was for them. In 2009 we opened our school, Ecole Jeremie St. Fort.
We did not even have the means to build classrooms or bathrooms.
Time was of the essence and we were convinced that something was better than nothing. We constructed two classrooms out of thatch and leased a small house nearby for an office and another classroom. Our first students were diverse to say the least. We started with seventy students, ranging in age from five to twelve years old. Due to the lack of prior schooling they all had to be placed in kindergarten and first grade.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Team
|
Nadia OdjoDirector/Founder
Nadia has worked as a teacher and guidance counselor with the Palm Beach County School District for fourteen years. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s Degree in French and Political Science and received her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Florida Atlantic University. Nadia is a very active member of her church; she helped start churches in Africa and the Caribbean. She also served as a missionary in the Ivory Coast for ten years where she met her husband. She and Joseph have been married for twenty-one years and have two wonderful boys: Jeremie and Jonathan. Nadia loves to read, travel, go to the beach, and practice yoga. Although she loves her native country Haiti, she considers herself a citizen of the world. |
|
Joseph OdjoCo-Founder
Joeseph Odjo has been working as a teacher for over 20 years in the Ivory Coast and in Haiti. Joseph graduated from the University of Abidjan IC with a Bachelor’s in English Literature and English Linguistics. Joseph is a Christian in the International Church of Christ and is currently leading the Jacmel Church of Christ in Jacmel, Haiti. Joseph is married with two wonderful sons, Jeremie and Jonathan. |
|
Jaci LouisDirector of Operations
In the summer of 2013, I took a life changing trip to Haiti. The trip itself was a typical mission trip; we came, enjoyed Haiti, played with the children, served the community, executed projects… you know a mission trip. During this time, I already had moving to a developing country on my heart. I was graduating that December from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor degree in Elementary Education. I have a strong belief that every child deserves to receive high quality education and that is the only way the world will improve. I expressed a lot of my opinions and desires to Nadia Odjo during the trip and at the end of two weeks she offered me an internship. I took a month to think about it before telling the Odjos that yes I would move full time to Jacmel, Haiti to be their first intern upon my graduation from college. That was the best decision of my life. I absolutely adore BRITE and the vision behind it. After six years of living in Haiti, I have relocated to Fayetteville, NC where I live with my husband and our daughter. I am working to help BRITE grow in the area of volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and administration. I am very grateful for the chance to continue to work for an organization I love so much. |
|
Diamond CooperFinancial Administrative Assistant
Upon graduating Florida Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Global Management and Finance, I knew the sky was the limit. The moment I found out about BRITE and its vision, my heart was sold! I am so excited to have the opportunity to intern for this upcoming year and serve in ways that I know I can have a positive and long-lasting impact. Just to see the progress that BRITE has made, the lives that have been changed, and its mission to make a difference has been inspiring. I have always had a passion for working with children and I am looking forward to being used where God needs me. The opportunities that these children could have with education alone are endless and it starts now. The fact that I get to play a role in bettering their lives, future, and simply loving them is sincerely heart-warming. Definitely worth my time, energy, and attention and I can’t wait to see what God has in store. |
|
Rose Bien-AimeIntern
I was born in Haiti, but moved to America when I was 11 years old. I studied education in college and worked as a third grade teacher for two years. I decided to move to Haiti to serve for one year because I love BRITE Initiative and wanted to give back to my country. I am so excited for the year ahead! |
|
Jasmine BattIntern
My name is Jasmine and I have been going to Haiti since I was 14. I am taking a break from school to do what I love by serving in Haiti. I enjoy learning the culture and making new relationships. I hope to grow and learn spiritually and emotionally so that I can bring what I’ve learned for future plans in Haiti. |
|
Zhada FieldsIntern
I came to Jacmel to work with BRITE for ten days in June 2018 before my senior year of college. I went on this trip to work with kids at ICA and to improve my foreign language proficiency, since language has always been something I enjoy. I did not know I would be returning so soon, but after graduating I decided to go back to Jacmel to teach at ICA. This was a tough decision to make after having just graduated and wanting to establish a path toward my career, but I knew that if I really ever wanted to make a big move to serve others, this was the time to do it. Once I’d decided, I became very excited for everything I’d just gained: a year’s full of serving highly intelligent and loving kids at ICA, genuine people outside of and within the church, and beautiful views of the ocean and mountains. |
|
Selah GargonIntern
I first started going to Haiti when I was only fifteen years old. From that moment on I fell in love with not only the country itself, but more importantly the people in it. The people are just so beautifully rich in spirit, and it is something that I always take with me. Someone asked me once “What makes you always come back here, there has to be something?” It’s something I still ask myself as well. You never except some place to steal your heart so abruptly the way Haiti did mine.There is so much more to Haiti than poverty or what you see on the T.V. There is so much life, culture, and enough love to last a lifetime. I am so undeserving to help try and serve a beautiful country like Haiti, but I thank the Lord for seeing me differently and giving me not only the opportunity to serve- but for giving me a second place I can call home. I found Brite Initiative through another interns Instagram. After reading what Brite was really about I was inspired to jump outside my comfort zone and apply for a year long internship to help assist BRITE and be a teacher for their private school ICA. I am also currently a junior in college going for my bachelors degree in teaching. I believe that this is the perfect opportunity to grow within my two favorite passions -teaching and Haiti. |
Our Board
|
Nadia OdjoDirector/Founder
Nadia has worked as a teacher and guidance counselor with the Palm Beach County School District for fourteen years. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s Degree in French and Political Science and received her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Florida Atlantic University. Nadia is a very active member of her church; she helped start churches in Africa and the Caribbean. She also served as a missionary in the Ivory Coast for ten years where she met her husband. She and Joseph have been married for twenty-one years and have two wonderful boys: Jeremie and Jonathan. Nadia loves to read, travel, go to the beach, and practice yoga. Although she loves her native country Haiti, she considers herself a citizen of the world. |
|
Dan LilePresident
In 1987, I went to work for the United Way and worked as the Director of Agency Relations and as a Campaign Division Director. I gained valuable experience with Non Profit Budgets and Fundraising. In 1991 I began working with Coastal Corrugated, Inc. as a Sales Representative. I worked there for 16 years and served in many positions such as General Manager, Sales/Customer Service Manager and Production Manager. In 2007 I joined the Marlin Company as a Regional Manager helping company’s better their internal communications efforts. I work in South Carolina, eastern Georgia and northern Florida. I have been married for 26 years to Jodi Lile. We have three boys Ryan-22, David and Michael-20. We are members of the Charleston (SC) Church of Christ. I have been on our Church's Board and Leadership Group for many years. I have also served on other non-profit boards such as the Charleston Youth Lacrosse Club and Ashley Ridge Junior ROTC. My entire family has been able to be in Haiti and fall in love with the school and the precious people there. |
|
Shawn BowenVice President
Dr. Shawn Bowen is a pediatrics specialist in Dallas, TX. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Howard University and graduated from Columbia Univ Coll Of Physicians and Surgeons in 1993. In his 22 years of practice, Dr. Bowen has been committed to community health for under-served populations. Though his primary connection to Haiti is his wife Magalie, who was born in Port au Prince, Shawn has traveled to Haiti to participate in medical brigades, notably travelling days after the 2010 earthquake to provide emergency care. He also served as a physician during BRITE’s first ever medical fair in 2011. He is also a husband and father of three girls. When he’s not in the office, he can be found on the tennis court or out camping in the woods. |
|
Devyn MontalvoSecretary
Devyn graduated with her Master of Social Work degree in August 2015. She has been working at a small, private, non-profit university for over two years, and is currently the Director of Career Services & Community Outreach there. She first came to Haiti in October 2015 and fell in love with the country and BRITE. She now looks forward to many future trips to Haiti and plans to learn Creole so she can better communicate with the local people. |
|
Valerie C. WilliamsTreasurer
Valerie has over fifteen years of experience in not for profit management. Valerie has worked in Banking, Public Accounting as well as with Not for Profit Organizations. Valerie has a MS in Taxation. She has had a successful tax and accounting practice for over 20 years, which includes business and private clients. |
|
Juan MontalvoBoard Member
Juan has been a Christian since 1992. He is retired from the Deerfield Fire Department after 28 years of service. He then went to culinary school and started his second career as a paella chef. He has since retired from that career and is living full time with his wife Mary on the road in their RV traveling and visiting churches across the country. He has been sharing this experience on his channel, The Hungry Cuban Adventures. Juan and Mary have visited Haiti and seen first hand the remarkable work being done by BRITE and are honored to be a part of this organization. |
Our Financials
Our Partners
BRITE works with churches, foundations, nonprofits, and other organizations to bring relief internationally. Our partners contribute more than money. Their ideas, volunteer power, in-kind support, and more are helping build stronger communities.
