More than buildings and bodies were demolished in Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. Arguens Jean Mary (photo right) experienced that natural disaster as he was coming of age as a teenager in Jacmel. His family lost money and economic prospects as a result of the earthquake, multiplying their poverty. In those moments of hardship, Arguens turned to poetry to make sense of his emotions.

For years, he wrote his own poetry on scraps of paper, and visited the French library in Jacmel. Reading other great writers and poets let him escape his own troubles through new worlds in books. It’s no wonder then that Arguens chose teaching as his career.

Five years ago he joined the staff at EMEVO school, a CCH partner school where we provide tuition support, hot lunches, and ongoing professional development for teachers and administrators. All the while Arguens has continued his “hobby” of writing poetry and visiting his home away from home –the French library. Internet access at the library also opened new doors. That’s where he learned about an international French poetry competition: “Poésie en Liberté” (Poetry in Freedom).

Around the same time CCH sponsored him and several fellow teachers to attend a training seminar held at a professional development center for educators called Lekòl Kominotè Matènwa in La Gonave, Haiti.  The training was on how to teach children to write and publish books. And friends, that’s where God’s timing really shined.

Empowered with his new book publishing knowledge, Arguens compiled and submitted a collection of poetry to the competition, where he won a spot in this year’s Poésie en Liberté publication. With that distinction, he will also get a publishing deal and go on a book tour in France and Haiti this summer.

Arguens’ dedication to his craft demonstrates to his students what’s possible in their own lives. His love of language and learning is infecting a whole new generation of teenagers in Haiti. We are so proud of Arguens and wish him continued and much deserved success.