Cherlin Simon: The Image of a Young Person in the Haitian Diaspora Actively Working for the Well-being of His Country
Cherlin Simon was born on November 4, 1986, in Les Cayes, the third-largest city in Haiti. He is a writer, poet, editor, and a trained psychologist. He sees himself as a young leader capable of serving his country, and his works bear testimony to this. His vision of the country is largely inspired by the deep values within the environment in which he grew up, within his family in southern Haiti. Today, Cherlin lives far from his homeland, in the United States, but he holds on to the memory of the country that saw him born and raised, seizing every opportunity to invest in its well-being and participate in its emancipation.
Cherlin Simon followed a varied academic path, studying psychology, economics, and philosophy. These disciplines have shaped his worldview and fueled his commitment to the real development of his Haiti, which has long been ravaged by darkness. According to Cherlin Simon, economic growth, political stability, and social flourishing are not incompatible goals, but rather the pillars of a common and prosperous future for Haiti.
Political Vision
Cherlin Simon represents a soul affected by all the ravages that bitterly pass through the body of his country. Although he is far from the territory, this is certainly no reason not to get involved and share his opinions whenever possible, particularly through his artistic works. This is why he continually proclaims his desire through notes intentionally posted on his social media, expressing his wish to see his country politically stable and able to engage in high-level economic cooperations in order to break free from the constraints it is buried under. The son of Dominique Bienvil Simon and Laurencia Fontalien, notable names in his hometown, his political sense largely comes from his great-grandfather, former president François Antoine C. Simon, who was president of Haiti.
A Strongly Committed Young Man
Simon invests time and resources into the Haitian youth. The creation of a publishing house dedicated largely to the dissemination of young authors’ works is solid proof of this commitment. Additionally, his genuine involvement in organizing events led by young people, such as the Port-au-Prince Book Fair and the Grand North Haïti Book Fair, remains another irrefutable piece of evidence.
HaïtiAn Active Diaspora
Simon invests his body and soul in the development of his country. He continues to believe that the salvation of Haïti will come from Haitians themselves. He also believes that the Haitian diaspora holds the necessary tools to facilitate such a transformation. The Haitian diaspora, largely educated and economically empowered, is close to significant achievements in the wealthiest countries of the North, while also having access to the world’s top universities for many of its members, including Simon. This diaspora is an unparalleled asset that can revitalize the Haitian voice on the international stage, defend the country, and ultimately see its development materialize. If Simon and thousands of other members of the Haitian diaspora insist on the diaspora’s involvement in the economic, social, and political life of Haiti, it is precisely because they want to invest in the country’s well-being, at a time when much of the world wishes to keep it in perpetual aid dependency, which only perpetuates poverty.
A Model for Future Generations
Simon represents a model capable of inspiring hope among the younger generation of Haitians, both in Haïti and in the Haitian diaspora. Because this type of person, who leaves the country for reasons we all know, yet continues to admit that Haïti lives within them through their actions and attitudes, is a rare prototype that the country desperately needs for its own well-being. It is a way of admitting that a Haitian conscious of their Haitian identity is a living body standing against all kinds of declarations that falsely claim the death of Haiti. And wherever a conscious Haitian mind resides, it remains a shining beacon against the profound darkness cast upon the back of their country.
