As part of its efforts to promote education and female excellence, Solidarité Africaine Pour Haïti (SAHA) organized the first edition of its spelling bee in July 2025, targeting students from 2nd to 6th grade (primary level). The event took place at Lycée Dumarsais Estimé in Hinche and brought together dozens of talented young girls around a common goal: to develop linguistic skills, boost self-confidence, foster discipline, and reward academic achievement.

Designed to be rigorous yet friendly and inclusive, the competition was structured around four main phases:

• Phase 1 (Preliminary Round): July 18, 2025
• Phase 2 (Semifinals): July 20, 2025
• Phase 3 (Pre-Finals): July 25, 2025
• Phase 4 (Grand Finals): July 26, 2025

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PARTICIPATION AND ORGANIZATION

Twenty (20) students from various schools across the commune registered for this inaugural edition. Each subsequent phase after the preliminary round progressively identified the top performers through rigorous evaluation (10 points per word, assessed on precise criteria: pronunciation, spelling, confidence, and time management).

RESULTS AND AWARDS

From the 20 initial participants, 8 advanced to the Grand Finals. The top three finalists were:

• 1ère Place : DORÉLUS Sabentina Emmaïka (3e A.F., 9 years old)

receives a full scholarship through 9th grade (Fundamental Education), contingent upon maintaining a minimum GPA of 7.5/10 on all academic evaluations.


• 2e Place : HILLAIRE Samirrantzney (3e A.F., 10 years old)

receives a full school supply kit (backpack, notebooks, geometry set, pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers...)


• 3e Place : LOUIS Djayshanah (4e A.F., 10 years old)

also receives a full school supply kit

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The SAHA 2025 Spelling Bee stood as a model of excellence, achieving both logistical and educational success through remarkable strategies implemented by Coordinator Wikensley Dorissaint. The event united children, parents, and teachers around core values: academic pride, personal responsibility, and hope for the future.

The Hinche community embraced the event with overwhelming warmth. Parents, teachers, and guests applauded the initiative, showing their enthusiasm through special recognition for Coordinator Dorissaint and jury members. Many participants even proposed making the competition an annual summer tradition with suggestions for additional events during the academic year given its remarkable ability to engage and inspire.

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