Positive and necessary social change is paramount to improving lives and life situations; it fosters hope and provides incentives leading to success.

Hugues Bastien is a native Haitian who emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 15. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from City College of New York. Through deep, genuine, almost gut-wrenching urgency to improve conditions for fellow Haitians, Hugues returned to his home village in 1994 and founded Institution Univers and Coalition of Children in Need Association. These organizations were created to guide and teach Haitians how to better their own stations in life through education and acquisition of practical working skills. In 2013, Hugues was named the Entrepreneur of the Year in Education in Haiti.

He has built a school for children and one for adult education; he planned and built a medical clinic to service a population of 150,000; he has added housing for professionals who have moved into the area; he planned and implemented a working agricultural farm which now provides food for 2,700 students and staff; the village now has a bakery which provides jobs and bread

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx