NEVER GIVE UP

Two orphans. One unshakable dream. A future for thousands.

In Haiti, where earthquakes topple homes, gangs block roads, and opportunities vanish before they begin, two young men refused to give up.

Meet Kendy and Kenderson — childhood friends, orphans, and now award-winning artists. With no mentors, no resources, and no safety net, they taught themselves filmmaking and music through broken internet connections and sheer determination.

They have turned loss into light. And now, they want to give that light back.

Listen to their story below.

Their Dream

Kendy and Kenderson want to build Haiti’s first creative academy for film, music, and the arts — a school that will transform the OSF Technology Center at the Helo Haiti Orphanage into a hub of hope.

● A place where orphans like them can pick up a camera, a microphone, or an instrument       for the first time.

● A place where resilience is taught through creativity, and young Haitians learn to turn           hardship into healing.

● A place where the next generation of storytellers and musicians can rise up and show           the world that Haiti’s voice matters.

This is not just a school. It’s a movement — to prove that even in the darkest places, light can shine.

Why Give?

Because these boys already proved the impossible is possible.

● They created films without film school.

● They made music without instruments.

● They kept learning when earthquakes toppled their classrooms.

● They kept showing up when gangs blocked every door out.

They never gave up.

Now they want to give others the same chance.

Why Now?

Despite winning scholarships to film school in the U.S. through OSF, immigration barriers stopped them at the border. Their dream of leaving Haiti was cut short.

So instead, they want to bring film school to Haiti.

“If I can’t do it, maybe I can help others do it.” – Kenderson

“We don’t need to leave to succeed — if we have the right tools and determination.” – Kendy

They are raising $50,000 through the Orphaned Starfish Foundation to equip the academy with cameras, instruments, computers, and training space.

A Story of Resilience

Many of the children at the Helo Orphanage, including Kendy and Kenderson, first became orphans after the 2010 earthquake.

Then, in 2024, another devastating earthquake struck Haiti, damaging the Helo orphanage and threatening to end the We Make Movies (WMM) workshops that had inspired them.

But one day, a message came through — from a field where two boys had found a sliver of cell reception among the rubble.

“When is the next class? We’re bored after the earthquake.”

That was Kendy and Kenderson.

From there, classes continued under the open sky with a couple of laptops and failing connections. From that field, they created short films, music, and documentaries. They went on to:

● Win the OSF Filmmaking Competition

● Take Best Student Film at the We Make Movies International Film Festival

● Create award-winning documentaries  about life in Haiti

● Earn scholarships to study abroad (though visas were denied)

No matter the obstacle — they found a way.

Their Vision for Haiti

Kendy and Kenderson don’t just want to succeed for themselves. They want to build a legacy.

They envision an academy where:

● Orphans discover talent and purpose through art.

● Youth at risk of gangs and poverty find discipline and hope.

● Haiti gains its first generation of locally trained filmmakers and musicians.

It will be the first creative academy in Haiti built and run by orphans — proof that resilience can become a blueprint for transformation.

Meet the Dreamers

Kendy (23)

“I never knew my parents. I grew up with emptiness, sadness, and hunger. But at the orphanage, I discovered computers and film. When OSF gave us our first camera, I made my first music video. My dream of studying film abroad was blocked — but I realized Haiti needs a film academy. I want every kid like me to believe their story matters.”

Kenderson (22)

“I lost both parents young. My mother’s illness, then her death, left me hopeless. At Helo, OSF gave me a studio. Music healed me. Earthquakes destroyed it all, but I never stopped. If I can’t study abroad, I will help others here. This academy is my way of breaking the cycle. I want to be the voice that says: you matter, your story is not over.”

How You Can Help

This academy cannot happen without you.

Your donation to OSF will:

● Provide gear and instruments

● Build a creative space at Helo Orphanage

● Fund training and mentorship for dozens of children each year

● Help transform Haiti through art, film, and music

Every dollar is a brick in this academy of hope. 

Donate Now to Support Kendy & Kenderson’s Dream

Why Give?

Because these boys already proved the impossible is possible.

● They created films without film school.

● They made music without instruments.

● They kept learning when earthquakes toppled their classrooms.

● They kept showing up when gangs blocked every door out.

They never gave up.

Now they want to give others the same chance.