BEYOND ME INITIATIVE

Pop-Rap artist for positive change | Free song + join the Live Beyond You Challenge to help your favorite charity win a $5k grant. Visit: https://linktr.ee/watsontunez Traditionally, faith-based groups and charities have been helping Haiti by focusing on charitable giving and services. Although some of these efforts have done some good, most of them have caused an increase of dependency and isolated the country from the global market of exchange. Foreign aid has sidelined the gifts and creative capacity of these people as they wait for their next hand out. Beyond Me Initiative (BMI) exists to equip these people with tools, knowledge, and resources to become entrepreneurs and build industries that create jobs for their families and communities. BMI promotes Haitian culture by offering Haitian cuisine and impact trips that give people a taste of this beautiful island, as well as a unique outlook on the country. All the proceeds help us train more entrepreneurs to build more businesses and employ people within their communities. Together, we are working to alleviate poverty by offering people a chance to work themselves out of poverty. OUR MISSION:We equip entrepreneurs in Haiti with tools and resources to build businesses, farms, and industries that create jobs for their families and communities. ​OUR VISION:We would become an effective partner with Haitian entrepreneurs in creating employment opportunities that move people beyond poverty and aid dependency.​OUR HISTORY:In 2014, BMI's work benefited more than 1,000 people throughout Bombardopolis, Petit-Gonaives, Port Au Prince, and several other cities in Haiti. The organization won a grant from the Drew Brees Foundation in a partnership it had with Mud Ministry. BMI invested over $20,000 in building infrastructure which helped these communities continue to recover after the earthquake in 2010. The organization distributed grants to local NGOs, churches, and missionaries working to rebuild orphanages, schools, homes, and provide cisterns to give people clean water. At the conclusion of that trip BMI landed in a town called Trouforban, Haiti, which is located about 30 minutes from the Montrouis area. The non-profit began working with entrepreneurs in that area to create more competitive businesses, farms, and industries that would provide local jobs. BMI has developed key partnerships with community leaders on the ground and facilitates with job creation through its business mentoring program, capital investment, opening up new markets, and developing core leaders who spur the community into action. The backstory of Beyond Me Initiative begins with Watson George's adoption reunion trip to Haiti in 2012. Watson was born in Haiti and became an orphan after he was abandoned. He was rescued by a missionary and put into an orphanage until he was adopted by an American family. He came to the U.S. when he was six years old and grew up in the state of Washington. In 2010, Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake that blotted out the lives of over 300,000 people and left a million more displaced. Watson decided to lead a group of students and adult volunteers on an impact trip to reconnect with his biological family and see how the people in his community were doing.The trip proved to be a life-changing experience for him as he partnered with the same missionary who had rescued him to start a school in his community. This paved the way for Beyond Me Initiative to be formed. In 2014, BMI distributed small grants to local NGOs, churches, and missionaries working on the ground to rebuild orphanages, schools, homes, and provide cisterns to give people clean water. These short-term humanitarian projects helped temporarily alleviate some of the suffering of the local people, but they failed to make a dent on the overwhelming problem that over 80% of Haitians were having everyday. The people of Haiti lacked stable jobs and economic opportunities.During his senior year at Anderson University in the state of Indiana, Watson met Madisyn. After finding out that she too was adopted from Haiti and wanted to reconnect with her biological family, he agreed to help her. It wasn't long until the two began dating. They got married on June 25, 2016. The two of them began working together to address the lack of job opportunities in Haiti. Experience the impact of living beyond you with Beyond Me Initiative!