A Lakou Lokal Initiative
The 1804 Scholarship
Supporting first-generation Haitian and Caribbean students in South Florida as they pursue higher education. Named for 1804 — the year Haiti won its freedom and became the first free Black republic — this scholarship treats education as its own kind of liberation.
The Need
Why This Scholarship
First-generation Haitian and Caribbean students in South Florida face steep financial barriers to higher education. Many come from low-income, immigrant, or mixed-status households where the cost of tuition, books, and fees forces capable students to delay or abandon their studies. The 1804 Scholarship opens a door for the young people we already serve.
The Award
What You Receive
Award amounts vary by cycle
Scholarship amounts are determined each cycle based on available funding, with one to two awards given depending on funds raised.
Paid directly to your school
Paid directly to the recipient's Florida college or university, applied to tuition and fees.
One award per recipient
One award per recipient. Awards are contingent on available funding.
Eligibility
Who Can Apply
- Of Haitian or Caribbean heritage / diaspora.
- Enrolled in, or accepted to, a college or university in Florida (any year — freshman through graduate).
- Able to demonstrate financial need.
- In reasonable academic standing (e.g., minimum 1.5 GPA, or a short narrative for students re-entering education).
Immigration status is not a barrier.
We welcome applicants regardless of immigration status — enrollment at a Florida institution is the requirement, not citizenship.
How to Apply
No letters, no fees, no long forms.
Questions are submitted free through Google Forms. Tell us your story in one essay (up to 600 words). Applicants also provide basic contact and enrollment information and a way to verify need and enrollment. That's it — no letters, no fee, no long forms.
Applications are reviewed by a selection committee of Lakou Lokal board members.
In your essay, we want to understand
- What you're studying or hope to study, and why it matters to you;
- Where you are right now in your education, and what comes next;
- Where you want this degree to take you — your goals and aspirations; and
- How your Haitian or Caribbean roots — your family, your history, the people you carry with you — shape all of it.
Timeline
One Cycle, Three Steps
Step 1 · Fall 2026
Application Open
The application is open for submissions.
Step 2 · Fall 2026
Review & Select
The committee scores essays and selects recipient(s); awardees are notified.
Step 3 · Start of Spring 2027
Verify & Award
We confirm enrollment, disburse to the institution, and celebrate the recipient(s).
Get Started
Ready to Apply?
The application is free and takes one essay. Share your story with us today.
Apply Now(opens in a new tab)