Josue Lajeunesse
Encyclopedia
Josue Lajeunesse is one of the main subjects of a documentary called The Philosopher Kings
, which discusses the life stories of several American
university
custodians.
Lajeunesse was born and raised in Haiti
as the youngest of four children, and comes from the town of Lasource. His mother died when he was a young boy, and his father was a farmer
. After a period of time in the Haitian military
, Lajeunesse emigrated to the United States
in 1989. He is currently an employee of Princeton University
in Princeton, New Jersey
, where he works as a custodian
. About this job, he said, "Working at Princeton, you have opportunities to move up to another level and improve yourself economically and socially. Anyone who comes here to work, they take you in with two hands and arms open." In addition, Lajeunesse holds a night job as a taxi
driver and is the father of five children. Lajeunesse is an honorary member of the Princeton undergraduate class of 1998.
He is an active humanitarian, working to improve the welfare of Lasource's inhabitants. For example, he helped contribute the funds to bring a clean water source closer to the village, whose residents formerly needed to travel to a nearby mountain
for water. Currently, he is trying to make water cisterns available to each house so the water
is even more accessible. He would also like to provide the village with electricity
, in the form of solar panels, and computers.
About the poverty in Haiti, he has said, "Some people close their eyes to what's going on in front of them...but if God gave me the knowledge and the view to see these things, then I need to go back and help those people who cannot help themselves."
The Philosopher Kings (film)
The Philosopher Kings is a documentary film directed by Patrick Shen, and produced by Greg Bennick, about custodial workers at major U.S...
, which discusses the life stories of several American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
custodians.
Lajeunesse was born and raised in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as the youngest of four children, and comes from the town of Lasource. His mother died when he was a young boy, and his father was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
. After a period of time in the Haitian military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
, Lajeunesse emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1989. He is currently an employee of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, where he works as a custodian
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
. About this job, he said, "Working at Princeton, you have opportunities to move up to another level and improve yourself economically and socially. Anyone who comes here to work, they take you in with two hands and arms open." In addition, Lajeunesse holds a night job as a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver and is the father of five children. Lajeunesse is an honorary member of the Princeton undergraduate class of 1998.
He is an active humanitarian, working to improve the welfare of Lasource's inhabitants. For example, he helped contribute the funds to bring a clean water source closer to the village, whose residents formerly needed to travel to a nearby mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
for water. Currently, he is trying to make water cisterns available to each house so the water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
is even more accessible. He would also like to provide the village with electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, in the form of solar panels, and computers.
About the poverty in Haiti, he has said, "Some people close their eyes to what's going on in front of them...but if God gave me the knowledge and the view to see these things, then I need to go back and help those people who cannot help themselves."
External links
- Haiti Water Project
- Generosity Water, an organization involved with the Haiti Water Project