In the small town, Lajeunesse spearheaded the production of a project that brought clean water to 10,000 villagers previously separated from clean water by 20 miles of dangerous terrain.
Since launching the project, the custodian has gained national recognition in two films directed by Patrick Shen: the 2009 “The Philosopher Kings” and the 2011 “La Source.”
Lajeunesse told The Daily Princetonian that he now has plans to start both a school and health clinic in La Source, noting that the movie gave him “more power to do more.” He added, though, that he and his brother have not begun to build the school.
“What I have in my mind is if I could build a school, the clinic would be a part of it ... Then the kids would be able to be checked there,” he explained.
Lajeunesse said he hopes to bring electricity to La Source in addition to the school and clinic.
He explained that the current projects were the logical conclusion to his initial construction of a clean water facility.
“The town is an empty town. People there have no business. They have nothing there. First, you have to get water. If you have water, you have electricity, you have school, you have a clinic. So now, business can come in. This is what I have on my mind,” Lajeunesse said.
Lajeunesse said that his water project has been extremely successful, noting that many people used to die from cholera due to unclean water but that not a single person has died from the disease since the construction.
He said that the effort to bring education and basic healthcare to La Source could prove to be similarly daunting tasks.
“In October, we started a school for the little kids, four to 10 years old,” he said. “But I really can’t respond to all their needs ... I cannot afford it myself.”
Despite the challenges, Lajeunesse expressed hope that the projects would be completed.
“Anything you start in a positive way, God will always give you an opportunity, a good way to get it done.”
After “The Philosopher Kings” was released in 2009, several University students helped finish Lajeunesse’s water project. This time, Lajeunesse said, he will likely need help again.
“These new projects are going to really need help because a lot of the stuff I used to do myself, and now I can’t,” he said. “If I had to do it alone, it’d probably take me 15 to 20 years.”
Lajeunesse is well known by students, especially those living in Whitman College. Dean of Whitman College Rebecca Graves-Bayazitoglu said that students who learned of him from the original documentary were inspired by his work.
“I feel really privileged to know him, and I hope to make a difference like he did,” she added.
Lajeunesse said that the University also made a difference to him.
“I always want to say thanks to all the kids, all the students and the University. I am very grateful to them.”
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