“Empower Haitian Women,” the
first-ever Haitian project winner of the Alumni Engagement and Innovation Fund,
concluded this week. A project created by Partners of the Americas Legislative
Professional Fellows alumnus Doudly Elius, the project delivered business
skills and entrepreneurship training to 40 women living with disabilities in
Port-au-Prince.
 |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti,Nazon, September 2015.
At the Bureau of Secretary of State for the
Integration of the Disabled
|
A project team staffed with an
international U.S. State Department of State program alumni in addition to
local trainers and volunteers, the Empower Haitian Women team created and
administered a training program that took place over two weeks at the offices
of Haiti’s Bureau of Integration of the Disabled (BSEIPH).
The training on business
management and business planning resulted in participants creating business
plans that will contribute to the development of small businesses—ultimately
increasing autonomy, financial security, and independence. Participants
completed the training and business plan development with the support of newly
formed peer networks, the guidance of the trainer/volunteer team of fifteen,
and with assistance from partner organizations FormatAide, Femmes Autonomes,
Office of Integration of the Disabled, and Sant Kore Lavi.
Throughout the training, the
participants had the opportunity to meet special guests and speakers, including
Gerald Oriol, Jr., Haiti’s Secretary of State for the Integration of the
Disabled; Mrs. Jennifer Noisette, U.S. Embassy Haiti’s Cultural Affairs
Officer; Gaelle Pierre, CEO of Femmes Autonomes, Sephora Pierre Louis, CEO of
FormatAide and Empower Haitian Women Leadership and Communication trainer, and Thermicile
Etienne Derilus, President of Sant Kore Lavi.
The participants and the Empower
Haitian Women team were thrilled to accept a generous donation of five manual sewing
machines from Klaus Langauer. He has a longstanding humanitarian connection to
Haiti and donated the sewing machines with the intention that they will give
the project’s participants a head start in building their businesses. In
addition to his donation, he is trying to look for English scholarships to the benefit
of 4 women.
 |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, September 2015.
40 women with disabilities sitting in photo with
the whole Empower Haitian Women project team
|
A program completion ceremony was held on Sunday, September 21st, 2015 to acknowledge the accomplishments of the Empower Haitian Women project participants. The training delivered will help these women as they start or progress in their entrepreneurial journeys. Through continued mentoring and connections made through the peer network of women living with disabilities, the EHW team has full confidence these women will continue to grow as empowered business people.
Video of Klaus Lengaeur with Doudly Elius the day of the donation of 5 sewing machines
Written by : Anastazyia Vareschi
Empower Haitian Women Communication Manager
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
United States
United States
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire