Community Initiatives
There is a Haitian proverb that says, “Gason konn bouke, men pa fanm.”
It literally translates to say, “Men experience fatigue, but not women.” This doesn’t mean that men don’t work hard, because they do. But the deeper meaning is that women cannot get tired because the work is never finished.
So many times, opportunities and resources go to young men while the young women of Haitian communities are caring for the home and everything that goes along with that. Young women often have to drop out of school to care for younger siblings and the home. When the female staff at WISH talked about the need to encourage and resource the young women of the community, we enthusiastically agreed. There are currently 2 separate programs focused on young women of Anse-a-Galets that meet in the WISH Youth Center. One is for high school young women and the other is for young women who are no longer school age.
There are 60 women who come every week to the Women’s Club. It is led by some of the dedicated WISH staff, Madame Foglas and Madame Jacque. They sing, pray, talk, and encourage each other. We all have dreams for ourselves and our families and these women are no different. They want a better life for their children.
The Women’s Club has a micro-loan program. Those who participate in the loan program learn small business and financial skills. There is currently a need to add money to the loan reserve. This is a great way to help women prosper and elevate their status in the family and community.
