All Diocesan Articles

 

 

 

Educating Women Leads to Success in Business and Family Life

Posted on August 15, 2019 in: Outreach to Haiti

Educating Women Leads to Success in Business and Family Life

By Dennis Petruzzi

At Outreach to Haiti we believe in the principle that education is the path to opportunity and the way out of poverty. For 30 years we have invested in educating school-age children and young adults. In the summer of 2016, aided by a grant from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, we began to apply that same principle to adult women.

Mothers in Haiti, and in most developing countries, are often looked upon as pillars of the family and the community. Yet their potential and development needs are sometimes overlooked. So, Outreach began a pilot program called Famn Avanse Kounyea (FAK), in English Advancing Women Now.  The goal of the pilot was to enable 10 women to each initiate and sustain a small business that would allow them to support their families. FAK is open to women who have successfully completed Outreach’s nutrition program demonstrating their commitment to improving their health and the health of their families.  

We provided each participant some financial aid in the form of start-up capital and a short-term loan, but we recognized the key to success was education and personal development. Participants were under the direction and mentoring of Eunide Lefevre, the executive director of the International School Of Leadership Cap-Haitian, Haiti. Each woman received training in basic business skills, opened a savings account and wrote a business plan. Through journaling and group and individual training sessions the women acquired skills and increased their confidence and self- esteem. Some proudly began to share their experiences with daughters and siblings.

Pilot participants have now established a variety of businesses. One, a water purification process, increases neighborhood access to potable water. Others increase access to cooking gas, telephone usage and nutritional food products made from locally grown ingredients.

A condition of the grant from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was that the program would result in systemic change. Upon receiving our final report from the pilot, the Sisters agreed that we had clearly met that condition. They extended the grant and funded an additional 20 participants. We have begun training this new group with several of the participants from the pilot serving as peer mentors.

Rosemary Hanrahan MD, MPH, is a former in-country director for Outreach and the creative force and vision behind FAK. Here is what she had to say about its systemic impact:

“Women in Haiti face many challenges and are extremely vulnerable to the frequent hardships that plague the country. With small loans, financial literacy seminars and business skills training, FAK offers essential resources. However, the real beauty of participating in FAK is that each woman is encouraged and supported to identify and call forth the resources within her to create the life she envisions.”  Well said and well done.  

To be a part of the Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti, please visit our website at outreachtohaiti.org, call 860.800.3601 or write us at 815 Boswell Ave., Norwich, CT 06360.  Thank you for supporting our diocesan mission in Haiti.

 


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Patroness of Haiti
“Make her known throughout the world” The month of May is devoted to Our Blessed Mother Mary, who is honored under many titles including Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Mary holds a special place in the hearts of Haitians and is honored by the people of Haiti and our local Haitian population under the name Notre-Dame du Perpètuel Secours. Many Catholic Churches throughout the United States, including the Catholic Church in Quaker Hill (part of Divine Mercy Parish), also honor our Blessed Mother under this title and contain the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

 

Español

 

 
Signup for Weekly Newsletter


    Recently Added Galleries
    Click to view album: Rite of Election
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination  for Fr. Jacob Ramos
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Father Lawrence Barile
    Click to view album: Palm Sunday
    Latest Articles
    Deacon William McGann, III - 1944~2023
    St. Bernard, Mercy High Schools Hold Graduations
    Mercy Chamber Choir Wins Contest, Will Open for Foreigner During Their Farewell Tour
    We Can Help. Promise to Protect-Pledge to Heal
    Why is June the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
    Memorial Day Masses Honor Sacrifices of Service Members
    Knights of Columbus Doc Explores Extraordinary Life of Fr. Emil Kapaun
    Employment Opportunities in the Diocese of Norwich

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294