Empower Haitian Women

Past Partners Legislative Fellow Changes the Future for Disabled Women in Haiti

2015-10-24T11:59:00.003-07:00

US Embassador to Haiti Pamela White and Doudly Elius

Doudly Elius was visiting America from Haiti during his Partners of the Americas Legislative Fellow program in 2013 when he developed a motor disability. “I struggled a lot to walk, to climb stairs, or even to raise myself up from a chair,” Elius said. Still, New Jersey, where he was stationed, was well-equipped to support his needs.

“I was extremely grateful for Partners' New Jersey-Haiti Chapter, who took care of all of my needs throughout my fellowship. They provided me with endless support and guidance,” Elius said.

After his fellowship with Partners completed, Elius returned to Haiti. “When I came back from the fellowship, I realized that people with disabilities don’t stand a chance in Haiti. There is no accessibility for people like me, like I witnessed in New Jersey,” Elius said.

This is shocking considering more than 300,000 people were left disabled after the devastating Haiti earthquake in 2010.

Elius returned home from his Partners’ fellowship with a new outlook on life. Studying abroad had taught him that no goal is impossible. “When we study together, we learn more, and we learn faster. It empowers us with new skills and the necessary tools to succeed in life, and to make a long-lasting change in our community,” Elius said. “The fellowship was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

Combining what he learned during his fellowship with his business skills, he created a program that he calls, Empower Haitian Women. The program would train 40 Haitian women who became disabled as a result of the earthquake on how to create their own business plans. He then submitted his project to the U.S. State Department’s 2014 Alumni Engagement and Innovation Fund.

And he won.

Elius was the first Haitian to ever win the Alumni Engagement and

Innovation Fund. He was awarded $20,000 to execute his project. Equipped with local teachers, volunteers, and State Department alumni, Empower Haitian Women implemented its two week program this past September that helped disabled women create a business plan from start-to-finish. The program took place at Haiti’s Bureau of Integration of the Disabled (BSEIPH) in Port-au-Prince, a city heavily affected by the 2010 earthquake.

Elius chose to use his program to empower women because women, in particular, are looked down upon for being disabled in Haiti. “Women are the most vulnerable in the Haitian society. Though they have a lot of responsibilities, they are often rejected or humiliated because of their disabilities,” Elius said.

Through training and empowering women with disabilities, Elius hopes that a new generation of leaders will emerge.

The women were taught business, leadership, and communications skills. Many prominent speakers came and talked with them about their goals and abilities, including Gerald Oriol, Jr., Haiti’s Secretary of State for the Integration of the Disabled; and Mrs. Jennifer Noisette, U.S. Embassy Haiti’s Cultural Affairs Officer.

Mercilia Aurelus

Mercilia Aurélus is one of these women. Aurélus is a wife and mother of two. To support her family, she manages a business that sews linens for homes, called Mercilia Bel kay. There’s one thing - she lost 4 fingers on her right hand.

Empowering Haitian Women allowed her to improve her managerial and communication skills, and increase her income. She learned how to manage a budget, about liquidity, gross salary versus net salary, and profit and loss.

The program was Aurélus’ first experience with other women living with disabilities. “I was surprised to see the full potential, the courage, and the determination of these women,” Aurélus said.

Aurélus also saw the psychological benefits of Empowering Haitian Women. “With the new business skills, these women will be more mentally prepared to face their financial issues, start a business, or even get a job. This is a new start in their life,” she said.

Guerrier Marie Julie is a woman with a strong mind and conviction, who has had her left arm amputated. She left Empowering Haitian Women with a business plan to create a grocery store, Merci Jesus Provision Alimentaire.

Guerrier Marie Julie

In those two weeks, Julie had drafted a business plan, learned the role and importance of credit, and how to create and manage a budget. She also learned about entrepreneurship and leadership.

“It was a healthy and pleasant environment where 40 women with disabilities got together to network and learn new skills related to entrepreneurship, communication, and leadership,” Julie said.

By the completion of the program, each of the 40 participants had created her own business plan, ultimately increasing her autonomy, financial security, and independence. A graduation ceremony was held at the end of the two weeks, on September 20, 2015. With the continued support from their mentors and each other, Elius is certain these women, and therefore the next generation, will succeed.

Each of the 40 women who attended Empowering Haitian Women put her entire heart into the program. They worked tirelessly, building lasting partnerships with each other, and their work is already paying off. Five women have already started sewing businesses after receiving a donation of sewing machines from Klaus Langauer. Four women are receiving scholarships to learn English, a skill that will make them very competitive on the Haitian job market. And all 40 of these women are now empowered with the skills and mentality to succeed.

Elius has no plans of stopping. He hopes to expand Empowering Haitian Women across Haiti, giving women and girls the tools they need to create successful lives for themselves and their families.

Please watch all the Empower Haitian Women Training videos here : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9TKctWWVt5khHAeGJ0brlw

Connect on Facebook with the Empower Haitian Women here : https://www.facebook.com/EHWAEIF2014

English Scholarships to Women Living With Disabilities

2015-10-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, October 10th, 2015, with a very generous donation from Gaby Steiner Wagner, 4 women with disabilities got the chance to study in the best English school - the Haitian American Institute (Haitiano).

Thanks to Doudly Elius and Cudgenslhey Alexandre for organizing the transport of the ladies and helping to go through the process at the institute with ease. (Due to a medical issue, one of the ladies was not able to attend).

This is a GREAT opportunity for those 4 ladies and they promised to study hard. DANKE Gaby!!!!

Empower Haitian Women AEIF 2014 Project winner, Doudly Elius delivers Business Training to 40 women living with disabilities.

2015-09-23T11:06:00.003-07:00

“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 21^st, 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

Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities Visits Empower Haitian Women Training

2015-09-22T13:59:00.001-07:00

The 40 Empower Haitian Women training participants were honored to receive Haiti’s Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities Gerald Oriol, Jr. on the fourth day of their entrepreneurship and business skills training at the Bureau of Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH) offices in Nazon. A visit in show of support for the Empower Haitian Women project, his presence was met with enthusiasm by participants and EHW volunteers alike.

Having already offered tremendous support by providing a handicap accessible space in which to deliver the business skills training, the Empower Haitian Women team is optimistic about future opportunities to collaborate with the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Integration of Persons with Disabilities.

Gerald Oriol, Jr. was appointed as Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities by President Michel Martelly in October 2011. He and his offices provide services to an estimated one million disabled persons nationally. The Empower Haitian Women team and the participants are grateful to Secretary Oriol for his time and support.

Doudly Elius, EHW project founder, introduces Gerald Oriol, Jr., Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, at business skills training session on September 18th, 2015 at BSEIPH.

Partnership Between Empower Haitian Women and Office of the Secretary of State for Integration of Persons with Disabilities

2015-09-22T13:43:00.003-07:00

Doudly Elius, Empower Haitian Women project founder, poses with Daworldson Senelus, BSPEIH Placement Services Coordinator, after minting the EHW-BSPEIH partnership.

With mutually shared goals of increasing the integration of people living with disabilities in Haiti, le Bureau du Secrétaire d’Etat à l’Intégration des Personnes Handicapées (BSEIPH) has become the Empower Haitian Women project’s newest partner. In a meeting on May 28th, 2015 between Doudly Elius, project founder; Daworldson SENELUS, BSEIPH’s placement services coordinator; Daniel Jean, trainer/volunteer; Cajou Jean, and Jude Adrien, volunteers, partnership parameters and goals were broached.

BSEIPH’s commitment to raise awareness of national and international public opinion about disability issues and strengthen the capacity of associations related to disability issues made them a natural partner for the Empower Haitian Women project, which will provide business and entrepreneurial training for 40 Haitian women living with disabilities.

Dawoldson Senelus, representing BSEIPH, agreed that BSEIPH will provide a handicap accessible location for the training. Accessible locations are rare commodities in Port-au-Prince. The Empower Haitian Women project and participants will benefit greatly from the generosity of BSEIPH and is looking forward to kicking off the training at their offices in Nazon on Monday, September 14th,2015.

From Left to Right : Adriano Jude Cajou and Daniel Jean, trainer meet to discuss partnership opportunities, volunteer, Doudly Elius, founder, Daworldson Senelus, BSPEIH Placement Services Coordinator.

Pre-Training Meeting with Empower Haitian Women Volunteers

2015-08-31T07:41:00.002-07:00

The Empower Haitian Women team-Holding the EHW banner
Bar Kokoye in Delmas 31-Port-au-Prince, August 2015

In preparation for the Empower Haitian Women (EHW) business training scheduled to begin the week of September 14^th, Doudly Elius, the Empower Haitian Women Project founder and AEIF 2014 first Haitian winner, met with members of EHW’s trainer and volunteer team to discuss the coordination of business training for 40 Haitian women living with disabilities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

They met at Bar Kokoye in Delmas 31, Port-au-Prince on August 15^th, 2015at 11hAM. Among those present to plan logistics and training execution were Daniel Jean, Candio Nehemie, Verly Deree, and Amos Etienne, EHW trainers, as well as Migenson Elius, EHW volunteer.

The two week program will include training on business management and business planning, with the first week consisting of direct instruction of training content and the second week focusing on workshop opportunities for participants to practice applying the concepts learned in week one.

As a result of the cohort’s participation in the training, they will develop entrepreneurship and business skills that will culminate with their creation and presentation of a business plan. Participants will achieve this outcome through 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.

Picture blog Pre-Training meeting with Empower Haitian Women Volunteers

2015-08-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Doudly Elius, le premier Haïtien remportant le concours AEIF

2015-05-21T05:42:00.002-07:00

Le Nouvelliste | Publié le : 08 mai 2015

Doudly Elius-Project Founder and Director
of the AEIF 2014 Empower Haitian Women

Le projet de Doudly Elius figuré parmi les soixante meilleurs des centaines de projets proposés au concours du Département d’État américain de 2014 baptisé « Fonds d’innovation de l’engagement des anciens (AEIF). Parmi les candidats haïtiens pour l’année 2014, seul Doudly Elius a pu participer à la phase finale du concours dont il est l’un des gagnants. Revenu en Haïti, il soutient l’esprit d’entrepreneuriat des femmes à mobilité réduite.

Après les tests préliminaires, ils étaient deux cent trente-neuf projets sélectionnés issus de cinquante pays sur la ligne de départ d’Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) de 2014. Avec le soutien de Partners of the Americas, le jeune Haïtien a eu le privilège d’être compté du nombre des participants malgré qu’il ne soit pas un professionnel du droit. Le côté social de son projet a emballé plus d’un au point qu’il a reçu, en un laps de temps, le nombre de votes exigés.Après sa sélection, Doudly Elius a passé plusieurs semaines à New Jersey puis une semaine à Washington. Depuis, il travaille sans relâche avec son réseau composé de douze membres (Alumni) éparpillés à travers le monde.

Déjà lancé dans le social par le truchement de Partners of the Americas, ce prix lui a permis de travailler sur un projet plus innovant. Avec les 20 000 dollars reçus du Département d’État, M. Elius entreprend un nouveau projet baptisé « Autonomie des femmes haïtiennes ». Ce projet vise, entre autres, à éduquer 40 femmes haïtiennes vivant avec des handicaps physiques sur la gestion d’entreprise. Les modules développés sont à la dimension des bénéficiaires. Les cours, si l’on en croit les propos de Doudly Elius, sont portés essentiellement sur l’élaboration de plans d’affaires et la gestion d’entreprise. En plus de cours théoriques, des ateliers d’échanges se tiennent sur le leadership en vue de l’applicabilité des modules étudiés.

Par le biais de ce programme, M. Elius aide ces femmes à surmonter certains obstacles. « Le projet vise non seulement à leur donner les compétences, mais aussi à les responsabiliser en tant qu'individus et en tant que groupe pour former un réseau de soutien et collaborer sur des idées d'affaires qui pourraient conduire à une entreprise autonome », a-t-il expliqué. Ainsi, il compte apporter sa pierre dans la construction d’un pays où les personnes vivant avec des handicaps puissent jouir pleinement de leurs droits sociaux et économiques.

Le Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) est un concours de projets en ligne mondial organisé chaque année par le Département d'État américain avec les anciens professionnels de différentes origines. Il est un concours de projets hautement compétitif réunissant plusieurs centaines de projets. En 2014 seulement 60 ont été sélectionnés.

Le concours a été créé dans le but de soutenir les initiatives qui favorisent des valeurs partagées et des solutions innovantes aux défis mondiaux. Ainsi, la compétition fournit de petites subventions à des équipes de participants aux programmes d'échanges parrainés par le gouvernement des États-Unis pour mener à bien des projets de services publics qui utilisent les compétences et les connaissances qu'ils ont acquises à travers leurs expériences. Les projets, pour être sélectionnés, doivent être conformes aux exigences de l’AEIF.

The AEIF 2014 Empower Haitian Women (EHW) staff at local Radio stations to promote EHW project

2015-04-04T11:34:00.001-07:00

Project promotion at Radio Ibo 98.5 FM

Project Director and founder, Doudly Elius
and Guy-Luce Fenelon at Radio Ibo promoting
the Empower Haitian Women project

Port-au-Prince—Kicking off the Empower Haitian Women project’s promotional activities, project founder, Doudly Elius, AEIF’s 2014 first Haitian competition winner and project members: Gaelle Pierre, founder of “Femmes Autonomes;” Guy-Luce Fenelon, EHW grants & strategic plan manager; and Anastazyia Vareschi, international project team coordinator were invited by the “Go for English” radio show to speak about project activities.

The popular English language radio show, hosted by Kenel Joseph and Phedre Delinois made possible by funding through the U.S. Embassy, provided a platform for the team to share project history and objectives with the local community. Phedre Delinois, “Go for English” host, posed a range of questions for the team on topics ranging from the project's choice of focus on disabled women to the role of international community in local projects. Doudly Elius also used the "Go for English" segment to share how members of the community could apply as project beneficiaries or provide support.

Guy-Luce Fenelon, Phedre Delinoir, Doudly Elius, Anastazyia Vareschi, Daniel Jean and Gaelle Pierre

Project promotion at Radio Melodie 103.3 F.M

EHW staff at Radio Melodie FM

Port-au-Prince—The Empower Haitian Women project continued promotional activities Wednesday morning at local radio station Melodie 103.3 FM as guests of host Acenel Laurent. Project founder and AEIF 2014 competition winner, Doudly Elius, and team members: Gaelle Pierre, founder of “Femmes Autonomes;” Guy-Luce Fenelon, EHW grants & strategic plan manager; and Anastazyia Vareschi, international project team coordinator shared with listeners about the project’s aim to provide business and entrepreneurial training for 40 Haitian women living with disabilities.

(from left to right) Daniel Jean trainer, Doudly Elius EHW Project director, Anastazyia Vareschi International staff coordinator, Gaelle Pierre EHW staff and founder of Femmes Autonome and Guy-Luce Fenelon Grants and Planning Manger
Port-au-Prince, Haiti 2015.

The AEIF 2014 Empower Haitian Women (EHW) Secures Handicap Accessible Training Location through Generosity of Sacre Coeur Parish

2015-04-04T05:01:00.001-07:00

Port-au-Prince—On Wednesday morning, members of the Empower Haitian team made site visits to secure a handicap accessible space in which to deliver entrepreneurship and business skills training to 40 women living with disabilities in Port-au-Prince.

(From left to right) Anastazyia Vareschi EHW International staff coordinator, Guy-Luce Fenelon Grant & Planning manager, Gaelle Rimpel Pierre founder of "Femmes Autonome", Doudly Elius EHW founder and Project director and sister Nadege

Fighting heavy traffic, Gaelle Rimpel Pierre, founder of "Femmes Autonomes," arrived at Sacre Coeur’s Turgeau location to meet with Sister Nadeje and to evaluate the site with Doudly Elius, AEIF 2014 competition winner and project founder; and team members: Guy-Luce Fenelon, Grant manager & Strategic planning; Daniel Jean, trainer; and Anastazyia Vareschi, international staff coordinator.

(left) Daniel Jean, Empower Haitian Women

trainer

The team agreed that while the school space would meet the physical needs of some training participants, that it would not be accessible to all. At Sister Nadeje's suggestion, the team next visited the Professional School of Joseph Serge Miot, adjacent to Atelye Pwotez Sen Jozef, a workshop where prosthetic limbs are fabricated. The location struck the team as an immediate fit. Due to the colocation of the prosthetics workshop, the Professional School of Joseph Serge Miot is one of the few locations in Port-au-Prince where considerations for accessibility are evident. Under the auspices of Father Hans Alexandre, Sacre Coeur Church, Turgeau generously offered to provide space for Empower Haitian Women's April training.

Ateleye Protez Sen Jozef & Professional School of Joseph Serge Miot, sites for the Empower Haitian Women training at Sacre Coeur Parish in Turgeau.

The AEIF 2014 Empower Haitian Women Staff (EHW) Partners with organizations in Haiti

2015-04-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

Partnership with FormatAide

Doudly Elius, EHW Project founder
and Sephora Pierre-Louis,
CEO and founder of FormatAide

With their vast experience in education and entrepreneurship, under the leadership of Séphora Pierre-Louis, Founder and Executive Director, FormatAide agreed to contribute a leadership training workshop for the beneficiaries to help the female participants develop their leadership skills. The EHW team is thrilled to have FormatAide’s support.

Partnership with CEFA

CEFA President Gaelle Pierre meets

with EHW team members

at Poti’wa in P.V, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The Empower Haitian Women project also partner with Le Club Entrepreneurial Femmes Autonome (CEFA) in affiliation with La Fondation Ayisyen (FEA). Sharing overlapping interests in female empowerment, economic development, and autonomy, CEFA President, Gaelle Pierre, has graciously agreed to aid in the selection of female beneficiaries. In addition, CEFA will secure a handicap accessible training location in Port-au-Prince. Empower Haitian Women and CEFA, furthermore, look forward to partnering for future funding opportunities.

Partnership with Sant Kore Lavi (SKL)

Sant Kore Lavi President Thermicile Dérilus meets

with EHW team members at Sant Kore Lavi

in Croix-des-Mission Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Sant Kore Lavi, dedicated to increasing inclusion and social justice for disabled people in Haiti, is also joining the Empower Haitian Women project in order to identify 20 female beneficiaries in Port-au-Prince. Having provided support for Doudly Elius’s first community project to train 10 people living with disabilities, Sant Kore Lavi is extremely optimistic about the growth of the program to 40 participants, with hopes as well for future project expansion.

Partnership with Center of Leadership and Excellence (CLE)

From left to right Lucia Di Poi (CLE) and

Doudly Elius (EHW Project director)

at CLE’s office in P.V, Port-au-Prince, Hait

The Center of Leadership and Excellence (CLE) is a partner organization specializing in leadership development in Haiti. CLE lends their support to the Empower Haitian Women project through a partnership that will contribute to the training and empowerment of this group of Haitian women living with disabilities.

Partnership with Mercy Corps

Doudly Elius, EHW Project Founder,

Luce Perez, Eco. Devlpment & Prog Manager,

discussing partnershipMercy Corps,

Peguy-Ville, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The Empower Haitian Women project, in a meeting in February 2015, sought partnership from Mercy Corps. Luce Perez, Economic Development and Program Manager, expressed interest in possible partnership opportunities. The Empower Haitian Women project is optimistic about future collaboration arrangements.

AEIF 2014 First Haitian winner welcomes Anastazyia in Haiti

2015-03-31T04:49:00.003-07:00

Doudly Elius, Gaelle Pierre, Rock Andre, Anastazyia Vareschi and Guy-Luce Fenelon hold team meeting on March 28th, 2015.
In preparation for the launch of the training phase of the AEIF 2014 Empower Haitian Women project, Anastazyia Vareschi, international team coordinator, arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Saturday 28^th, 2015.

The team wasted no time, scheduling a meeting that evening of project founder, Doudly Elius, also AEIF 2014 First Haitian winner and project members: Gaelle Pierre, founder of “Femmes Autonomes”, Rock Andre, the President of CEDEL Haiti, and Guy-Luce Fenelon, EHW Grants & Strategic Plan Manager. All of them met at Pétion-ville’s Pot’iwa Pizza. Key project tasks were finalized with regard to training logistics and publicity. The team also discussed long-term project goals related to spreading the impact of EHW’s objective to empower Haitian women living with disabilities through business skills training.

While gaining better insight into the unique challenges and opportunities of community development in Port-au-Prince, Anastazyia is thrilled to be contributing to the important work of increasing empowerment and autonomy among Haitian women living with disabilities.

The AEIF 2014 first Haitian winner is meeting local Organizations to Empower Haitian Women

2015-02-09T06:07:00.001-08:00

Luce Perez (right) and Doudly Elius (left)
At Mercy Corps Office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

On February 4^th, 2015, my AEIF project local team and I met with Mercy Corps’ Economic Development Program Manager, Luce Perez. As being the first ever Haitian winner of the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF). I am also a former Legislative Fellow from Partners of the Americas. I am currently implementing my project to Empower Haitian Women living with physical disabilities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

At the meeting, Luce Perez and I talked about the Empower Haitian Women Project goals and how Mercy Corps, an international organization working in Haiti, would contribute to support these 40 Haitian women. We also discussed further possibilities of partnership for future community projects.

The Empower Haitian Women AEIF 2014 project is funded by the US State Exchange Programs, U.S. Department of State and is monitored by the US Embassy of Port-au-Prince, Haïti. The project team is composed of State Department program alumni with various professional backgrounds from different countries such as: The United States, Canada,

Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Moldova, Pakistan and Haiti.

Altogether, as a former Legislative Fellow Doudly Elius from Partners of the Americas and my AEIF international and local staff, we are currently working on field activities to deliver business planning and management training to 40 Haitian Women living with a physical handicap. With my multidimensional background in project management, communication, leadership, business administration, and IT, will apply these skills and experience as an international Professional Fellow to make a difference in the Haitian society. Through the month of February, I am holding meetings with several local organizations to develop meaningful partnerships. At project completion, 40 Haitian women, should they succeed in procuring funding from micro-finance organizations, will launch or augment their businesses. This, in turn, will help them take care of themselves and their family, helping them to achieve true empowerment.

Le Premier gagnant Haïtien du concours AEIF 2014 participe à une émission sur Radio Ibo

2015-01-05T12:40:00.002-08:00

Doudly Elius a servi dans un club Toastmasters en Haïti d'abord comme vice-président au recrutement et vice-président des relations publiques.

Kenel Joseph (gauche) Doudly Elius (centre)
Phedre Delinois (gauche)
Professeurs d'Anglais

Doudly participé au programme International d’Echange Professionnel l'année dernière où il a présenté un projet de développement durable au Congrès américain parmi 239 professionnels internationaux à Washington D.C et a également déjeuné avec le sénateur Al Franken.

Le 9 Octobre 2014, il était l'invité de "Go for English" une émission de radio en Haiti très populaire sur les ondes de Radio Ibo et qui est financés par le bureau des affaires publiques de l'ambassade américaine en Haiti.

Lors de son entrevue, il a non seulement partagé ses expériences, mais il a également mentionné les problèmes rencontrés par les personnes handicapées et a insisté sur combien il est important de les intégrer dans la vie quotidienne.

Félicitations à Doudly d’être le premier gagnant du concours AEIF pour Haïti en 2014!

Article écrit par le département des affaires publiques de l'ambassade américaine en Haïti

2014 Haiti AEIF Winner participates on Radio Show

2015-01-05T10:31:00.001-08:00

Doudly Elius served in a Toastmasters Club in Haiti first as Vice-President Membership and second as Vice-President Public Relations.

Kenel Joseph (left) Doudly Elius (center)
Phedre Delinois (left)
Photo with Radio host English teachers

Doudly participated in the International Professional Exchange program last year where he presented a sustainable project at the American Congress among 239 international professional Fellows in Washington DC and also had breakfast with Senator Al Franken.

On October 9th, 2014, he was the guest of “ Go for English” a popular Haitian Radio Show airing on Radio Ibo and sponsored by the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy.

During his interview, Doudly not only shared his experiences, but he also mentioned the problems encountered by the physically challenged and insisted on how important it is to integrate them into the everyday life.

Congratulations Doudly on being the first AEIF Winner for Haiti!

Article written by the Public Section Affairs from the US Embassy in Haiti

Former Legislative Fellow Wins 2014 Alumni Engagement Innovative Fund Award for Project to Empower Haitian Women

2014-10-31T04:25:00.001-07:00

Former Legislative Fellow
Speaking about his AEIF 2014 winning project
On Friday, September 5, 2014, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Pamela White and her office organized a reception with Haitian Professionals who participated in programs with the U.S. State Department to introduce the AEIF (Alumni Engagement Innovative Fund) 2014 winner for Haiti. As one of the winners of the 2014 AEIF Awards, I was officially invited to take part at this reception in Bourdon, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Doudly Elius and U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Pamela White
At the reception, I had a chance to meet with other Fellows from other U.S. State Department programs and talk about my AEIF 2014 project idea. My AEIF project: "Empower Haitian Women", falls in line with one of the main themes promoted by the International Exchange Alumni global online project competition this year--Empowering Women. My budget reaches $20,000 in order to provide business planning literacy to my target community of 40 Haitian women living with disabilities. My goal is to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people, specifically those who are excluded from the Haitian society and also victims of societal discrimination.
I delivered an impromptu speech in the presence of more than 200 international professionals alumni and during my speech I stated how much I'd learned from Partners of the Americas' Legislative Fellowship Programs. In closing, I shared the following with the audience:

“I acknowledge Partners of the Americas and their team whom support has helped me to be one of the AEIF 2014 winners in the western hemisphere for Haiti. Their help during this competition providing me with constructive, useful feedback and assistance will never be forgotten. Now because of the International Professional Exchange Program, I am going to empower 40 Haitian women living with disabilities through business literacy training and leadership workshops.”

The Alumni Engagement Innovative Fund (AEIF) is a worldwide online project competition organized yearly by the U.S. State Department with alumni from different backgrounds. It is a highly competitive project competition--out of more than 1000 innovative projects, only 60 were selected to receive a grant of up to $25,000. Haiti had never been selected as the AEIF winner before, and this was the first time that a Fellow who recently participated in a program funded by the U.S. State Department won the global project competition.

Watch Former Legislative Fellow Doudly Elius’s speaking about his AEIF 2014 winning project here.

Doudly Elius and Christian Clerjeune

2014-10-06T15:49:00.001-07:00

Doudly Elius after recovery from the Chikungunya disease. Port-au-Prince Haiti, 2014.

Doudly Eius and Christian Clerjeune. Port-au-Prince, Haiti 2014

Former Legislative Fellow from Haiti Shares Experience with Civil Innovation Lab

2014-09-20T10:26:00.001-07:00

After having returned from my fellowship at the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) last year, I was put in contact with the Civil Innovation Lab (CIL), an international organization based in the Dominican Republic. Once this invitation was handed to me, I immediately thought that as a professional, this would be a great experience for me to learn about international projects and to share my recent experience as a Legislative Fellow and my community project funded by Partners, which I implemented right after my fellowship.

Fellow Doudly Elius
&

Project Coordinator of Civil Innovation Lab

Caitlin Stilin-Rooney

This being my first invitation from an international organization, I was honored and excited to start my travel to my neighboring country of the Dominican Republic. I took a bus from Port-au-Prince, Haiti towards Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where I learned the Spanish word for bus station, “parada.” Once I arrived I was met by Caitlin Stilin-Rooney, the Project Coordinator for the Civil Innovation Lab. She received me with such enthusiasm by hugging me for what felt like forever and with a force that I almost choked. When she saw that I was wearing a t-shirt from my community project with the logo of Partners of the Americas and the U.S. State Department, she whipped out her phone and began taking a frenzy of pictures of us.

Sunset Jazz Event

Instead of going to sleep when I arrived, I was immediately immersed in the organization’s program. That night, at an event called Sunset Jazz, we watched a professional and international tap dancer from New York, Andrew Nemr, perform alongside percussionist Edgar Molina and a jazz band on the top floor of the Dominican Fiesta HOTEL and Casino overlooking the city. The performance was wonderful and I was able to meet and talk to other people like Roman Perez, an Operations Manager at Stance Data.

Civil Innovation Lab

Fundacion Central Barahona Group

The next day, we took a bus to Barahona for an activity tour with Fundación Central Barahona. I met Carlos Miranda, Founder and Program Coordinator for the Civil Innovation Lab, and Rafael T. Nazario, Executive Director of Fundación Central Barahona. We discussed the various projects being worked on in the community, like the production and sale of goat cheese as well as fish farming. My favorite project would have to be the Chicken Farm Project, in which 1,000 chickens are grown and taken care of by members of the community. Each project is aimed at developing and aiding community growth by providing business structure, building capacity in finance and implementation, and having project ideas come directly from the community. I was able to go into a youth center were Andrew, the tap dancer, performed for the kids and danced with the kids. We were all also able to join and dance. It was a beautiful experience!

I am thankful for the opportunities presented by having gone through the Legislative Fellows Program at Partners of the Americas. This weekend spent at the Dominican Republic has helped me gain a deeper understanding about what a sustainable project is and how it can empower vulnerable communities. I am now considering developing a partnership with the Civil Innovation Lab and the Fundación Central Barahona to implement similar projects in Haiti, in order to create employment and open new opportunities for Haitians and Dominicans to work together.

Tap Dance Performance-Short Video

Best Week-end Ever!

2014-08-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Doudly Elius, our special guest for CIV Camp arrived on Friday 22nd, 2014 from Port-au-Prince

Me and Doudly Elius
Former Legislative Fellow
Picture taken by Caitlin in DR

Haiti. After our Payan sandwiches we went to see Andrew Nemr (a professional Tap Dancer from New York) and Edgar Molina performing together at Sunset Jazz where we met Roman, Anuar, Sara and Omar (some Fellows from the CIL Camp).

Saturday, Doudly and I got to spend time with Karen, Roman and Luis (our CIV fellows) + Andrew, Rafael, and Pablo in Barahona. From there I left to meet my god daughter and family in Jimaní. We talked, played, shared, and did yoga together.

Sunday I spent time with Salomon and the COTEDEMI members in Duverge who have led a successful SAN for the past 4 months.

Feeling so lucky and blessed to have these people in my life. Thanks so much for the best weekend ever!

By Caitlin Stilin-Rooney

Civil Innovation Lab Project Coordinator

Dominican Republic

Legislative Fellow Provides Business Training Literacy to 10 People living with Disabilities in Port-au-Prince Haiti

2014-05-31T12:26:00.001-07:00

People living with disabilities
ready to learn

The Legislative Fellows Program strives to open new opportunities for participants and their home and host organizations. New skills developed during your fellowship and the new relationships that have been built should continue to impact your community for years. As a Fellow, Doudly Elius has the responsibility to transfer what he has learned to others in his organization and his community.

Partners provide Fellows with various resources to help them transfer new skills and knowledge to their communities upon their return. One of the most important of these resources is the Community Project Grants.

The Community Project Grants are designed to help Fellows:

Legislative Fellow Doudly Elius
distributing
documents

1) Continue developing new skills through community engagement

and network building;

2) Use their skills and expertise to give back to their home and

host communities.

Community Project Grants are small grants to provide seed funding

to new projects developed by Fellows and collaborating organizations

or to expand existing projects in which the Fellows are working.

In addition to the funds provided, Fellows also have the opportunity

to connect to Partners’ hemispheric network of volunteers to

find mentors, learn about and adapt project methodologies,

and partner with local volunteers and organizations.

Legislative Fellow Doudly Elius wrote his community project to reach these following objectives:

-.10 people with physical disabilities will be able
to prepare their own business plan to start a business in the future and generate their own revenues if
they receive some funding from a micro-finance institution

-. The project will empower them with new
skills and knowledge to share business ideas to
other people with disabilities

-. If they want to start a business immediately after the project is ended, they will be connected to a business mentor or a student advisor to guide them through the process and help them finding fund to invest into the project.

Empower Haitian Women-Alumni Innovative Engagement Fund

2014-04-26T08:33:00.002-07:00

Support Small to Medium Sized Enterprises

2014-04-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

Mentoring Small Entrepreneurs at Quisqueya University on Factor8

FormatAide welcomes Doudly Elius to his team to help provide sustainable business training to Small to Medium Sized Entrepreneurs in Haiti to help them make lasting contributions to their families and their communities.

Doudly has a major in Public Administration at a Public University in the Capital of Port-au-Prince, also multidimensional background in Project Management, Communication and Journalism. He recently had en experience at Rutgers University in the Small Business Development Center where he learned about New Jersey Small Business Policy and techniques. He's been exposed to NJ Small Business Clients where he attended training, seminars, conferences, He also learned about SBA Lender relationship and regulations. He learned about the contrast of starting a business versus buying an existing business or Franchise.

His last training participation before he left NJ Small Business Development Center was on Marketing and Social Media Strategies. Now that he got back to his country after his Fellowship Experience, he is replicating what he learned from this experience to support Small Business Entrepreneurs.

Doudly is a very dynamic young man who is devoted to help FormatAide strengthen the Small businesses in Haiti through sustainable Training!

Haiti toward Change

2014-01-22T04:11:00.001-08:00

Nowadays young Haitian people are saying : "You can't make any difference; Haitians can't make change happen". Those words are always repetitive in the Haitian society and if one Haitian pretends to be different, he's called to be wasting his time.

Let me tell you what my statements are: I believe when we stick together, we can face our issues together, we can confront our fear together as of: Fear of loving each other, fear of hurting others because of the truth we want to speak, fear of being different when everybody else is turning their back to their own brothers and sisters, we can still be victorious together.

Someone used to tell me:"The mind performs whatever the picture you put in it". Now ask yourself : What picture do you put into your mind? Is it a picture of discouragement, hatred, or is it a picture of harmony, love, peace and change?

Haitian children at School in Haiti-PSUGO

Let's teach the children to think positive that change is possible, let's teach them that one Haitian can replicate, duplicate and plant an idea into a whole generation mind that all things is possible. Let’s all the Haitian children be immersed into the idea that change is possible, let them grow with hope and visions to be the change that we are seeking, when all the Haitian kids grow with the idea of change, they will create and do everything by change and for the change. In terms of education the current government Martelly / Lamothe are working hard to give access to education to everybody with the educational program PSUGO (Programme de scolarisation universel gratuite et obligatoire) and on the economic aspect, the Haitian economy growth has recently been increased up to 4.3 according to IHSI which is in charge of statistics and Data analysis in Haiti. We can ask the question now, isn't there a change being processed since in 2012, the economy growth was 2.8% ?

Before anything gets to be physical, it has to be in state of mind so if in Haiti, everybody conjugates the verb of "change" and keep it as the only picture in the mind and hold on to it, it will become natural and that's where Haiti toward change will be a reality.

Haiti toward change would require that every single Haitian to be the change that they are looking for and it will happen only with Haitians and by Haitians.

Written by Doudly Elius

International Professional Exchange For Change

2013-12-19T07:11:00.001-08:00

Success Happens Easier When We Are Connected

Success is Easier When we are Connected

Dominican Rep, Haiti and Paraguay

Picture after breakfast with

Senator Al Franklin in DC

Heading for the Toussaint Louverture Airport of Haiti-Maїs Gaté, excited to ever leave my country for the first time to participate in the International Professional Ex

change Program in United States of America. A program funded by the U.S. Department of State but implemented by Partners of the Americas based in Washington DC. To me this was going to be a dream turning into a reality since all my life I have been learning from other professionals but never had a chance to work with 239 International Professionals from 50 countries in the world. I had the impression at the very first sight that it was going to be a UNIQUE experience in my life and for the benefit of my community. As a Legislative Fellow from Haiti, I was the only one Haitian among 239 professionals, this created an occasion to be remarkable for the entire fellowship program in DC.

Brainstorming Session for

Problem-solving

Washington DC

As a matter of fact, all the fellows with different backgrounds, spreading around the United States had the chance to build a network with other professionals and that’s where this experience got even more interesting. The consideration of being connected with all these resources while learning by exchanging creates an easy pattern for success to happen. As a Legislative Fellow, I understand now why all the fellows believe that the International Exchange Program is an important step toward change throughout the world.

Host Organization
I worked at Rutgers University in New Jersey, a State University with a huge territory of 5 campus. I had the chance to be placed at the NJSBDC (New Jersey Small Business Development Center) which is a department whose mission is committed to guiding established small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to create and expand their business enterprises which will, in turn, result in sustainable growth, job creation and statewide economic development and prosperity.

Through NJSBDC, I learned about :

-The process of acquiring a new business

-The SBA lender relationship and regulations

-The contrast between starting a new business versus buying an existing business or franchise also I participated in some seminar involving marketing and social media strategies.

The host organization helped me understand how Small businesses work in New Jersey and the rules and regulations that have to follow to start a new business which is different in Haiti since lending money to Small businesses has always been considered as a hindrance but due to this fellowship experience, I understand that lenders are eager to lend money to small businesses since they obtain more in return.

After I got a chance to understand the system of how Small businesses function through the SBDC program, I created an M&E system of data analysis that helps monitor and evaluate the SBDC program. This also helps understand how well the program works and what change needs to be made in order to bring some improvement when its necessary.

I enjoyed creating something that is valuable to NJSBDC. I am certain that my help will contribute to the improvement of New Jersey Small Businesses in a very near future.

The US Cultural Aspect and Lesson Learned

I met with two members from New Jersey-Haiti Partners who explained to me everything about the Americans cultural aspect, from starting to family meeting (through diner time, lunch and breakfast).

I rapidly found out that the American society is founded on planning since every time they are having food together, they take it as an occasion to discuss about their issues and most of the time, all their problems always got an answer. This is to say that the American cultural aspect is a dynamic environment where people are always planning for improvement. I had the chance to visit many historical places where I learned very useful aspects of the American people and the way that the legislative system works.

Having attended a conference with Bruce McCracken, a member of New Jersey-Haiti Partners, I learned the concept of “Complete Streets”, also accessibility policy for people with disability and I am willing to introduce it into the Haitian society since streets should be for everybody not only for cars.

Incredible People Met from Fellowship

Madeleine Albright and Sam Daley Harris
2 of the many incredible
people met from Fellowship

A member of the New Jersey-Haiti Partners, Kareen Kirsch, took me to a big meeting at a Jewish church where I had the chance to listen to former US secretary of States, Madeleine Albright who made a very inspiring presentation about her powerful experience when being the first lady United States secretary of State. Her speech really touched me powerfully and the lesson learned is so useful that I have already started sharing it within my community.

Latin America and the Caribbean Professional Fellows

working together at

Partners of The Americas

Headquarter Office in Washington DC

I also had a chance to meet and listen to another powerful person, Sam Daley Harris, founder of RESULTS and Microcredit summit Campaign at Princeton Trinity Episcopal Church, he has identified and advocated for effective solutions to the causes of poverty and worked successfully to increase political will and funding for these solutions through powerful citizen action.

My life has profoundly changed related to the lives and generosity of Americans like: Dr. Joe Cohn, Sherley Cooney, Jeff Ritcher, Loretta Dumas, the Clinton and some Haitian diaspora, Kenel Raphael Augustin and Nicolas Angelas along with the people that I met at Rugters University Toastmasters Club. I would also acknowledge Pastor. Lynn and Clinton for their hospitality and Partners of the Americas for making me an International Legislative Fellow which connects me with other international Professionals, I believe Success happens easier when we are all connected to the same vision.

International Exchange For Change

Inspirational Speech: Be the Change Now

2013-12-10T07:33:00.002-08:00

Ey you there! It's hard what young Haitian people are saying about themselves nowadays. Their statements are: "You can't make any difference; one or two Haitian can't make change happen".

This speech has been written not with my fingers but with the ink from my heart and it goes out to all my people and friends facing the same situation. Let's teach the children to think positive that change is possible, let's teach them that one Haitian can replicate, duplicate and plant an idea into a whole generation mind that all things is possible. Let’s all the Haitian children be immersed into the idea that change is possible, let them grow with hope and visions to be the change that we are seeking, when all the Haitian kids grow with the idea of change, they will create and do everything by change and for the change.

Before anything gets to be physical, it has to be in state of mind so conjugate the verb of change and keep it as a picture into your mind and as long as you hold on to it, it will become natural and who can live out of nature when we are part of the nature and it is within us.

Please, stop saying change is not possible in Haiti since you have to be the change that you are looking for and it will happen only with you and by you.

Written by Doudly ELIUS