LCS Assistant Campus Minister Chrislie R. (left) presents to Twazyèm (U.S. 10th grade) and Segond (U.S. 11th grade) girls at their "Celebrate Women" retreat last month.
The Louverture Cleary School (LCS) community has always been counterculture in Haiti, modeling the change it wants to see in the country. It is a reliable, accountable employer and educator, recognizes the dignity in all types of work, and cares for the environment by being one of the first in Haiti to adopt solar technology and properly manage resources and waste.
And, perhaps most importantly, it creates equal opportunities for males and females.
The school was a trailblazer in ensuring girls had access to secondary education in the Port-au-Prince area by implementing policies early on that led to gender parity in its student body (see box below). Still, that was not all LCS would do to challenge gender bias and inequality. THP Chief Program Officer Aimée Maier recalls the inception of the girls empowerment program, “Celebrate Women,” which remains an impactful and enduring activity today:
“The 'Celebrate Women' program began during my 1998-99 Volunteer year. The idea and name was driven by Volunteer Moira Feeney and grew from the knowledge that, at that time in Haiti, males had more access to education than females did. Today, 'Celebrate Women' is one of the many examples of how LCS stands apart in its commitment to challenging norms which value the education and contribution of males above females.”
Girls in the Rhéto (U.S. 12th Grade) and Philo (U.S. 12th Grade + 1) classes make friendship bracelets as an activity during a Celebrate Women retreat.
Throughout the years, the "Celebrate Women" program has provided seminars and retreats for the empowerment of female students led by the strong female leaders in the LCS staff, junior staff, and U.S. Volunteer (Missionary) community. Empowering themes, mantras, songs, talks, and activities help girls to develop self-confidence, build teamwork, and grow as leaders.
(A parallel program at LCS called “Man Up” also helps ensure that male students view their female counterparts as capable individuals and equals.)
As LCS Principal Marjorie M. (LCS '07) notes:
"What I like the most in 'Celebrate Women' is that it is an activity which gives us a way to teach girls to become better citizens for the future. It helps them to know themselves better, to value themselves, to accept who they are, and to focus on their goals, not to act as others want or society thinks they should. It is a way to reinforce self-confidence and know their rights and worth."
The most recent "Celebrate Women" retreat took place in February right before Carnival break. Girls in the Twazyèm (U.S. 10th grade) and Segond (U.S. 11th grade) classes remained at school after Friday dismissal for an overnight retreat led by a remarkable team of female staff and junior staff members, the majority of whom were LCS alumnae and were formed in the "Celebrate Women" program themselves.
LCS Assistant Campus Minister Chrislie R. (LCS '14) participated in "Celebrate Women" activities as a student and now leads the retreats for a new generation of students:
"'Celebrate Women' is important to LCS and Haiti because we want to empower our young girls so they can be the best version of themselves. In this activity we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world. Our girls find models they can look up to, women that inspire them, women that show that they can accomplish great things in life. It is important for LCS and Haiti because it promotes gender equality. We want our future women to find their place in society and to use their full potential."
At a time when women and girls are being terrorized by gang violence in the country, it is especially important that LCS perseveres in providing a top-notch education and formation to Haiti’s young women. "Celebrate Women" equips Haiti’s future female leaders to exemplify the school’s values, achieve their career goals, and make a difference in their country, all while believing in themselves.
Ultimately, the slogan for this year’s retreat says it best: “I am beautiful, smart, talented—and that makes me the BEST and no one can take that from me.”
A Trailblazing Path...Ensuring Gender Equality at LCS
In the early days of Louverture Cleary School, boys in Haiti were more likely to be enrolled in school and granted job opportunities while girls were often relegated to working in the home. This favoritism was due to cultural biases about gender, and the cost and availability of education preventing families from sending all of their children to school. In 1996, the LCS student body was only 15 percent female.
School leadership addressed this disparity by implementing an affirmative action policy ensuring that at least 40 percent of each incoming class was female. Within only a few years, it became far less necessary to adjust the acceptance process. More girls applied to LCS each year and, since 2006, the student body has been over 50 percent female.
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