KAY TITA Celebrates the graduation of 35 Haitian Women from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs

Sarah Francis
June 10, 2020

In partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) the Port-au-Prince, Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) focused on empowering 35 women throughout Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Port-au-Prince AWE chapter was one of twenty-six pilot programs in the world.  


Through an inclusive learning community, the women were given opportunities to explore the fundamentals of business, including creating business plans and raising capital, with the goal of building a better future for their families and communities.


ATTENDEES

The 1st place winners of the cash prizes from each category: 


  • Clothes & Jewelry : Dieuvela Bien Aimé (DIEUVELA STORE)
  • Arts & Culture : Stéphania M. Mervil (MAKRAMITHS)
  • Food : Woodzor Similien (WOOBYDOO)
  • Agriculture : Marie Djenie Dorlean (BEL PANYEN)
  • Education : Florence Dufort (CARIBBEAN PLAY)
  • Professional Development : Kerlyne Zephir (MaSOCA)
  • Peoples Choice : Youseline Vital (PAYÉT DESIGN)

Special Guests: Christina V Jean-Louis (Eucalyptus Guest House), Regine Zamor (Waste Works), Mackendy Blanc (Katalyst Konbit) 
Submissions for the competition were evaluated by the following Haitian women entrepreneurs:

  • Angie Bell (Atizan International), Maghan Morin ( Thynk Global)
  • Christine Souffrant Natim (Haiti Tech Summit), Regine Zamor (WasteWorks)
  • Christina V Jean-Louis (Eucalyptus Guest House), Daphnee Charles  (CoCoread)

The Port-au-Prince Inaugural Cohort are: 

  • Lisa Jude Georges (REGAL), Melinda Dominique (MEL'S CORNER)
  • Marie Djenie Dorlean (BEL PANYEN), Youseline Vital(PAYÉT DESIGN)
  • Sophia Janvier (CROCHIC HAITI), Ruth S.Beauchamps (COPO COFFEE) 
  • Vastie Paulo (BF ElEGANCE), Noel Johanne (MANMI SOSO)  
  • Woodzor Similien (WOOBYDOO), Jirona Joseph (ART SEQUIN)
  • Tessy Ambroise (TESS PLANNER), Geralda Louis (CREATION LOGEDA)
  • Debora E. Toussaint (FEMTECH), Kerlyne Zephir (MaSOCA) 
  • Nirva Jolicoeur (KIZI SA), Stéphania M. Mervil (MAKRAMITHS)
  • Shella Jean-Francois( POTEL POU MWEN), Olguine Metellus (GST)
  • Dieuvela Bien Aimé (DIEUVELA STORE), Emylina Alexis(RUTH VLF)
  • Anne Marjorie René (BÒZÒ), Lucna Henrisme (COMPARET) 
  • Clartie Maeva Salomon (FIRELAND PASTRY)
  • Winnie Petit Paul (HAITI BRAND CO), Florence Dufort (CARIBBEAN PLAY)
  • Yasmine Metellus (CPK),Claire M.V. Pierre-Louis (AGENCE CITRONNELLE)
  • Emmlyne Emmanuel (KAY PRO SERVICES)

For more information about the women, their business, and the program: 

please visit https://www.kaytita.org/awe/main


Kay Tita is a community resource organization dedicated to empowering the entrepreneurs of Port-au-Prince, through skill training, cultivating critical partnerships, raising capital and facilitating impact investing opportunities. 


Interested media should contact the partnerships team at [email protected] 


Impact Hub

Impact Hub Port-Au-Prince takes an authentic approach to developing community, inspiring members through sustainable practices. Emphasizing progressive inclusivity and transparency, Impact Hub aims to preserve and expand Port-Au-Prince’s creative and thriving entrepreneurial culture. We hope to reach maximum effectiveness with the intentional practice of accountability. Guided by love, respect, honor, and trust, we always seek to refine, elevate, and restore the health of our community.

Infinitum Humanitarian Systems

will direct a training and operations program within Impact Hub called GeoHaiti. GeoHaiti trains adults on geospatial information systems (GIS) that serve to improve community disaster resilience. Training topics include community communications, water and sanitation management, environmental preservation, public health measures, community disease surveillance, sustainable infrastructure, and hazard analysis.

Living Building Challenge

Kay Tita will be the greenest commercial building in Haiti since it will be constructed according to The Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards, considered the most rigorous environmental performance standard. People from around the world use this regenerative design framework to create spaces that produce more energy than they utilize.

MUCE

MUCE EDUCATES is an organization co-founded by Barthelemy Mervil, David Pierre-Louis’ brother, and utilizes arts promote intercultural exchange and to bring an end to cyclical poverty. MUCE is committed to teaching the visual arts to youth in urban areas so that they may compete in the global market. The organization provides educational workshops and opportunities for the emerging labor force with an emphasis on production in arts and culture.

Haiti Coffee Co

Haiti Coffee Co. is a U.S. based company that imports Haitian Coffee while working towards infrastructure development that directly benefits the farmers from whom they source. The organization provides solutions that address deforestation, environmental sustainability, agriculture training, and infrastructure development.

Impact Bio Energy

Seattle‐based startup, Impact Bioenergy, manufactures and sells bioenergy systems that convert organic waste materials into renewable natural gas and fertilizer with zero waste.

Ambient Water

Ambient Water (formerly AWG International) is Washington state based company that uses  a patented technology that transforms humidity into an abundant source of safe, clean water.

Startup Week

Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, local leaders, and friends together over five days to build momentum for their vision for change.

The DoSchool

The DoSchool develops experiential learning programs centered around innovation and facilitates opportunities for entrepreneurs to move from ideation to implementation.

Yes Baby I Like It Raw

Yes Baby I Like it Raw helps people tap into their raw potential and “process the unprocessed life” by developing health and wellness programming such as yoga meditation, and nutrition.

Days for Girls

Days for Girls puts freedom and opportunity back into the hands of women and girls by providing sustainable hygiene solutions.