Like many mothers, childbirth was one of the most profound experiences of my life. I was fortunate to receive compassionate and competent midwifery care from Nadene Brunk Eads, founder of Midwives for Haiti, through two pregnancies and am forever grateful for the tradition of women helping women through support and empowerment. Nadene’s enthusiasm for maternal health in Haiti was infectious, and I eagerly followed her progress as her passion and dedication led to the founding Midwives for Haiti in 2006.

When I was asked to join the Board of Directors in 2014, I was deeply honored. As a social worker, there are two values near and dear to my heart: empowering vulnerable populations and enhancing the capacity of people to address their own needs. I felt that Midwives for Haiti truly embraces these values and strives to be sustainable and Haitian-led in mission, vision, programming, and operations. It has been an amazing experience and I have learnt so much.

In 2018, I attended my first Midwives for Haiti graduation ceremony. This was one of the highlights of my time with MFH. I was in awe of the smiling faces of Class 9 poised to step into their futures of serving women, children, and families across Haiti. Their skilled hands were trained to provide critical care and save lives, and their hearts were full of promise, compassion, and an eagerness to serve. It was a profound moment for me, one where I could really feel that our vision of a world where no woman dies in childbirth could come true.

Led by longtime lead instructor, Ms. Limone Clerveau, the school has continued to find innovative ways to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic. The tenacity, resilience and creativity of the staff and students is inspiring during these challenging times.

With our continued support and generous donations, we can work together to ensure that Haitians continue to have access to the skilled birth attendant training program, bringing life-saving care for generations to come.