International Women's Day holds limited significance in Haitian culture. For some, it is simply a day to celebrate women, marked by wearing pink, fashionable outfits, and jewelry. Unfortunately, it is not a day where there is an emphasis on women's rights or the recognition of the many Haitian women heroes who fought for gender equity. This lack of focus on gender equity and women’s rights may be one reason why progress remains slow, and the status quo persists. It is for these reasons, among others, that Sante Tifi sought to commemorate the day.
On May 8th 2022 , at around 3 p.m., we set off in the direction of the orphanage Haiti Home for Children managed by Fondation Espoir in Tabarre. This was made possible thanks to the psychologist and other leaders at Fondation Espoir. As we made our way to Tabarre, an area under the control of organized crime groups, gunshots rang out in the distance. Panic set in, and for a moment, we considered turning back. Was it too dangerous to continue? But then, we thought of the girls waiting for us. For many, this might be their only opportunity in a lifetime to learn about reproductive health, to find a safe space where they could ask questions freely, and to better understand the changes happening in their bodies. That thought alone gave us the courage to press on. Fear may have been present, but our mission was stronger.

At about 3:40 p.m., we arrived at the location, feeling relieved. As we passed through the gate of the orphanage, we were greeted by innocent young faces, marked by both curiosity and expectation. Among them, a teenage girl in a wheelchair smiled at us. The first exchanges had already begun... While Charlemagne spoke with the leaders of the institution getting an understanding of their mission and thanking them for the invitation, we were led into a room filled with benches, where we began to settle in. Once the logistics were in place and the girls had settled, we got to know each other better in an atmosphere of shared excitement.
Unlike ST's other activities, this one was shorter. This decision was made not only to accommodate our busy schedule due to our social service work in various hospitals across the Haitian capital but also to ensure our safety. The day's program included a workshop on adolescence and puberty led by myself Lisa and Tayana, a question-and-answer session led by Chrystelle and Charlem, a cupcake (ponmkèt) decorating workshop, in which only Tayana had mastered the technique - much to the girls' delight - and finally, a games session orchestrated by Azor Kemly and Olivier Cineas, Sante Tifi’s friend and ally.
Although time was limited, the girls showed immense interest, actively participating in every session.
Finally, the day could not end without immortalizing these moments. We gathered in the large courtyard for a souvenir photo. The sun was slowly declining, but there was still enough light to capture this last moment.

It was around 7.30pm when we left the dead-end street where the orphanage was located to head back to the roads of Port-au-Prince. The gunshots were still ringing out however the sense of having accomplished our mission gave us peace in the chaos.
In hope.
Lisa.
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