R.I.I.S.E PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS
TO SUPPORT GIRLS & WOMEN
AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE!
Learn More about Our Initiatives and Values
From nourishing young mothers to empowering adolescent girls, our initiatives strengthen the foundations women and girls need to imagine—and create—a brighter future.
Sustainable Nutrition
Every program we run begins with one essential foundation: nutrition. Northern Haiti has the knowledge, land, and markets to nourish its people, yet today many families face hunger due to political violence, fuel shortages, and the collapse of external aid—not a lack of capacity. Our work recognizes this distinction. R.I.I.S.E.-Haiti supports locally rooted, community-led nutrition efforts that protect dignity, strengthen resilience, and stabilize families in moments of crisis. By reinforcing existing systems rather than replacing them, we help create the conditions for long-term health, learning, and possibility in Borgne.
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Read more about food insecurity in Haiti here.
Teacher-Led Girls' Clubs
The Girls' Clubs grew from a simple idea: meaningful learning requires epistemic justice. One of our primary initiatives, R.I.I.S.E.-Haiti, supports committed teachers in Borgne who provide a safe space for adolescent girls to learn about themselves (social literacy), their value (community cultural wealth), and the importance of their own dreams. The Girls Clubs, led by committed teachers, help young girls recognize their self-worth and claim their voices in local schools. Many participants express a desire to serve their community as doctors or nurses.
Support the Girls' Clubs by navigating here.
Global Youth Leadership Board
R.I.I.S.E.-Haiti began in Borgne, imagined by a small group of change agents gathered under the stars. It comes to life through the Global Youth Leadership Board (GYLB), where students at The Madeira School partner with teachers in Borgne to lead the work forward. Grounded in Feminist Leadership for Social Transformation, the members of GYLB gather every Monday night to learn about Haiti and develop the skills needed to make this NGO a success. Whether in Haiti or the USA, R.I.I.S.E places youth at its center—empowering them to build a just and sustainable future while learning responsibility to future generations.
Wisdom
R.I.I.S.E.-Haiti centers the wisdom of Haitian culture, stories, and vision. From the Haitian Revolution—when enslaved people imagined freedom into being—to the clever proverbs and colloquial expressions that carry hard-earned truth, Haiti’s history reminds us that ideas matter, especially those rooted in lived experience. Haitians often speak of rasin—the roots of a tree—as the source of strength, nourishment, and survival. We take this seriously. Our work honors deep roots: in community knowledge, cultural memory, and collective care. Like a well-rooted tree, meaningful change in northern Haiti grows not from outside intervention, but from what is already strong, resilient, and alive beneath the surface.
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Friendship
Executive Directors Dr. Thony Voltaire and Shields Sundberg have been friends and collaborators for over twenty years, working together on community health and education initiatives in northern Haiti. Their partnership is grounded in Thony’s devotion to indigenous values and a shared commitment to his community. Thony serves as Medical Director of Alyans Sante Borgne, widely regarded by organizations such as the Red Cross and former USAID as northern Haiti’s most ethical and effective hospital. Shields is an educator in the D.C. area who teaches global justice, inviting students to learn about—and from—Haiti beyond the headlines.
Read more about Dr. Voltaire here.
Feminism
We are unapologetically committed to women and girls. We believe lasting change begins when women’s knowledge, leadership, and lived experience are centered. Our work affirms women and girls not only as pillars of their communities but as visionaries and architects of a more just future. In Haiti, there is a saying often repeated: women are the pillars of the community. While this is true, we also believe women deserve the opportunity to pursue their dreams and share their knowledge widely. Inspired by the historic role of women in Haiti—from the Revolution to the Madan Sara—we affirm the essential role women and girls play in building a transformative future in northern Haiti. Our work intentionally carries forward the legacy of Haitian medical anthropologist and educator Rose Marie Chierici.