HAITI
AUGUST 2022
AUDREY DEJOIE, CEO/FOUNDER OF THE NGO POUJENYO.
Hi Audrey, tell us a bit about yourself.
I am from Haiti and I am 18 years old. At age 15, I founded Poujenyo which is an NGO that supports young people in Haiti.
What do you do at your organization in terms of Social Impact?
Poujenyo.ht is a non-profit association that is here to help the children of our beloved Haiti. I created this association 3 years ago, more precisely on May 8, 2019 because of the unconditional love I have for children. Our association carries out projects for the beginning of the school year, the Christmas holidays, during natural disasters, or in times of need.
We manage to accomplish our projects through the realization of different fundraising actions and also the help of people who make donations. We have already helped more than 200 children, young people and all by giving them either the necessary material to resume the school year, or by sharing a moment of love and joy during the Christmas holidays.
Our association aims to intervene in the lives of street children but because of the situation in the country, we focus much more on those in the orphanage. Our mission is to put joy in the hearts of children, to lift them up with any means possible while making a difference in their lives. Our goal in the near future is to include psychological sessions with professionals in order to support them with mental health services. My dream and personal goal is to be able to help street children in other parts of the country while leaving a legacy that will be useful to them in their future and also expand the association in other countries so it can leave a positive mark in the lives of children around the world.
What do you think does an organization need if it wants to start introducing Social Impact practices?
In my opinion, whatever the type of company or foundation, it needs a team of qualified and determined people with a common goal in a healthy and happy environment while remaining disciplined.
What do you love most about your organization?
The assistance we provide to the children helps them have a different view of their future and also a better self-esteem because we do not only give material support, but they receive psychological assistance that we would like to deepen through the introduction of psychological sessions. The important thing for us in the association is to have a positive impact on the lives of children.
How do new technologies and this digital age influence your work?
New technology allows me to spread the work I do around the world. It also allows me to be inspired by what I see elsewhere that would be beneficial to my country.
I use social networks to publish posters when we have projects to invite people from everywhere to make donations, I use the online banking system to facilitate donations of money. At the same time, the fact that I am in an underdeveloped country, technology is not advanced enough which often blocks me in the realization of certain projects. Sometimes, I find opportunities that ultimately serve no purpose because there is virtually no technological development in my country compared to others.
“I think the biggest challenge is when you have to put your work out there and there is competition and you have to be creative and original and often the originality and creativity comes at a cost that is sometimes impossible to achieve I think that is the biggest challenge."
In your view, what’s the biggest challenge when it comes to marketing Social Impact efforts to the world in a more active way than merely through your sustainability report?
I think there are different ways to let the world know about your business, starting with social networks, but I think that when you do a good job, and you talk about it, other people talk about it, it can reach many more people than you imagine.
I think that the quality of the work and the way you sell it is a good marketing tool for the company in question
I think the biggest challenge is when you have to put your work out there and there is competition and you have to be creative and original and often the originality and creativity comes at a cost that is sometimes impossible to achieve I think that is the biggest challenge.
If you want to support Audrey’s wonderful NGO, go here: https://cash.app/$HanysabelDaniel
How to get in touch with Poujenyo: Instagram: https://instagram.com/poujenyo.ht?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
