Student Spends Vacation Fostering Sustainability in Haiti
By Thomas Patterson (MSFS 2012)
For many students, Spring Break is about relaxing on a beach or catching up on sleep. You would think first-year student Cassandra Florian, who juggles her studies and a full-time job, would be happy to have some time off. On the contrary, she felt that Spring Break was the perfect opportunity to make a difference.
MSFS first-year student Cassandra Florian
After break began, she traveled to Jacmel, Haiti to help write a grant proposal for the founder of the NGO Femmes en democratie, part of a worldwide network of woman leaders called Vital Voices. The organization, which has been operating out of a tent since the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, is requesting funding from the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund. The money will be used to establish a business center to help rural farmers adopt better business practices with the goal of enhancing the sustainability of the community.
The tent of Femmes en democratie, where Cassandra worked over Spring Break
Cassandra is also helping the group contact successful Haitian women worldwide in order to invite them to a Miami trade fair in May. The goal of the fair will be to raise enthusiasm in supporting Haitian female entrepreneurs.