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The First Chemen Lavi Miyò Graduation
FIRST Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) GRADUATION CEREMONY
BOUKAN KARE, DECEMBER 7, 2008
Fonkoze’s CLM is a program replicated from the BRAC TUP program in Bangladesh targeting the ultra poor. Sponsored by CONCERN WORLDWIDE, CGAP, and others, Fonkoze launched an 18-month pilot project identifying 150 families in 3 of the poorest areas of Haiti: Boukan Kare, La Gonave, and Trou-du-Nord.
“We are no longer afraid to face poverty because we have CLM to face it with us and to help walk us out of it” – recent Boukan Kare graduate.
When Dieula Myrtyl started with the CLM program almost 2 years ago, she could not imagine this day. At the time, the struggle to just wake up and face another day was challenge enough. Today, on the day of her graduation, Dieula wrote a poem and wanted to share it with everyone present, because, as she puts it, these words represent the feelings most of the successful CLM women feel.
Misery and poverty turns beautiful women into ugly and desperate women.
Misery and poverty turns young men into old men before they reach middle age.
Misery and poverty teach children how to lose respect for their parents and for themselves.
I have left misery behind and taking small steps to leave poverty behind, and I swear 7 X 77 times (Haitian saying), that I will never return where I was almost 2 years ago.
That is what CLM has done for me and for all the women graduating out of extreme poverty today.
As Gauthier Dieudonne, Director of Fonkoze’s CLM program, stepped up to speak at the CLM graduation ceremony, it was not difficult to see the pride he was feeling. “I am crying inside with joy,” he said. Gauthier proceeded to give an inspiring speech to commemorate the passing of a stage in the lives of these motivated women who have reached the end of the CLM 18 month program successfully.
“ The CLM program is not an easy one,” Gauthier said, “the devotion to help others must be real and it must be strong.” He acknowledged how difficult it was at times for both those being helped and those helping, yet neither gave up!
“Today, we have arrived at a point where we will stop nursing you, but like all good parents, if you fall, we will be there to help you get up, brush off your knees and continue taking the steps to conquer extreme poverty.”
Linda Boucard, Fonkoze USA Director of Communications, put this story together.