Our Mission
Our mission is to empower Haitian women and girls through quality education, health, and well-being programs, enabling them to advocate for themselves, achieve economic independence, and build lasting positive change in their communities.
Our Vision
We envision a world where women and girls harness their full potential, speak up with confidence, and build independent, sustainable futures for themselves and their families. Through leadership, education, and opportunity, we aim to create a society rooted in equality, dignity, and empowerment.
Our Approach (Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals)
| What self-advocacy unlocks | What that looks like for her |
|---|---|
| Self-worth | She knows her needs and opinions matter. |
| Control | She makes her own choices, sets her own path. |
| Respect | Her community and family take her seriously. |
| Better relationships | She sets healthy boundaries, clearly and safely. |
| Economic power | She accesses jobs, fair pay, and leadership roles. |
A woman who can speak up for herself is more likely to escape violence, earn an income, and lead.
Haiti cannot afford to squander its human potential.
The Problem
Gender Inequality & Gender-Based Violence
In Haiti, one in three women aged 15 to 49 has experienced physical or sexual violence. Due to stigma, fear, and weak legal protection, most cases go unreported. In the past two years alone, we have witnessed a 1,000% increase in sexual violence, with gangs weaponizing rape as a tool for control. This cycle of silence and terror prevents women from accessing education, work, and leadership.
Lost Potential
When women are denied safety, freedom, and opportunity, Haiti loses half of its human potential. Women’s access to land, financial services, and employment remains severely restricted. Yet empowered women are a proven driving force for change, innovation, and economic growth. Without intervention, Haiti continues to squander its most powerful resource: its women and girls.
An Economic Imperative
Empowering women is a moral responsibility and an economic necessity. Haitian women already serve as pillars of street vending and agricultural supply chains. With the right tools, mentorship, and safe spaces, they can transform their families, communities, and the nation. Womenful Voice exists to break down those barriers.
How We Do It
We are a dual-country organization (USA & Haiti), but our work is fully operational on the ground in Haiti. Our CEO, who is Haitian-born and raised, plans projects remotely. However, we know that lasting change can only be built by the people living the reality every day. That is why our programs are executed by local teams with the community who understand the culture, the needs, and the potential of their own communities.
“The people of Haiti must be the ones to change Haiti.”
Senska M O’Donnell
With limited funding, we focus on community-driven, sustainable results, not short-term fixes.
Our Core Program Principles
| Principle | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Women & local stakeholders lead | They are responsible for their own well‑being, economy, learning, and social growth. We support; they drive. |
| Empower women as drivers of progress | Women are the catalysts for economic and social change. We give them the tools to shape their communities. |
| Amplify local voices & leadership | Their ideas and perspectives guide every decision we make. Nothing is done to them; everything is done with them. |
| Build on existing strengths | We never start from zero. We honor and leverage local successes, entities, and wisdom already in place. |
| Collaborate for long‑term impact | We work alongside local authorities and partners to create lasting, aligned change. |
| Ensure continuity beyond us | Our goal is to become unnecessary. Through capacity‑building, communities continue the work after we leave. |
Our Program Approach
We use four key strategies to help Haitian women grow personally and professionally, and to build a more inclusive, equal society.
