Haitian Leadership
We believe in Haitian leadership and Haitian vision, investing in locally-led programs and community-based work. The Colorado Haiti Project's U.S.-based team has spent the past 30 years building relationships with dynamic, devoted and talented community leaders in the town of Petit Trou de Nippes. Our role is to continue strengthening these relationships, and to place resources directly in the hands of Haitian community leaders.
Maxo Valcin
Director of St. Paul's School
As Director of St. Paul’s School, Maxo balances dual roles as the school’s principal and 6th grade teacher. Maxo received a license in Science of Education in 2014 from Université Polyvalente d'Ayiti and began teaching at St. Paul’s School immediately after. Since then, he has taught grades 6- 10. Maxo is passionate about leadership and has represented St. Paul’s at Innoved Haiti’s professional development programs. When asked about how he balances the challenges of teaching he states, “with love and commitment we are happy to do this with all our hearts.” Maxo is also a talented drummer.
Darline Nicolas
Mentor and Girls’ Clubs Supervisor, Girls’ Empowerment & Mentoring Program
As Director of the GEM (Girls’ Empowerment & Mentoring) Program, Darline supervises six adult professional mentors who work with over 100 girls, both individually and in small groups. The GEM Program aims to ensure girls in Petit Trou and surrounding areas have the support network to achieve their goals and lead healthy lives. The program was developed in cooperation with local partner, Repanse Pouvwa. Darline is also a kindergarten teacher at St. Paul’s School. She attended the Teacher’s College of Institution Racine-Ecole Normale Nouvelle from 2013-2016. In her spare time Darline loves to draw, sing in St. Paul’s choir, and spend time with her daughter, Isnicha.
Raphael Fernandez Salvador
Director of Agricultural Initiatives
Raphael is passionate about finding creative ways to educate the Petit Trou community about agriculture. He runs the horticulture curriculum and garden club at St. Paul’s School, and also visits homes throughout the region to advise families on farming. He is currently piloting an animal husbandry project that teaches 9th graders how to raise rabbits and goats. Raphael attended Université Leta d’Ayiti from 2009-2014 and has previously worked for the minister of agriculture in Payan, Kanperen, Fond de Negès, and Karitas, Nippes. Raphael travels every weekend to his hometown of Petit Riviere (about 32 kilometers away from Petit Trou) to visit his mother.
Rica Joassaint
Local Activist, Girls’ Empowerment & Mentoring Program
Member of Artisan and Sewing Program TiPaTiPa
Local Water and Well Committee Chair
Rica’s three children, Roodens, Roodnael, and Djoumia, are a source of inspiration for her work as a local activist with the Girls’ Empowerment and Mentoring (GEM) program. As a founding member of the local women’s artisan and sewing cooperative, Ti Pa Ti Pa, she is also passionate about creating opportunities and sources of solidarity for women in Petit Trou.
Patrick Desir
Local Activist, Girls’ Empowerment & Mentoring Program
Patrick supports the Girls’ Empowerment and Mentoring (GEM) program by coordinating engagement activities and advising community leaders on incorporating girls’ empowerment into their work. In previous roles he has served as the mayor of Petit Trou de Nippes and a high school foreign language teacher (Patrick speaks French, Spanish, and English fluently). Patrick holds a degree in Legal Sciences from the Right’s Faculty of Gonaives. Patrick enjoys spending time with his wife, Rose Laure, and sons, Pat and Patricio.
Guilot Tibert
Administrator and Technology Teacher at St. Paul's School
Guilot teaches English and computer science at St. Paul’s School, and has also served as the accountant and administrator on campus since 2012. He holds two degrees: an Administration diploma from the Business and Technology Institute in Les Cayes, and a degree in Accounting from the Université Polivalant in Port au Prince. Guilot grew up in Petit Trou and was a student at St. Paul’s School himself. He recently built a house within walking distance to the school, where he lives with his wife Genevieve.
Precilise Myrtil
Nurse, Clinic, St. Paul's School
Precilise has been working as the St. Paul’s School nurse for eight years. She previously worked at Hopital Turgeous in Port au Prince and as lead nurse at the clinic at Grand Boucan. She still misses the fast pace of working in a big hospital, but is happy to be in a role where she can be working with children. Precilise holds a degree in nursing from Ecole Polytechnique Superieure Sante Anne. She is a mom to Sebastian, her 8-year-old son, who is a student at St. Paul’s School.
Guirlene Dorceley
Head Nurse and Administrator, Clinic, Petit Trou de Nippes
As head nurse of the clinic in Petit Trou de Nippes, Guirlene is responsible for providing clinical care and key administrative leadership while also managing the 44 Community Health Workers funded and supported by CHP. She often is working on mobile clinics, vaccination campaigns, and community health education sessions. She attended the Universte Adventiste D’Haiti. She was born near Cap Haitien in the North of Haiti, and she visits her hometown as much as she can.
Father Luc / Madame Ricardie Desire
Priest in Charge, St. Paul's / Community Support and Outreach Coordinator
Father Luc graduated from the University Episcopale D’Haiti with a degree in Theology. Prior to his current posting in Petit Trou he served at the Parish of St. Matthias in Thomonde. Father Luc is dedicated to helping people reach their potential. “Ministering is my heart,” he says, “I want to serve.
Madame Ricardie attended Comptabilitè Ecole Professionel, and she is thrilled to assist both the administration and kindergarten teams as part of her work.
The Team in Colorado
April moore radoff - Development and operations manager
April is thrilled to be a part of the CHP team. She worked in advertising for over a decade, before making a long-awaited career shift in February of 2019. Hoping to find more fulfillment in her work, she sought an opportunity to use her development skills at a mission-driven organization that she truly believed in, and that is just what she has found in CHP. April holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Colorado. She aspires to be a podcaster, successful Colorado gardener, and a person who is patient. She lives in Boulder with her husband, kids, and the love of her life, her dog Loki.
Email: april@coloradohaitiproject.org
WYNN WALENT – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Wynn first traveled to Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 to assist with relief efforts. He intended to stay for two months before returning to the U.S. for graduate school, but the powerful experiences he collected while supporting Haitian relief and development efforts stirred Wynn so deeply that he decided to defer his graduate studies and remain in Haiti. Over the course of the next two and a half years he lived and worked full time in Haiti, developing a deep appreciation for the importance of Haitian leadership and self-determination. Prior to his time in Haiti, Wynn worked internationally in Peru and Central America as well as for a non-profit based in Harlem and the Bronx in New York. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Psychology from the University of Virginia, and more recently a Master’s Degree in International Studies and Global Health Affairs from the University of Denver. Wynn has published writing in the Denver Post, Huffington Post, and Latterly Magazine. He is a proud father of two boys, Belony and Vladimir.
Email: wwalent@coloradohaitiproject.org
Interns and Volunteers
Carina Schmid- Operations and outreach Intern
Carina is excited to be a part of the CHP team as an intern for the summer. She is currently finishing her degree in Business Operations Management and Leadership with a certificate in Social Responsibility and Ethics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She hopes to use her education to help empower locals in developing countries to create sustainable change. She is honored to begin doing exactly that with CHP. As a Boulder native, in her free time, you can find Carina going for a hike in Chacos or spending time outside with friends.
Alexia Simonton- Operations and Communications Intern
Alexia joined the CHP Team in early 2020 as an intern. She is a Colorado native currently attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa pursuing a dual degree in Public Relations and Marketing with a minor in Data Analytics. Her background in dance and public speaking inspired her to become a passionate storyteller and creative problem-solver. She is excited to use her skills to further CHP’s mission and support the incredible people of Petit Trou. In her free time, she loves to read, bake and travel!
Email: alexia@coloradohaitiproject.org
Our Colorado-based efforts operate thanks to a large team of dedicated volunteers and interns. Learn more about how to join us here.