BOARD MEMBERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Since 2011 as a nonprofit organization, FONHARE was created with a strong organizational structure. This structure is built through the board of directors with individuals with different background who volunteer their professional skills, expertise and time completely free of charges.
The board of directors is the governing body of FONHARE. Individuals who sit on the board are responsible for overseeing the FONHARE’s activities. Board members meet periodically to discuss and vote on the affairs of the organization. At a minimum, an annual ordinary general assembly occurs with all board members present. Additional meetings are likely to take place every three months so board members can discuss and make other necessary decisions. Our board of directors, as a governing body, focus on the organization’s vision, mission, goals and strategy. Officer roles and their terms are defined in the organization’s bylaws.
Passionate by our mission to serve as many people as possible and creating a better quality of life for the most vulnerable individual in Haiti, three years later (in 2013) we have created the US BOARD OF DIRECTORS and became a 501(c3) tax exempt Non-for-profit organization in the United States in 2015. The purpose of the US Board of directors is to support local activities of FONHARE, facilitate fundraising and any other efforts that help for the growth and sustainability of FONHARE´s activities in Haiti.
HAITI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr.Ivens Louius
President & Founder
Dr. Ivens is the President & Founder of FONHARE, he is a clinician physical and occupational therapist. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and occupational therapy from Catholic University Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is certified in Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.
He is certified in Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. He completed a Postgrade in prevention and rehabilitation of injuries from University CAECE, Argentina. He attended University of Medical Sciences Arizona (USA) where he completed his doctorate Degree in physical therapy with Academic emphasis. He is passionate about the field of humanitarian work, community health promotion, public health. He is an expert in inclusive practice including infrastructure accessibility. He usually says: “there is always a reason to do good” and “helping others is learning to be grateful by returning part of the blessings you have received”. “That´s what I am doing, paying back by helping others”!
Leslie Solage
Co-Founder
Leslie Solage is the Co-founder of FONHARE and she is Dr. Ivens’ wife. She started striving alongside to her husband to build FONHARE since they were boyfriends. She is a clinician physical therapist, she received her bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from the Catholic University Santo Domingo DR, she is certified in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation in Argentina.
She works with all pathologies, but her specialty is orthopedics and musculoskeletal. She is from Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Her motto is “to help while alive.”
She always says: “If I stop serving and helping, it’s like if I stopped living”
Mr. Mateny Orius
Treasurer
Mr. is from Gros-Morne, Artibonite department of Haiti. He is a teacher in the ministry of education for 20 years, teaching in private and public school. He was really concerned because he has never seen a child with disability in schools during his 20 years of experience in the system.
This concern drove his motivation to join FONHARE and became a voice of changing negatives attitudes about disabled children and now more than 100 children with disabilities in inserted into school in Ouanaminthe. Every year, more than 2,500 students and teachers are made aware of the inclusion and respect of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Mrs. Marie-Simone Fleurant
Member
Marie-Simone is married and mother of two girls, since her young age she has been involved in many ways to build flourishing communities by supporting children to go to school, community teaching class for assisting those whom need extra help to pass courses with the express purpose to ensuring that every child get access to education.
But In 2011, Mrs. Simone realized that despite her hard work a lot of children were left behind, abandoned and discriminated against by communities and families (disabled children) and she joined FONHARE to bit this challenge, since then she became a voice of change making sure those children receive the services they need to flourish in the community and in their lives.
Shedlie Saint-Louis
Public Relations
I received a bachelor degree in business administration from the State University of Haiti, UEH (Université d´Etat d´Haiti). I specialize in decor and event organization and online sales. I am a person who believes that everyone must have access to basic needs to live with dignity.
Indeed, vulnerable people have always been a big priority for me, so I was delighted to find FONHARE and I decided to join FONHARE´s board with the express purpose to assist the most needed people in Haiti as a live compromise.
Avelyne St Hilaires
Public Relations
My name is Avelyne St Hilaire. Married and mother of three children, I have been able to balance family life and professional career with dedication and passion. With a degree in administrative sciences, I have dedicated my life to education and the development of my community. I am the founder and head of the Union des Cœurs Educational Center, a Christian institution which is based on the values of justice, education and participation existing in the community of Ouanaminthe for 16 years.
Alongside my educational commitment, I represent Alltech Inc. in Haiti, a world-renowned biotechnology company. My role is to establish and maintain strong relationships with our local and international partners, while ensuring the proper management of our operations in the country.
My journey is guided by a deep passion for education and community development. I strive to demonstrate that it is possible to have a successful professional career while remaining deeply invested in your family and community.
I very much wish to be part of FONHARE, an organization dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities in Haiti, for several deep and personal reasons.
First, my commitment to education and community development has allowed me to see up close the unique challenges people with disabilities face. Through my work at the Union des Cœurs Educational Center, I have met many children and families fighting against the stigma and obstacles linked to disabilities. I saw how crucial it is to create an inclusive environment where every individual regardless of their abilities can thrive and contribute to society.
Second, I strongly believe in equal opportunities for all. As a mother and educator, I strongly believe that every person deserves to feel valued and supported. Joining FONHARE would allow me to work directly to promote this vision by ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the resources, opportunities and support necessary to lead full and independent lives.
USA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eric Fly
President and Co-founder
President and Co-founder of the US board of FONHARE.
I serve in the board of FONHARE since 2013. I am a Co-Founder of the US board and I am the current President of the board. I am a physician assistant living in Minnesota practicing emergency medicine. I am married and have 3 children. My interests include reading, travel, sports, and photography.
I joined FONHARE because I loved the vision that it has to support people with disabilities who traditionally have been marginalized and have not had a voice. FONHARE also provides is critically needed rehab services in an area where access to these resources is greatly limited. Ivens and is team continue to inspire me with their big hearts and excellent work.
Cindy Cochran, PT
Public Relations
Co-Founder of the US Board of FONHAR.
I serve as a Board Member of FONHARE since 2013. I received my education and physical therapy degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, graduating in 1990. I am active in several grassroots movements, international volunteerism, and hosts national and international travelers in my home often to increase cultural exchange and goodwill.
I joined FONHARE because I loved the vision that it has to support people with disabilities who traditionally have been marginalized and have not had a voice. FONHARE also provides is critically needed rehab services in an area where access to these resources is greatly limited. Ivens and is team continue to inspire me with their big hearts and excellent work.
Dustin Mitchell
Treasurer
Co-founder of the US board of FONHARE.
I received a BS in Accounting and Finance from Union College and a MBA from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. I worked as an auditor with KPMG for five years and obtained a CPA license. I am currently the Director of Finance for NatureWorks and have worked there for eleven years. In my free time I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and bicycling.
I was inspired to join FONHARE because of being frustrated with hearing news stories of all the wasted donations and government aid that never made it to the people who needed it. The most impactful work was being done by small, local organizations. When I heard about the meaningful work that FONHARE was doing, I was excited to join. I can really make an impact through helping establish an entity in the US and achieve non-profit status, knowing all donations go directly to help people in Haiti.
Dr. Ivens Louius
Founder
Dr. Ivens is the President & Founder of FONHARE, he is a clinician physical and occupational therapist. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and occupational therapy from Catholic University Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is certified in Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. He completed a Posgrade in prevention and rehabilitation of injuries from University CAECE, Argentina.
Dr. Ivens attended University of Medical Sciences Arizona (USA) where he completed his doctorate Degree in physical therapy with Academic emphasis. He is passionate about the field of humanitarian work, community health promotion, public health. Dr. Ivens is an expert in infrastructure accessibility and inclusive practice. He usually says: “there is always a reason to do good” and “helping others is learning to be grateful by returning part of the blessings you have received”.
“That´s what I am doing, paying back by helping others”!