What does leadership look like? According to Peterson in Haiti, it is this:

“I believe leadership is the ability to listen and understand others in order to help them make progress. As a businessman, I consider myself as a leader because I always do what is right and moral in the community. In my community, leadership looks like a kind of commitment to advise and serve others in many ways. I participate in everything my group undertakes. So, I am very involved with the needs of my community.”

This hasn’t always been the case for Peterson. Like many people in Haiti, he once found himself facing financial hardships and health challenges, which turned into a cycle he couldn’t escape.

”While I was very sick. I felt hopeless. At the same time, I was also caught up in taking exploitative loans,” he recalls.

Today, Peterson is a leader in his community.

“I have become more confident in others, and I am sure it is mutual. We meet, learn and work together.”

Plant With Purpose places a strong emphasis on local leadership in its approach to Community Designed Restoration^©. It is not enough to simply introduce development initiatives to a community without honoring the self-determination of community members and validating their agency.

Stanley has also made similar advancements as a leader in his community.

“I now see myself differently. My mind has been at peace ever since I joined Plant With Purpose. My financial situation has progressed. I now have access to savings and loans that prevent me from needing those dangerous loans,” he shares.

“Before joining Plant With Purpose, my objective was to help set up a community organization to enhance environmental and economic conditions of life. That goal has been achieved. I am collaborating with a lot of people who believe in my technical leadership,” he says.

“As a Volunteer Village Agent, I train and motivate a lot of people to make changes in the community. Plant With Purpose is a bit like a practical training center and a family where everybody can learn and progress. Thanks to my Purpose Group, I am able to solve some problems for my family. So, our relationships have improved. Working with Plant With Purpose helps me strengthen my relationships with others. Thanks to the community group, I became closer to them. We share many things together.”

Stanley adds, “I am able to influence others. I usually meet them, discuss with them, plan and implement a lot of activities with them. Each time we meet, we pray and comment on some verses in the Bible. That practice strengthens my confidence and allows me to make peace with God.”

Like Peterson, the opportunity to access loans made a big difference in Stanley’s journey from hardship to leadership.

“Before Plant With Purpose, I was unable to save and borrow money when I was in need. Thanks to my participation, I have access to my own community bank,” he celebrates.

“Thanks to my partnership, I have accomplished the goal of freeing myself from enriching the loan sharks. I can take pride in my business, which I was able to launch from the loans provided by my Purpose Group. I took a loan because I urgently needed to support my business. Now, when I earn a profit, it belongs to me and not to loan sharks. I can now take better care of my family.”

While these individual successes are worthy of celebration, it is important to note that they take place against the backdrop of significant unrest in the country of Haiti. For the past few years, violence and kidnappings have become common threats against the everyday lives of Haitians.

“I feel very discouraged and hopeless due to the critical situation in my country. I am so scared by the insecurity,” acknowledges Peterson.

However, the advancements made by participants like Peterson and Stanley are not in vain. They have helped change the outlook of their entire communities.

“Thanks to Plant With Purpose, the landscape around me has changed. People raise more animals. There are more trees and some of them have begun to produce fruits,” shares Stanley.

“The landscape here has been changing little by little. If not for the problems of free-grazing and climate change, you would already be able to see a higher tree cover. People raise more animals, helping restore biodiversity,” observes Peterson.

He continues, “I am very proud of the training and the field activities. I have some lime species which are growing well. Our biggest community accomplishment is tree nursery. We need trees to plant each year. I apply grafting, layering, and nursery techniques. I prefer layering because I am always successful by doing it. Every time I see my trees grow, I am very happy.”