Our story: from a grassroots movement to a world-class community engagement organization
HOW IT ALL STARTED
COFHED was founded out of Nicaise Avignon and Madeleine Maceno-Avignon’s deep desire to return to their homeland Haiti to engage rural Haitian communities. The organization was established in 2001 as a 501(c)3 in Minnesota to promote community engagement in rural Haiti, to strengthen local Haitian leadership, and carry our engagement process to partner communities and beyond.
Supported and encouraged by several close friends in Minnesota, the Avignons moved to Camp-Perrin in southern Haiti in September 2002 and began to explore rural villages affected by extreme poverty. In 2003, the community of Lougou requested a partnership, and COFHED began engaging local residents in community-led initiatives to address the spiritual, economic, social and environmental factors affecting their lives.
This is where we work:
Welcome to Camp-Perrin!
Our headquarters is located in the town of Camp-Perrin in southwestern Haïti, about 12 miles north of Les Cayes and 120 miles southwest of Port-au Prince. Most of our partner and target communities: Lougou, Raymond, Guillaume, Garatte, Marc, Hermile, Chaumêtre, Duvezin, Lafarge, Tachon, Sinette, Taville, Cajuste, Chery, Congo, Letan, Ti Pierre, Saut- Mathurine, Navarre, Gandou, Balizé, Picot, Gaétan and Garatte are situated in the second communal section of Camp-Perrin. The community of Acquier is located in the third communal section of Maniche.
MEET OUR TEAM
Jean Menès Méméus
Training coordinator and community liaison supervisor
Flostie Lafleur
Community
health nurse
Micaella Sipe
Administrative
coordinator
Maudeline Cadet
Sponsorship
assistant
Jacqueline Montiné Méméus
Assistant director and program
trainer
Kessaire Desrosiers
Logistics
manager
Marie Josée Vital Legouté
Community sponsorship
coordinator
Franthiel Fifi
Administrative coordinator and bookkeeper
Michenette Rosier
Admin coordinator +
receptionist
Junior Petit-Frère
General logistics
assistant
Adline Michel
Office + hospitality
attendant
Loudana Abelard
Administrative assistant for
community programs
Madeleine Maceno-Avignon
Country Director and Co-Founder
Nicaise Avignon
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Norka Avignon Petersen
Associate Executive Director
Board of Directors:
Fondation COFHED Haïti
Madeleine Maceno-Avignon
Country Director and President
Frantz Clotaire
Secretary
Marie Lucie Jeune
Treasurer
Board of Directors:
COFHED USA
Nicaise Avignon
Executive Director
AnnaMarie Lively
Secretary
Harry Saint-Preux
Board Chair
Phil Hanson
Fundraising Committee Chair
Jerry Fenner
Treasurer
Julie Scott
Board Member