It inspires me to cultivate wisdom in pursuing knowledge, regardless of the level I have already reached. It serves as a reminder that I will never know everything, but rather, I will be a lifelong learner who must always strive to improve with humility. This is one of the values Anseye pou Ayiti  [CS1] (APA) instilled in me during the two-year program, which I take very seriously.

Joining Anseye pou Ayiti was challenging for me, given the level at which I had already begun teaching and the studies I had already completed. Moreover, I faced discouragement from those around me because the team primarily focused on the first and second fundamental cycle levels. However, curiosity and the pragmatic skills I observed in some peers who had gone through the APA program kept surprising me. This pushed me to have my own experience, breaking down all the barriers.

Then, I began to understand and appreciate the quality of work the APA team does in the educational system. They are not only helping a team of teachers perfect themselves as professionals but also instilling a sense of nobility and a transformative philosophy in a new generation of citizens who are using transformational leadership to develop their communities. This realization made me change my mind when I joined APA.

Before I joined APA in 2022, I struggled when working with students. They would fall asleep and be unable to focus on class activities, making me uneasy. While I knew some teaching methods, I couldn't use them as pragmatically as I do today. I also didn’t have the resources and skills I now possess, making it harder to teach effectively.

However, once I started receiving training and coaching, along with feedback from my coach, I changed my approach to teaching. This helped me work differently and more effectively than before. It made me realize the importance of involving students in their learning, making them responsible for managing the classroom and its environment, engaging in discussions with them, and awakening the sense of responsible citizenship and leadership that lay dormant within them. It also allowed me to show them how important they are and express much love and care.

Additionally, the professional development program helped me develop a love for collaborating with other teachers at my school and learning from others. It also enabled me to encourage my colleagues to apply positive discipline in the classroom rather than corporal punishment, which was common. These are all practices that APA helped me implement because I didn't know how to do them before. My experience with APA has brought many positive changes to both my professional and personal life, helping me grow as an evolving Civic Leader in my community.

Everyone who goes through the APA professional development program, especially the teachers, understands how challenging it is to manage the fatigue that comes with the intensity of the training. It requires individuals to go above and beyond. [CS2] However, I have more fond memories of the professional development sessions with the APA team than I do of the exhaustion. The wisdom and sense of collaboration demonstrated by this team and the happiness and kindness shown by each member create a family-like atmosphere. This fosters a deeper sense of commitment and positively impacts how I collaborate with others in different settings.

This is also where I realized that only those who genuinely embrace APA's vision for the community could see the program through, especially given the fatigue that builds over the two years, as I mentioned earlier. As the saying goes, "No sacrifice is too great to pursue what you love and what is good."

One reason I greatly admire Anseye Pou Ayiti's work is because it is done for the country and its children. It is the work of dedicated, patriotic citizens that is not just based on academic content but also on a set of values that we must develop as leaders committed to transforming our country. This professional development program is not solely academic; it touches many other aspects of the lives of those who benefit from it. I don't know of many organizations that do this work; APA may be the only one. My understanding of the work made me say to myself: With such a wonderful initiative, I must keep going until I complete the program and collaborate with APA whenever life gives me a chance.

Thanks to this training, I now believe that Anseye Pou Ayiti (APA) plays a significant role in addressing the country's education crisis by introducing a new, more effective approach to educating children. It also helps to revalue and integrate our fading culture and customs into children's education, thereby preserving our national identity. Everyone who has the opportunity should join this movement and support Anseye Pou Ayiti for this noble work. A Creole proverb says, "Small, sweet potatoes fill up the sack," meaning that every Civic Leader who receives this training becomes part of a remarkable group committed to transforming our country through their everyday actions.

Today, it is true that I put a lot of effort into my studies, but APA has added its touch, making me more professional. While I believe in continually improving myself, APA provides added motivation not to remain stagnant; I must continue to progress while respecting the foundations set by our ancestors, as Director Fenel would say. I have many projects that I intend to work on so that, in time, I will continue to advance beyond where I was.

In conclusion, I want to express my deep gratitude to APA for its significant investment in me, showing me how much the team counts on me to continue the work. By combining the values they have taught me, I strive to be a better version of myself as a Civic Leader, contributing to changing the community's mindset for the benefit of the children and the country. I am happy and proud to be part of the APA family.

Ricarlince Moïse, Civic Leader Cohort 2022