Aurélie Gilles has defied many odds in her short lifetime. She is one of the 12 percent of Haitian youth who have completed high school, one of the 1.3 percent of Haitians who have completed a college degree, and she can also be credited with being one of the few students who graduated from the Université de Pantheon-Sorbonne with honors whilst battling cancer.
An ambitious lady, Aurélie then went on to complete a double master's degree in international finance and in development economics at McGill University and the University of Montréal.
Her education, passion and motivation led Aurélie to intern with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Haitian Central Bank, after which she began her current position as an Operations Associate for the Haiti Response Group with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) - a group devoted to the rebuilding and restructuring of Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake.
Aurélie is currently based in Washington, D.C. She returns to Haiti on frequent work missions, where she also works to improve children's education - an issue for which she is very passionate.
Expat Women's Interview with Aurélie
Expat Women:Aurélie, you have achieved much in your young life and seem to be quite the expat woman on the go. What inspired you to pursue your chosen academic and career path?
Aurélie: Honestly, I do not think I particularly achieved much in my life; I fought the most I could in order to overcome certain circumstances. Some of them were certainly unexpected, and others not so much. Among them, the fact that the quality of university-level education in Haiti is unfortunately not recognized worldwide. That said, I feel really lucky and grateful that my parents valued education so much and made sure they could offer us (my sister and I) the opportunity to attend the best universities in Paris and Montreal. Growing up in an environment where most youth do not finish school, one learns to truly value education and do the most in order to attain a good quality degree. My parents also studied in Paris, so I was prepared to study there, and I also attended the French school in Port-au-Prince.
Expat Women:Can you tell us very briefly about your support for children's education in Haiti? Aurélie: Since I was young, my parents have always told my sister and I about the importance of education, underlying the fact that without it some doors would remain shut. Being brought up in a country like Haiti, where only 71 percent of the children are enrolled in elementary school and only 12 percent will complete high school, being able to attend the best school in Haiti was the chance of a lifetime! With constant parental support and growing up in an environment where education was very important, I learned how to treasure all the possibilities that came with it. My true inspiration was also my grandmother, who sold her own house, the only thing she had, to ensure that my father could finish high school.
As only a small percentage of youth in Haiti complete high school and college, and most college graduates will leave Haiti, causing a ‘Brain Drain' effect, I feel that something needs to be done! This is why I am a big advocate of offering quality education and opportunities in Haiti. My objective is to bring back to my country and its youth whatever I can in order to promote its development.
As Diogenes Laertius said: "The foundation of every state is the education of its youth".
Expat Women:Please share with us what projects you are currently working on.
Aurélie: The projects I am currently working on include:
Creating Sports and Development Centers for the Haitian youth to establish a Sports for Development Program as a complement to the Bank's Education Program, with the goal being to improve the quality of education and the development of children and youth. I have been in contact with the Haitian Olympic commission and I am still seeking other potential partners (national and international) ready to be part of the program that is being implemented as we speak.
Writing a concept note that will be attached to our strategy focusing on challenges in the gender area (which is cross-sectional), in order to inform our team what has been done and where we still need to make efforts.
Designing a process in which we can include even more private sector and grassroots organization in our efforts in Haiti.
Expat Women:What rebuilding efforts have you and the Haiti Response Group (HRG) been helping with since the earthquake in Haiti last year?
Aurélie: The HRG is in charge of supervising everything implemented in Haiti and ensures that we focus on the Bank's strategy in Haiti, and that grants approved for Haiti are well allocated.
Our group concentrates on large programs designed to foster structural change and enable sustainable impact in six key sectors: education; water and sanitation; agriculture; transport and basic infrastructure; energy; and private sector development. Programs are spread throughout the country, but there is an explicit spatial dimension with emphasis on the Northern growth pole to foster decentralization.
I am currently in charge of all the gender and youth issues, so my role includes ensuring gender equality is considered while implementing projects. I also manage the external relations of the department and provide information and clarification to anyone interested in working with the Haiti group at the IDB. In addition, I work with the team with all other current projects needing special attention and assure the portfolio review.
The commitment of the IDB is unique as it is the only multi-lateral institution that made a long-term commitment to Haiti. Also, the personal and true dedication that Haiti's country manager, Agustin Aguerre, showed during the past year was impressive. As a young Haitian, I am really appreciative and inspired by his perseverance. We are not alone.
Expat Women:How did the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti affect your family and friends?
Aurélie: As for every Haitian, the earthquake on January 12, 2010 deeply affected me, not only as a Haitian citizen, but also as a young woman. I lost my Godmother, who was an inspiration to me, and a real example of what independent and strong women look like. Thanks be to God, my parents and immediate family were safe and the family house was not affected.
Expat Women:What lessons have the disaster and relief efforts taught you about the role of local and expat women in rebuilding society?
Aurélie:The unconditional and quick support the international community showed in response and the commitment shown towards Haiti was striking. Furthermore, women around the world stood up and reassured us that this commitment was long-term and that the most vulnerable people were also taken into account and included in the reconstruction process. I particularly notice this in my current work with the IDB: expat women in coordination with local women are primarily thinking about the needs of the forgotten people and the sustainability of these initiatives.
Expat Women:How did your first-hand battle with cancer affect your future goals and aspirations?
Aurélie: In September 2006, right before starting my third year classes at La Sorbonne in Paris, my doctor told me that I had spleen cancer. It was at an early stage, so at first we did not expect anything too serious. I continued attending classes, doing homework, going to volleyball practices and carrying on with my life.
Then, things got complicated. For some reason the cancer had spread to the liver and intestines. It was too late to operate, so I had to go through more serious treatments, like chemotherapy. It was hard but I did not want to quit my classes. I needed goals to focus on and mine were to earn my degrees, never disappoint my parents and family and be grateful for what I still had. At least I could still have good quality education - this would be my focus and not even cancer would stop me from attaining it. I would never have been able to overcome it if I did not have my family's unconditional support and the precious help of my family and friends. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Of course, there were very difficult times during the four years I was sick, mostly after chemo sessions, but for me to give up on university - something that I value so much - would be to accept that it was over and that the sickness had won the battle. I simply could not accept it; I had to go on.
Expat Women:Finally, what are the top five ways we, as internationally mobile women, can help developing communities, such as Haiti?
Aurélie:
1.
Identify how the local community you are presently working and living in can participate in the development of communities in need.
2.
Help and support these communities to take ownership of their own development process.
3.
Ensure that women's voices are heard. Doing so by closely working with men and involving them in the process is crucial.
4.
Learn about these communities and see how the organizations you work in can take part in their development and create sustainability.
5.
Develop and increase your network and speak about these developing communities and their needs. Do not hesitate to go on the ground and meet the people there.
Expat Women:Aurélie, thank you very much for sharing so much with us. You are a true inspiration and we wish you and your work the very best of success!
Aurélie: Thanks to you, for your interest in our work and in Haiti! Thanks to all expat women for the wonderful initiatives they take around the world; it makes a great difference!
