The journey of Taking Shape Far began in 2015 when Taking Shape's Founder, Tracey Wozny, met Pastor Jean Dieugrand, the Director of Le Phare Orphanage. An immediate connection formed over the shared belief that every child, regardless of their birthplace or background, deserves the opportunity to realize their full potential. ​

 

Le Phare Orphanage was a one-story building with just one bedroom and 23 eager children in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Tracey saw an immediate opportunity for Taking Shape to offer essential resources, school supplies, nutritious meals and high quality education. From this moment on, Taking Shape's mission grew from to more than just developing young leaders "here and near", to include a new community in Haiti.   

 

Taking Shape and Le Phare Orphanage grew their shared visions to ensure that the children in this community receive more than just an education, but the opportunity to thrive. With the incredible support from the Haitian community, the growth of organizations adopting STAR Leadership Curriculum™, and generous donors from the United States, Taking Shape blossomed into a cause greater than we could have imagined. This support allowed Taking Shape to lease a nearby property and transform it into a thriving primary school, Institution Mixte Le Phare des Anges (IMPA). 

 

At IMPA, students receive meals, uniforms, school supplies and a safe place to learn and grow - a critical piece of our shared mission. The primary school is complete with multiple classrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen, enhancing our impact as a Haitian leadership and educational center. Growing from an initial class of 31 students, to now 225 students and 16 dedicated Haitian employees, including teachers, cooks and security, we're proud to partner with Le Phare Orphanage and IMPA to adhere to our unwavering standards of excellence. 

 

While we celebrate our accomplishments, our work is far from complete. With the power of collective action, we continue to support Haitian children in need. The community's resilience in the face of challenges for fundamental human rights and violence fuels our unwavering support and makes our mission as important as ever. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children around the world and create lasting change by supporting a new generation of strong leaders to shape a brighter future.