We help Farmers Grow better

Haiti’s Powerful Legacy of Justice – and the Promise It Inspired

(How Ecoworks International Came to Be)

One day, while sifting through historical records in an archive, I stumbled upon a document that stopped me cold: in 1937, Haiti—a country I knew little about at the time—issued visas to Jewish families fleeing Nazi persecution. Haiti?!

As the child of Holocaust survivors, I had learned about the horrors of the Holocaust and the bravery of those who resisted. Yet, never once had I heard about Haiti’s role—a small Caribbean nation offering safe harbor while much of the world turned its back.

At the time of this discovery, I was deep into my career in international development and humanitarian aid, working across continents—from China to Argentina, Zimbabwe, Poland, and many countries in between. I had spent years partnering with local communities to design and implement long-term solutions to poverty and hunger, and to respond to natural disasters and the aftermath of genocide.

But Haiti’s act of moral courage – standing on the side of justice at a time when so few did – deeply moved me. I made a promise to myself: one day, I would work in Haiti. I would “pay it forward” in the only way I know how – by partnering with Haitians to support their priorities and improve lives.

More than two decades later, I kept that promise.

On January 1st, 2009 – Haiti’s Independence Day – I founded Ecoworks International, an organization fully dedicated to the well-being of Haiti and its people.

Our mission is simple but vital: ‘to bolster Haiti’s capacity to feed itself sustainably and build shared prosperity’. To strengthen Haiti’s agricultural sector we support smallholder farmers who are the backbone of the country’s economy. We provide tools, training, innovative methods, and technologies that increase crop yields, use less resources, raise incomes, and build resilience in the face of climate and economic insecurity.

Furthermore, our integrated approach combines agriculture with environmental stewardship, setting up cooperatives, business incubation and acceleration, education, and initiatives that strengthen Haiti’s socio-cultural fabric. We listen closely to women to understand their needs, because strengthening families begins with supporting women. And we invest in young people to offer opportunities that help stem the tide of outmigration that drains Haiti’s future.

Our teams are made up of Haiti’s brilliant expert plant geneticists, agronomists, economists,  environmental scientists – and the country’s remarkable smallholder farmers, whose skill and determination make it possible to grow food in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. Together, we co-create sustainable, community-driven strategies that deepen impact and ensure lasting change.

Everything we build belongs to our Haitian partners.

This work is the expression of solidarity and profound gratitude to a nation that once acted with uncommon courage. It is a commitment to help shape a future where Haitians not only survive, but lead, thrive, and flourish.

Join us. Walk with us. For Haiti. With Haiti.

Henryka Manès
Founder and Executive Director‍

Our Mission

To bolster Haiti’s capacity to feed itself sustainably, and build shared prosperity.

Our Vision

Haitian food producers eradicate Hunger in Haiti.

Our Values

Stewardship: We are careful, ethical, and responsible managers of the natural, built, human, and financial resources entrusted in our care

Excellence: We pursue excellence, innovation, and adaptation required to sustain a level of distinction and competitiveness

Commitment: We are committed to empowering individuals and communities we partner with

Success: We build assets and programs so people who live in poverty become owners of their institutions and active stakeholders in their lasting success