SOIL Celebrates International Women’s Day
“...women, brave as stars at dawn.”
Edwidge Danticant, ‘Breath, Eyes, Memory’
It’s that time of year again—International Women’s Day—a moment to amplify the voices of trailblazers, changemakers, and everyday heroes. This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, is a call to move faster toward a world where everyone, regardless of their gender, has the opportunity to succeed. When girls and women have a seat at the table and the opportunity to lead, they drive progress—just as Haitian women have done for generations, from the Revolution to the many inspiring initiatives shaping Haiti today.
Right now, the World Economic Forum estimates that achieving gender equity in areas like political representation, education, and healthcare is still five generations away. That’s a 20-year improvement from their 2017 projection—but we can’t afford to continue inching forward at a snail’s pace. Together, we can #AccelerateAction by creating environments that allow for young girls, women and mothers to thrive.
At SOIL, women’s insights and ingenuity are at the heart of our work. Five of SOIL’s organizational directors are women, including our executive director and co-founder, Dr. Sasha Kramer, and ten of our fourteen spectacular Board of Directors are women.
And on the ground in Cap-Haïtien, a powerhouse team of women is leading SOIL’s EkoLakay, EkoMobil, and EkoMache services:
Beverly plays a central leadership role, shaping strategic plans for our EkoLakay sales team to improve and expand service and using data to find ways to optimize our operations.
At our Cap-Haitien office, Starah is a fierce advocate for SOIL’s mission and a driving force behind the design and implemention of KonposLakay's fieldwork protocols.
Georgette and Nazuila, two of SOIL’s remarkable composting workers, are among the strongest women we know—turning waste into nutrient-rich compost with determination, skill, and biceps of steel!
While Myrlene helps keep our team thriving through her work with HR and recruitment, Joseleen ensures smooth financial operations as our office cashier. Marie, our receptionist extraordinaire, keeps communications running between clients, community, and the team.
Women at SOIL are not only leading—they're personally connected to our mission. We know firsthand that access to safe sanitation is also a matter of dignity, health, and safety for (everyone, but especially for) women and girls.
When girls have a suitable sanitation option, they are more likely to feel comfortable attending school while menstruating. When mothers don’t have to worry about their child’s safety using the toilet, their stress lessens, and family well-being improves. When families are well, communities thrive.
This awareness of what it means to navigate daily life as a woman shapes SOIL’s approach to sanitation—one that prioritizes the needs and experiences of women and girls at every step. In the regions of northern Haiti where SOIL operates, women often bear the primary responsibility for household chores, which includes tidying up their EkoLakay toilets. We recognize that this unpaid domestic labor is critical to SOIL’s ability to maintain a quality sanitation service, and we are deeply grateful for it. With this responsibility in mind, our customer service and research team continually gather client feedback to influence our toilet design—making it easier to clean and maintain for long-term functionality. Women supporting women. Solutions and services shaped by lived experience. This is what SOIL has always done, and what we will continue to do.
In 2025, we pledge to #AccelerateChange by continuing our conversation about the connection between safe sanitation and the health and happiness of women and girls. We will keep fighting for every woman and girl to have access to a safe, dignified toilet—because no one should have to choose between their health, safety, and basic human needs.
Together, let’s pick up the pace.