Beyond Mountains: Northern Haiti and Immigrating to Canada with Jessica Geffrard

Welcome to a special series on Unpacked, where we journey to the vibrant and resilient nation of Haiti. In this series, we have the privilege of hearing from inspiring individuals who have not only grown up in this beautiful country but have dedicated their lives to positively impacting their communities. Join us as we sit down with Elio, Jessica, and Dr. Manno, leaders born in Haiti (two still living there) each with a unique story and perspective on life in Haiti. They graciously share their personal experiences, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Haitian culture, and emphasizing the immense joy that persists even in the face of challenging circumstances, including economic and political unrest. This week on Unpacked we are chatting with Jessica Geffrard, administrator, wife, mama and former leader of the Petite Anse Kids Feeding Project in Haut Limbe, Haiti. The Unpacked Team met Jessica several years ago when travelling to Haiti with the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. Jessica shares about her life growing up in Haiti as the daughter of a single parent and the oldest in her household she was responsible for taking care of her sibling and the household while her mom worked hard to ensure they had what they needed (education, clothes and food). Jessica shares what she hopes Canadians can learn about her culture and we discuss the immense joy of Haitians in the midst of really challenging situations including economic and political unrest.  Jessica is a passionate leader who worked tirelessly to empower the children in Petite Anse and continues to put that energy into everything she does. LINKS -Donate + Support Haiti -Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada -Petite Anse Feeding Project Video (featuring Jessica) -More on Haiti: Dr. Manno"s Episode part 1 and part 2 -Unpacked Series - Shoulder to Shoulder -Unpacked Series - Everyday Enneagram -Unpacked Series - Adoption Support the show Unpacked is a podcast exploring life as messy people. It’s conversations with counsellors, leaders, and storytellers discussing the experiences of being human. We talk about the strength that comes from big messy failures and vulnerable moments so we can learn to live more authentically. Subscribe and leave us a review! Instagram:@theunpackedpod Facebook: @theunpackedpod unpackedpod.ca Support the show *music by Bensound