Meet Schaëlda Joseph: The teacher inspiring Haitian youth with Creole and cultural pride

For high school teacher and Creole advocate Schaëlda Joseph, 23, the future of Haiti lies in empowering its youth through an education taught in the native Creole language. With a median age of 24, Haiti’s nearly 11.8 million population comprises a young generation full of potential.

Still, Joseph believes unlocking that potential requires embracing Creole as a tool for empowerment and reimagining the education system to inspire sound leadership and community engagement.

“My mission is simple: to empower the next generation to love their identity, embrace their culture, and believe in their ability to transform Haiti using the language they are most comfortable with, which is Creole, not French,” Joseph said.

The French language has long been used as a tool of oppression in Haiti. A language only spoken by the privileged and educated few, even today, French remains a powerful arm against the Haitian people instead of a communication tool. Many Haitians still consider Creole just a dialect for and spoken mainly by the less educated—the vast majority of people. 

Joseph, whose passion came through in every word spoken to The Haitian Times, strongly believes it is time for Haitian Creole, a well-developed language in both oral and written forms, to be fully used as the language of the country’s education system. Speaking at least four different languages herself, she supports teaching multiple languages in Haitian schools, particularly French, English, and Spanish in today’s global context.

However, the young woman agrees with many who think French, as a foreign language to nearly all Haitian children, cannot continue to be seen as superior and the dominant language in the country’s affairs.

“Why can’t students study and do their work in Creole if that is the language they are most comfortable with? How have we been teaching children in a language they can’t speak or barely understand?” asks the teacher and Creole advocate. 

 “I believe my mission is simple: to empower the next generation to love their identity, embrace their culture, and believe in their ability to transform Haiti.”

Schaëlda Joseph, Passionate Communicator, Teacher and Creole Advocate

“We need to place Creole and Haitian culture at the forefront of our education system and communications to empower new generations of leaders for a better Haiti.” 

She rejoices at the advances made by Creole in recent decades, especially with the post-Duvalier Constitution giving it official status as equal to French and creating an academy tasked with establishing and enforcing its standards. 

However, Joseph concedes that many steps remain to be taken to fully integrate Creole in all aspects of Haitian life, including particularly education, business, diplomacy, court system, government official documents and functions, among others.

“Speaking a language is one thing, but what you are saying or can say in that language is another—may be the most important thing,” she added during a recent interview with The Haitian Times.

“Pale fransè pa vle di w konn li pou sa (speaking French does not mean you are an intellectual),” Haitians often say. Yet the belief that someone who can speak French is highly educated has been so deeply instilled in people’s minds.

Yet, language experts like Joseph think Creole meets all scientific standards to independently incorporate academic or meaningful discussions without French in support. 

For one, Marleen Julien of the translation services company Creole Solutions echoes that assertion. “As it is for any other language with spoken and written standards, the Haitian Creole is complete and can be used independently in any science,” she recently told The Haitian Times. “We may need to develop more adaptive and pedagogical tools for some concepts depending on the science to make them teachable in our culture and traditions. Still, the foundation has already been developed,” Julien said.

Transforming mindsets through education, not just in schools

Joseph’s vision extends beyond the classroom. She usually conducts workshops for businesses and tours displacement camps and social institutions, engaging children and teens who face the harsh realities of poverty and violence. These sessions emphasize perseverance and motivation to succeed, critical thinking, and a positive outlook despite adverse circumstances.

“Education isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about empowerment and inspiring change in everyone’s life,”

Schaëlda Joseph, Creole Teacher and Toastmasters Communication Coach

“Education isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about empowerment and inspiring change in everyone’s life,” Joseph said.

Her programs blend cultural pride with practical life skills, emphasizing empowerment. Through active dialogue and creative projects, she encourages her students to address real-world problems, from environmental issues to social justice​.

Many young Haitians, like 17-year-old May-Kiara Exinor, who Joseph’s teaching and advocacy have influenced, say the way French has been imposed by a tiny elite avid of European culture dominance is largely responsible for Haiti’s failure.

Exinor, a 10th grader, recalled how she was punished for speaking Creole at a renowned all-girls Catholic school in Port-au-Prince during her elementary and middle school years. 

“They made us believe that speaking Creole was terrible for our education,” Exinor, now one of Joseph’s Creole and English students at  Collège Canado-Haïtien, a private technical high school in Turgeau, Port-au-Prince, said.

“At the school, we were only allowed to speak French even though many of us never spoke it at home or anywhere else,” she said.

“That’s a travesty, the recipe for a failed nation,” Exinor continued.

“But, that burden was lifted when I was transferred to Canado-Haïtien in 9th grade and met Ms. Schaëlda Joseph. I can confidently say now that Ms. Joseph has demystified everything for us in the classroom and helped us change our mindset about our beloved Creole language and Haitian culture.”

“They made us believe that speaking Creole was terrible for our education. But, that burden was lifted when I was transferred to Canado-Haïtien in 9th grade and met Ms. Schaëlda Joseph. I can confidently say now that Ms. Joseph has demystified everything for us in the classroom and helped us change our mindset about our beloved Creole language and Haitian culture.”

May-Kiara Exinor, Student at Collège Canado-Haïtien

Beyond teaching standard Creole, Joseph inspires her students to express themselves confidently in their native language, free of fear or shame, equipping them for success in other areas.

“Ms. Joseph has helped me excel in all classes beyond just language. She is my inspiration and model, and I want to be like her,” the aspirant neurosurgeon added.

For Joseph, born and raised in modest communities between Carrefour and Gressier — about 12 miles southwest of downtown Port-au-Prince — Creole is not just a language but the key to meaningfully connecting with young Haitians, building community and achieving positive transformation.

Schaëlda Joseph wears many hats

In addition to being a teacher, she is a debate and communication coach, social media manager, and web copywriter while studying journalism. As a Creole advocate, Joseph understands the significance of speaking to Haitian youth in their native vernacular. 

“Creole is the language of our cultural identity and of our many struggles,” she shared.

Joseph’s work has garnered attention locally and internationally. Her social media presence has amplified her reach, making her a relatable figure for the digital generation. Posts showcasing her innovative teaching methods have gained thousands of likes and shares, with many parents praising her ability to connect with their children​.

On Oct. 27, she was recognized by Le Paradis Haïtien, a group dedicated to promoting Haitian tourism and culture, winning first place in an essay and eloquence contest on the role and participation of the Creole language and culture in creating and reinforcing the Haitian narrative for change. The competition rewarded the top three contestants from a group of 10 finalists out of a list of 45 participants. Joseph secured first place, earning a prize of 50,000 gourdes, approximately USD 500, among other awards and accolades.

Joseph’s teaching methodology prioritizes engagement through relatable communication, fostering pride in the Haitian cultural heritage while challenging young minds to dream beyond societal limitations.

In her classrooms, she leverages storytelling, movie, poetry, music, dance, theater, literature, sculpture and paint, discussions about the value of Haitian culture, environment, and historical figures to inspire her students.

 “I want you to understand that your words and actions have power. If you articulate your dreams in your own language and cultural identity, you can achieve them,” she explained to a group of students on Oct. 28 during a conference on the International Creole Day.

Joseph is also active in Haiti’s budding intellectual community, collaborating with like-minded professionals to push for systemic educational reforms.

 “We cannot wait for change to come from the top; we must build it ourselves from within, one young person at a time,” she asserted during a recent panel discussion.

Championing Creole and Haitian culture on the world stage through Toastmasters International 

Joseph is not only teaching language but also nurturing a new wave of Haitian leaders who are equipped to face tomorrow’s challenges.

She is one of the pioneers of the Konbit Klèb Toastmasters—one of about 30 Haitian clubs affiliated with Toastmasters International and the nonprofit organization’s only Creole language club among more than 10,000 in about 150 countries worldwide. She joined the centenarian international organization in June 2022 when Konbit Klèb was founded. With the aim of sharpening communication and leadership skills and promoting Haitian culture, the club has become a beacon of hope among young Haitians.

“To me, utilizing Creole, a language deeply rooted in Haitian culture, is the best way to foster a sense of pride and responsibility among the younger generations,” she is convinced. “If you can create your own narratives, blending it with your cultural identity and promoting it yourself, you can shape your present and future.”

A vision wrapped in servant leadership and motivation like that makes Nidger Paul, a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in Haiti—the highest title awarded by the international organization in communication excellence— and Joseph’s mentor, appreciate her much more. 

“It’s rare to find many young people so motivated; people who know exactly what they want in life like Schaëlda,” Paul, founder of Konbit Klèb Toastmasters, said. 

Her approach involves alternative education methods emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and personal development, aiming to steer young minds away from negative influences and towards constructive societal contributions. Her rise among  Haiti’s Toastmasters members has been meteoric. Within just two years, she was promoted from a member to the Konbit Klèb’s secretary and vice president, and now to president.

Under her leadership, the communication club sets on expanding initiatives that envision creating a network of young leaders dedicated to promoting positive narratives and building a stronger Haiti. Her projects include a Creole-based youth mentorship program and a digital platform providing Creole training and educational resources to businesses and organizations dealing with Haitians worldwide.

“She loves the Creole language and Haitian culture a lot. Her contributions to the club have been enormous,” Paul rejoiced, praising Joseph’s deep belief in teamwork and supporting others. “She is an extraordinary visionary who always sets her sight further than many others can see. She is determined and never gives up on pursuing her goals.”                  

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Meet Schaëlda Joseph: The teacher inspiring Haitian youth with Creole and cultural pride was first posted on December 4, 2024 at 8:13 am.