Our Team
Jean Phélix Joseph, president & co-founder
Born in La Hatte, Île à Vache, Phélix is the Co-founder and President of The Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti, Inc. Married, and the father of five children, Phélix finished his studies in Haitian law at École de Droit et des Sciences Économiques des Cayes. He is also Secretary of the Committee General for the Development of Île à Vache. Phélix lovingly pours his life into the community of Île à Vache for the betterment of the people for whom he cares. He is the day-to-day manager of Good Samaritan Foundation in Haiti, and responsible for all reports and banking, overseeing the running of the school and other programs. Phélix and Michael Gardner joined hands to create The Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti, Inc. and make it a positive force in troubled times.
Michael Gardner, co-founder
Michael began his journey from the Great Lakes of Michigan to the Caribbean as an apprentice treasure hunter, turning the wooden hulls of shipwrecked vessels into beautiful handmade furniture for re-sale to the nautical collectors market. He later discovered that the sheen on the shipwrecked furniture shone more brightly when hope entered the craftsmanship, and the working hands of the beautiful people of Haiti poured their love into the project. When he recognized that it wasn't the tattered wood but a shattered people, still managing to smile, that was making his adventure so rich, Michael felt a calling to give back. Michael has been recognized many times by Rotary Clubs, both in Tortola and State-side, his humanitarian endeavors over many years in the establishment and operation of The Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti. He is a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow.
Mandy Thody, administrative director
Mandy grew up in England and South Africa, and has spent 30 years sailing and living in the Caribbean. After gaining experience working for several different organizations all over Haiti, before and after the earthquake, she adopted a ruined school (IMECT), rebuilt it and has run it since 2010 with donations from friends and fellow artists in the Virgin Islands. In 2014 she took on the task of expanding and streamlining GSF, now combined with her former group, '100% for Haiti'. Mandy speaks French and Creole, and makes frequent trips to stay at our projects, start new initiatives and develop programs. Under her leadership, GSF has become one of the most respected and fastest-growing development groups working in the areas where we operate.
Anousse Paul, head of agriculture programs
Anousse was born in northwest Haiti and raised in Gonaïves. He later attended college in the Dominican Republic to learn Spanish, and then won a scholarship to study Agronomy in Benin, for 5 years after the earthquake. Since returning to Haiti in 2015, he has overseen the start and growth of the GSF agriculture programs which feed the La Hatte school, and provide jobs and agricultural and veterinary services to Île à Vache.
Yolande Caristyl, principal, IMECT school
Yolande is from the Petit Goâve area and her father's family farm the hill directly above our school at Morne Tapion. In 2001 her father built a small school on donated land for his daughter as she graduated as a kindergarten teacher - this became IMECT school. Later felled by the earthquake in 2010, the school kept on going with GSF help and is now heading for it's 20th year. Yolande has three young children but was sadly widowed two years ago, when her husband Denny died suddenly of hepatitis. He is much missed.
Serge Lima, principal, La Hatte school
Jean Serge Lima was born and raised on Île à Vache near Gros-Morne and completed his secondary education in Les Cayes. He holds a degree in educational science from the Université Publique du Sud aux Cayes. In addition to his role as the headmaster of La Hatte school, he is also an instructor with five years of previous teaching experience. He was also the dean of the ASAM Community School of Aquin for two years before joining GSF in 2018. He has been able to raise the standard of teaching and organization of the school tremendously and make the team a real success..
Board Members
Michael ‘Beans’ Gardner, president • Tristam MacDonald • Dr. Stuart Weiss • Shelly Scripps • Susan Zaluski