Breaking the Mold: Meet the Female Masons Rebuilding Haiti

In the remote Haitian community of Fond Tortue, Juslaine Monplaisir is building schools, and in the process, she’s building a new future for herself, her children, and young girls across Haiti.

After the 2021 earthquake devastated her local school, classes continued under makeshift shelters. But everything changed when the community partnered with buildOn this year. Juslaine, a mother of four and lifelong resident of Fond Tortue, stepped up, first as a volunteer, then as one of the first female masons hired to help rebuild her community’s school.

From Volunteer to Skilled Builder

Across the eight countries that we work with, we enlist the help of community members to complete our new schools. But our team in Haiti takes that a step further: at every school construction site in Haiti, buildOn hires three men and one woman from the local community to join our team as masons for the project. We provide hands-on training so that anyone willing to learn can gain skills in masonry, carpentry, and site planning. 

When we offered this opportunity to the people of Fond Tortue, Juslaine took it.

She quickly mastered construction techniques, including rock and block laying, reinforcement, and finishing work. Her work ethic stood out. And when buildOn began construction in a neighboring community, Bellevue, Juslaine was invited to join the paid construction team as a mason there.

Juslaine loves the work she does and says she’s ready for more. “No one is born with all the skills,” she says. “But with continued work and dedication, I’ll gain even more experience. I’m fully available and motivated to contribute wherever I’m needed.”

Redefining Gender Norms in Construction

In Haiti, and around the world, construction remains a male-dominated field. But role models like Juslaine are helping to change that. She says that she was inspired by Louloune, a female mason who has been working with buildOn for more than a decade. Juslaine is proud to follow in her footsteps.

“When Louloune came to Fond Tortue, it made me proud to watch her working. Now, I am proud to collaborate with her too.”

Today, Juslaine is the only woman from her community working in construction. But she’s determined not to be the last, and happy she can serve as an inspiration for future female masons in Haiti.

“I am proud of myself when I see other people standing and watching me, saying ‘look how a woman is working.’ And people really like that,” Juslaine explains. “I am proud when I see a woman doing welding, in masonry, in everything, I really love that.”

“I am proud of myself when I see other people standing and watching me, saying ‘look how a woman is working.’” —Juslaine Monplaisir

Sustainable Change, Powered by Local Leadership

Juslaine’s story is about more than one woman’s determination. It’s about a new model of international development, one that rejects dependency and embraces local leadership.

For decades, aid efforts in Haiti have drawn criticism for sidelining communities and creating long-term dependency. At buildOn, we do things differently. We partner with communities to build schools together. We hire and train local workers. And when projects are done, we leave behind not just infrastructure, but skills, jobs, and pride.

A Brighter Future for Fond Tortue and Haiti

The new school in Fond Tortue isn’t just a building. It’s a beacon. Juslaine’s children now study in safe classrooms, and other young girls see what’s possible when women lead.

As Juslaine puts it: “In my area, among all the younger women, I am the only one doing this work. I am already a role model for other women.”

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