We serve families living in bateyes in the Dominican Republic and cross-border communities in Morne Cass, Fort Liberté, Haiti — bringing essential health services to those who need them most.
Zanmi Santew (Friends of Your Health) is a community-driven health initiative serving families living in bateyes in the Dominican Republic and nearby cross-border communities, including Morne Cass in Fort Liberté, Haiti. Bateyes are former sugar cane plantation communities where many families have limited access to health services.
The organization was founded to address urgent gaps in health care access affecting vulnerable families in these regions.
Personas apasionadas por el servicio y comprometidas con transformar vidas
My name is Dr. Louis Mary Clarens Descorias. I am a Haitian physician, activist, community leader, and facilitator in conflict management and resolution. I studied medicine at UTESA University in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where I began my medical journey in 2010. I speak Haitian Creole, French, English, and Spanish, which has allowed me to connect with and serve diverse communities across Haiti and the Dominican Republic. My work has always been rooted in service. Early in my career, I collaborated with several organizations and developed educational projects for young people, particularly focused on helping them learn English. I have always believed that education opens doors, and I have seen firsthand how access to knowledge can transform lives. Many of the young people who participated in these programs went on to pursue university studies and build brighter futures for themselves. Supporting young people in gaining confidence, education, and opportunity became one of the first ways I served my community. Over time, my commitment expanded into healthcare and community development. I began working with batey communities after witnessing the difficult social and health conditions many families faced. Too many people lacked access to clinics, hospitals, education, and basic support. I could not ignore this reality. I felt called to respond—not only as a physician, but as someone who deeply believes in human dignity and justice. My involvement with the bateyes began through direct service, community engagement, and collaboration with organizations already working on the ground. As I listened to the needs of the people and witnessed their daily struggles, I became even more committed to creating practical and lasting solutions. This work led me to participate in health initiatives and to help build stronger, community-based programs designed to support long-term development. One of the projects closest to my heart is Zanmi Santew , where I am honored to serve as a founding leader. Through this work, I have helped support vulnerable communities and respond to urgent healthcare needs. In Haiti, I also began the construction of a clinic with the support of donors, including doTERRA, the Dominican Starfish Foundation, and Showhome Furniture. The clinic is now nearly completed. To me, it represents far more than a building—it represents hope, access to care, dignity, and a long-term commitment to serving communities that are too often forgotten. This clinic also carries a deeply personal meaning. It honors the legacy of my second mother, Louise Zobell, who taught me what it means to be a leader and to serve others with compassion. Although she has passed away, her influence continues to inspire my work, and her legacy lives on through the service we provide to the community. The impact of this work has been both personal and collective. Through education, I have helped young people gain skills and access new opportunities. Through health and community initiatives, I have worked to bring essential services and support to people facing difficult circumstances. Through organizing and leadership, I have sought to build trust and create a foundation for sustainable, long-term service. My goal has never been simply to provide temporary help, but to contribute to meaningful and lasting change. This work is deeply personal to me. I come from the same realities as the people I serve, and I understand how urgent these needs are. For me, serving batey communities and vulnerable populations is not simply charity—it is a responsibility. I believe every person deserves access to healthcare, education, respect, and the opportunity to live with dignity. That belief continues to guide everything I do. In addition to this work, I have been volunteering with the Dominican Starfish Foundation since 2013 and serve as a Volunteer Coordinator for the CIEE Study Abroad Program. I am also the co-founder of the HipHopHeals Project alongside my friend Donald Sawyer. In 2023, I received a certificate of completion from Dr. Don C. Sawyer, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Associate Professor of Sociology, and Associate Clinical Professor, for participating in a research workshop with medical faculty and scientists focused on best practices for underserved communities. The workshop was held May 25–26, 2023, in Hamden, Connecticut. My mission is to continue building bridges between healthcare, education, and community empowerment, working alongside others who believe in justice, compassion, and lasting change.
Ashton Earl is a co-founder and board member of Zanmi Sante W (Friends of Your Health), a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening underserved Haitian communities through sustainable medical humanitarian support. His commitment to service began during his missionary work in the Dominican Republic, where he became fluent in Spanish and developed strong proficiency in Haitian Creole while working closely with Dominican and Haitian communities. Now a pre-medical student at Utah State University, Ashton combines his academic training with hands-on experience as a medical interpreter, helping bridge language barriers in healthcare settings and advocate for equitable access to care. He has participated in humanitarian outreach and service clinics in the Dominican Republic with iHelp Foundation and Dominican Starfish Foundation providing medical interpretation support and community education. These projects allowed him to meet and connect with Dr. Clarence, founder of Zanmi Sante W (Friends of Your Health). Through Zanmi Sante W, his vision is to provide sustainable healthcare access to vulnerable Haitian populations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti through the expansion of accessible clinical care.
Jani-Shiang Lopez studied Public Accounting at Universidad Mesoamericana in Mexico. She currently works in the coordination of People and Culture (Human Resources), where she focuses on building organizational cultures centered on respect, well-being, and personal growth. Her commitment to service began during her time as a missionary in the Dominican Republic, where she had the opportunity to work closely with both Dominican and Haitian communities. This experience deeply shaped her perspective, strengthening her empathy and awareness of the needs of vulnerable populations. She is also part of the social media team for Zanmi Sante W (Friends of Your Health), where she supports the promotion of initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare in underserved communities. She shares the organization’s vision of providing sustainable healthcare access to vulnerable Haitian populations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti through the expansion of accessible clinical care. Throughout her journey, she has integrated her passion for service into both her personal and professional life, believing that empathy and commitment can create a meaningful and lasting impact in communities.
My name is Anderson, a writer and facilitator in conflict management and resolution, as well as a passionate enthusiast of computer science and engineering. I am part of this organization in order to offer my skills as a writer and community management activist, with the aim of ensuring the dissemination of Zanmi Sante w’s information and promoting its initiatives within the various communities in which it seeks to grow. My objective is to help this extraordinary project support more people within the community. I will also ensure the management of its social media pages, write articles, and prepare reports on the actions carried out throughout its journey. I will dedicate my expertise and creativity to the development and growth of this major project, while also contributing to supporting the Haitian community, which is currently going through extremely difficult times, particularly due to the lack of access to adequate healthcare. I have experience in this field. Indeed, I have been collaborating with DCHSAA Inc. for the past five years, and I also served as its secretary for one year. I am also a founding member of the JCPA association in the Dominican Republic (Jóvenes Comprometidos con la Paz y Armonía). Thank you.
Quelina Deneus es auxiliar de enfermería con una fuerte vocación de servicio y un profundo compromiso con el cuidado y la salud de las personas. Se unió a Zanmi Santew (Friends of Your Health) para aportar sus conocimientos y experiencia en la atención y acompañamiento de pacientes, contribuyendo al fortalecimiento del bienestar en las comunidades. Mediante su trabajo, participa en iniciativas enfocadas en fomentar la prevención, la educación sanitaria y el acceso a servicios básicos de salud para quienes más lo necesitan. Su labor se centra en brindar atención compasiva, apoyo emocional y asistencia durante los distintos procesos de cuidado médico. Además, Quelina colabora en actividades comunitarias y proyectos de alcance social, ayudando a compartir información clave sobre salud y bienestar. También se encarga de administrar las redes sociales de la organización, redactar artículos y elaborar informes sobre las acciones y programas realizados. Su meta es continuar desarrollándose profesionalmente mientras contribuye a crear comunidades más saludables y solidarias.
Hello, my name is Ucles Jean Axme. I'm from Haiti and I live in the Dominican Republic. I'm 26 years old. I was an English student in the PEA Initiative, and thanks to Clarens and everyone involved in the program, I can now share my knowledge in the Zanmi Santew program. I'm an English teacher and translator, as English is a very important skill that the community needs. For example, some of my former students now also have the opportunity to translate in the Zanmi Santew program, helping out with medical activities in our communities. I'm also working as a photographer in the 27 waters falls , which has helped me understand different accents, since I work with people from all over the world. As you can see, I am in charge of the part that involves the youth, which will not only be in the English area, but a computer course will also be offered so that our young people in our community have better knowledge for life, since not all communities have access to these opportunities.
Luke Hutchings is a pre-medical and economics student at Brigham Young University. His connection with Haitian and Dominican communities began during his missionary service in the Dominican Republic for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he developed proficiency in Spanish and Haitian Creole while cultivating a deep appreciation for the cultures and resilience of the people he served. Luke became involved with Zanmi Sante W (Friends of Your Health) after seeing a social media post about the organization and feeling compelled to contribute. Since joining, he has helped expand the organization’s network by bringing in new partners and supporting initiatives that improve access to sustainable healthcare in underserved Haitian communities. He hopes to one day serve these communities as a medical doctor.
Cada proyecto representa una comunidad que necesita tu ayuda ahora
Mantente informado sobre nuestro impacto y actividades
Próximamente publicaremos noticias y novedades.
Con solo $10 puedes proveer medicamentos para un adulto mayor durante un mes. Con $25, una consulta médica especializada. Con $100, suministros para una jornada médica completa.
Tu tiempo y habilidades son un regalo invaluable para quienes más lo necesitan
Zanmi Santew promotes a multidisciplinary approach to global health. We welcome students and health professionals from around the world to participate in mobile clinics and health programs at our facilities in the Dominican Republic.
Through hands-on engagement, visiting students work alongside local professionals to support clinical services, community outreach, and public health programs while gaining valuable experience in global and community health.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health technicians for mobile clinics and community health programs
Medical, nursing and public health students seeking global health experience in underserved communities
Psychosocial support professionals for patients, families and community outreach programs
Support in organization, community engagement, health education workshops and outreach
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