A mommy, or manmi in Kreyòl, is just that — someone who is a nurturing source of emotional support and guidance. And that is what the cooks at Louverture Cleary School are called — mommies — as they are an integral and caring part of the lives of the young people on campus.
Ever present in the cafeteria, the 15 mommies at LCS are the heart of the campus as they connect with students day in and day out.
Says Head of Kitchen Staff Marie Cléanta P., “The students and staff call us mommy for a reason. Here we replace the mothers of the students. They spend the whole week at the school, far from their parents. So we play this role for them. We enjoy this as well. We like caring for them, not just preparing the food.”
Providing three prepared-from-scratch meals a day at a busy boarding school is not the easiest of tasks. In fact, it can be very difficult work. The mommies cheerfully feed almost 500 people every day, including LCS students, children from the Koukouy Sen Klè (Fireflies of Saint Clare) early childhood development program, teachers and staff.
Students help with clean up and wash dishes after all three meals as the mommies look ahead to the next meal, because on a busy and active campus populated with a large group of teenagers, there will always be people who are anticipating the next meal of good Haitian food!
It is said on campus that if the cooks are there and the students are being fed, all is well. These hardworking and conscientious women are truly the heart of Louverture Cleary School.
Cook Vivienne S. adds, “Even after their [the students] graduation, they still call us mommy whenever they see us in the street. I am always proud to see my children as grown-ups and becoming exceptional people in the country.”
