Canadians Abroad
Channelling the enthusiasm of youth towards a better future
Colette and I met in Grade 1 at our local primary school. We soon became good friends and still are today. She grew up to become a teacher—and a builder of schools in Central America and Africa. She did so through the humanitarian organization she created with her son and daughter, Fondation Colette Lefort.
At the beginning of her career, Colette opened and ran a nursery and pre-kindergarten from her home in Laval, just north of Montreal. Over the years, countless parents entrusted her with caring for their most precious loved ones.
Later in her career, which spans 30 years, she transitioned into adult education, with most of her students coming from disadvantaged countries. One day, she was asked if she would agree to come and teach overseas. Why not, she thought, and put a plan in motion. She did so in the summer of 2007, and upon her return decided to create her own foundation and advance the cause of providing educational facilities and programs to those in need. She called it Fondation Colette Lefort, a combination of her first name and her husband Pierre’s family name, who died very young, decades ago.
EL SALVADOR
Colette’s original plan had been to work as a humanitarian observer in El Salvador, which had been devastated by wars for many years. She had gathered and set aside elementary-level class materials to benefit a small school in a very poor village there. One week before her departure, however, she received a phone call informing her that what the school really needed was playground equipment, so Colette adjusted her plans on the fly.
While attending college and university, she worked as an instructor at youth camps, which proved to be valuable experience on the playground project in El Salvador, where she played a key role in leading a team
of young volunteers. All of them were happy to help out, happier still to learn how to use modern tools to build the wooden playground structures.
Colette vividly recounts their arrival in El Salvador. Accompanied by her son, Yohann, and daughter, Vanessa, both in their 20s, stepping off the plane and into the 40°C weather was a real shock. How would they survive such extreme heat? Looking around, they soon realized they were alone at the San Salvador International Airport. A man was supposed to drive them to the home of the host family they were staying with. At the time, Colette had only a basic knowledge of Spanish, but was eager to absorb as much as possible of the languages and cultures around her. Sitting in the back of the old truck after the driver finally arrived and taking in the scenery, she felt insecure at the sight of so many soldiers and policemen in the streets.
The following day they were to start building the playground, and she could not wait, even though she knew there would be many challenges. For example, being a woman, it was impossible for her to go and buy wood by herself: she had to be accompanied by a man. Nevertheless, the local teens discerned correctly that she was actually the person in charge—and that was fine with them! Years later, the mahogany playground structures built by Colette and her young volunteers are still in good shape and proving to be great fun for everyone.
KENYA AND BEYOND
Colette’s work in El Salvador was the first of many international missions. Kenya soon became another important destination where her skills and the foundation’s support were put to good use. Although far away and so different in many facets of life, Colette and her children felt almost entirely at home there shortly after their arrival. Colette had always dreamed of meeting with the ethnic group known as the Maasai. Thanks to a qualified interpreter, she was able to establish a good rapport with them, saying, “They have a keen eye, and watch and learn fast.” At first, the Maasai were astonished that a woman would travel alone with her children and build a school for strangers. Soon, however, they began to perceive her for what she truly is—a leader.
Hot and dry with spicy aromas in the air and ostriches running everywhere, Kenya was simply astonishing to Colette. She was warmly welcomed and accepted by the Maasai. She was also invited by another nearby ethnic group to take part in a community meal attended by 900 guests. Local mothers were so thankful towards Colette and her foundation for building a school with table and benches for 30 young boys and girls. While the school was being built, so were new bridges between cultures, and the involvement of Fondation Colette Lefort in Kenya is now ongoing.
When Colette travels abroad, she holds a special place in her heart for women who have worked so hard to improve the quality of life for their families and communities here in Canada, dating back to the pioneering days. She views these remarkable women, including those close to her home who helped settle the region north of Montreal along Rivière des Prairies, as resourceful, determined, caring survivors from whom she draws inspiration. She says the best way to ensure success of any worthy initiative is to get young people fully involved, believing it’s the social consciousness of youth that forms the basis of a better world for all. ■