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Our Story

  • Origins & Identity

The Askêsis Story

How shared memory became public purpose — and how one graduating class is building a platform worthy of the next generation.

  • THE NAME

What "Askêsis" Mean

“Askêsis” is an ancient Greek term referring to disciplined training and personal growth — the kind of sustained practice through which character, judgment, and excellence are cultivated over time. It was not chosen lightly.

For the Saint-Louis de Gonzague Class of 2006, that idea carried lived meaning. It evoked the rigor, solidarity, and aspiration they experienced as students in Port-au-Prince — a standard of seriousness that shaped how classmates understood themselves and each other.

“Discipline, dignity, and intellectual seriousness can shape a life. That belief became our foundation.”

  • Quick Facts
1. ORIGIN

Saint-Louis de Gonzague, Port-au-Prince
2. CLASS YEAR

Saint-Louis de Gonzague, Port-au-Prince
3. 501(c)(3) Status

2025, New York
4. TRANSPARENCY

★ Candid Seal of Transparency 2026
5. REACH

Haiti, USA, Canada, Europe & Africa
  • The Journey

From Reunion to Institution

2006
Graduation — Saint-Louis de Gonzague
The Class of 2006 graduates from one of Haiti’s most respected educational institutions in Port-au-Prince. They disperse worldwide, carrying with them the shared values of rigor, solidarity, and aspiration.

2006 – 2024
Diaspora & Professional Growth
Over nearly two decades, alumni build careers across finance, law, medicine, education, and government in the United States, Canada, Europe, and across the Caribbean. The bonds formed in the classroom hold.

2024
The Realization — 20-Year Reunion Preparations
During preparations for the 20-year reunion, a deeper realization emerged: the collective social capital of the cohort could be organized into something more enduring than nostalgia. Shared memory could become public purpose.

2025
Askêsis Foundation Formally Established
The Foundation receives its federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a public charity — EIN 33-3238915. Incorporated in New York, formalizing a commitment to long-term impact.

2026
From Vision to Institution
The 2026 White Paper is published. Askêsis earns the Candid Seal of Transparency and launches the 2026 Leadership Gala in Miami with a $50K initial fundraising target.

Educational Mobility

Unlock pathways to higher education and scholarships for young people who have the talent but lack the navigation or funding.

Leadership Pipeline

Cultivate a renewable generation of ethical, capable, and globally connected leaders through structured programs.

Community Resilience

Strengthen communities through health outreach, family support, disaster relief, and microgrants for grassroots initiatives.

Diaspora Engagement

Build a disciplined vehicle converting diaspora goodwill, expertise, and capital into sustained coordinated action.
  • The Academy

The Academy

The Askêsis Leadership Academy™ — a world-class campus serving students and leaders across the Caribbean. The capstone of everything we build today.

Be Part of the Change