Leaders Who Become Dictators

Haiti has suffered under the misrule of autocratic and violent leaders for most of its history. While Haiti is making encouraging progress toward stable democracy on the national level, the model of leadership in local institutions still tends to be extremely autocratic. This is a problem in schools where ill-equipped teachers squash opportunities for authentic learning. And it’s also true in churches where authoritarian church leaders deny their people opportunities for spiritual growth.

Upstream: While there is a strong tradition of shared leadership at the informal grassroots level in Haiti, leadership of institutions tends to be very authoritarian. Given Haiti’s brutal colonial history, this isn’t a surprise. The only model of leadership was the slave master. But schools, churches, and organizations that depend so heavily on the absolute control of an individual are fragile and vulnerable to corruption and the excesses of unchecked power.

Our Work: Beyond Borders promotes participatory models of leadership. We offer a variety of tools that have made hundreds of schools, churches, and organizations more dynamic, participatory, and life-giving. Leaders learn the value of sharing power and nurturing leadership in other people. Churches are brought to life as ordinary church members are given new tools and the space to nurture spiritual growth in one another.