A Conversation with SOIL Advisory Board Member Harry Luc
Harry Luc | SOIL Advisory Board Member
From early collaborations to currently serving as a member on our Advisory Board, Harry’s work has consistently aligned with SOIL’s mission to advance dignity and justice in Haiti. We are thrilled to sit down with him to talk more about his journey, his work with SOIL, and the powerful role that the arts can play in driving social change.
You’re a busy man, you have several projects you run, I’m sure there is a lot to cover — but can you start by telling us a bit about yourself?
Sure thing - I’m an economist by training, born and raised in Saint-Marc, a city about two hours north of Port-au-Prince. I moved to the capital when I was 15 to pursue my studies, earned a degree in economics, and spent six years working in banking.
But my drive comes from a deeper purpose. In 2008, I Co founded HandzUp Group, a company that works with artists and social justice organizations across Haiti. From supporting the women’s prison in Cabaret to partnering with groups that serve vulnerable children, my work has always been about using art as a tool for transforming communities. For creating spaces to amplify dialogues about social injustice and empower advocates who are fighting for change.
At the same time that I was starting the HandzUp group, I was managing BelO, one of Haiti’s most beloved and celebrated artists. And beyond the music industry, I was focused on doing anything that I could to take young people out of the streets and channel their energy into something positive. That’s what led me to co-found Ayiti Deploge, a platform to support emerging artists in Haiti.
We started out by organizing two festivals, giving young people a space to be seen and heard. And remember that this was before social media, so we really had to be creative in how we helped people get their name known—working with newspapers, TV stations, and radio programs to make sure these artists got the visibility they deserved.
What's your connection to SOIL?
Sasha and I first crossed paths while working on Digicel Stars, which was sort of like the Haitian version of American Idol. She was supporting a young artist from one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in Cap-Haitien, encouraging him to step into his talent and share his music with the world. What struck me wasn’t just her ability to recognize talent — it was the way she supported him, guiding him toward success. That’s the kind of person Sasha is. It’s not just about wanting to help; it’s about finding the right people and connecting them with the tools they need to thrive. I never forgot that.
After that, we kept running into each other in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. Then, after the 2010 earthquake, when Sasha moved her resources to Port-au-Prince to support those living in the IDP camps, there was a major sanitation crisis. She was on the ground, doing the work, and she needed support.
That’s when I stepped in. I helped her handle logistics — transportation, accounting, whatever was needed to keep things moving. That’s the strength of HandzUp: we specialize in making things happen, from A to Z. Whether you need something done in Cap-Haitien or anywhere else, I know how to find the people with the right skills to get it done.
What inspired you to start HandzUp Group and what was that experience like founding the business from scratch?
Honestly, starting HandzUp Group was tough in the beginning. But once we defined our specialty — corporate event planning — everything started to flow. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to work all over the world: Africa, Asia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and beyond.
The challenge we faced in Haiti was that while we had access to the materials needed for high-quality event production, we lacked the people with the technical knowledge to execute it at an international standard. And when we outsourced services from the Dominican Republic, the costs would skyrocket. So, we decided to build that expertise ourselves — from the ground up, right here in Haiti.
At HandzUp Group, we plan every event from A to Z. We handle everything — from budgeting to design to execution. All our clients have to do is invite their guests and show up. We've streamlined our process to deliver the same high-quality service every time. But to reach this level, we had to invest in developing our team. We focused on identifying people’s strengths, nurturing those skills, and building the quality we were looking for internally.
What role do you think the arts, radio, and music play in social justice and advocacy?
Whether it’s music, radio, visual arts, or performance — art has a unique power to move people and spark transformation. For example, we’ve brought artists to perform at the women’s prison in Cabaret, where the women not only know the songs but connect deeply with the message. Through these visits, we raise awareness about Haiti’s broken justice system — where some women spend nine years behind bars without ever seeing a judge, often for minor offenses. These performances help bring visibility to this injustice and prepare these women to reintegrate into society and reconnect with their families.
When young people are surrounded by the right people — people who create safe spaces for them to dream and grow — they start to understand what true leadership looks like. And then they can begin to see those qualities within themselves.
Art helps us ask the deeper questions: What does it mean to be Haitian? What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? And unlike words alone, art allows us to answer those questions through creativity and shared experience, in spaces that allow for multiple truths to exist concurrently. Art has the power to touch something deeper in us — that part that pushes us to be better, not just for ourselves, but for our communities.
Through the connections we build in the arts, we feel less isolated. Whether you're living in the Congo, in Bogotá, in Haiti, or in the U.S., art reminds you that you’re part of something bigger.
Another important role the arts play in social change is in giving young people responsibility. It empowers them to take ownership of the future they want to create. One message I always try to share with the youth is this:
"Wherever you see someone doing a bad job — whether that’s in politics or elsewhere — that’s your job to do better in 15 years. You are the change. And that change starts now."
What impact do you see SOIL having?
SOIL is a special kind of project because it’s not just an idea — it’s something that works. When you implement a project and, after a few years, the community recognizes that this is a real solution to their needs, that’s when you know you have something worth investing in.
Once you’ve proven that a project works, you can begin to expand it, bringing those same results to other communities. But that first phase is critical — closely monitoring what you're doing, making sure it's effective, and being intentional about how you grow.
Sincerity and intention are everything. When people see that something is working, that’s when you can start bringing in partnerships from the public and private sectors to scale the impact even further.
What makes SOIL different is that Sasha makes things happen. In Haiti, we have a saying: "palpab ." It means that when something is real, you can touch it. You can see it. Talk is cheap. People need to see where their money is going and how their support is making a difference. With SOIL, you can see the impact. You can see how the good intentions of the people who founded this organization are consistently turning into real, tangible action.
Where do you hope to see Haiti in the next ten years?
To be honest with you — I feel lost. But I still have faith. I know this generation of politicians won’t last forever, and I believe that it’s up to us — the next generation — to step up and do better.
I feel lost because we are fighting each other for no reason. We’re displacing our own brothers and sisters. People are being forced to flee their homes and live in unimaginable conditions. When you lose your home, your business, your access to education, and your community — when you’re stripped of safety and dignity — what kind of citizen are you allowed to be? What kind of future is possible?
But despite all of this, we can’t give up. We have to keep working toward something greater. My message to the youth of Haiti is this: don’t let the chaos of today distract us from the goal.
We are the future of this country. We have to come together, put our hands to work, and make sure our voices are heard.
The voice of the people.
The voice of the future.
The voice of Haiti.
Thank you Harry for all that you’ve done as a friend and a SOIL advisory board member to help grow the EkoLakay service into what it is today. We are incredibly grateful for your generous contributions of time and insight, and remain inspired by the tenacity displayed in your work and love for Haiti!