1. To Whom it May Concern
Re: Rose-Coralie Norris,
I was very impressed with the performance and clear leadership qualities displayed by Rose-Coralie
Norris, (Cora), when we shared a panel at the climate conference in Cancun in December 2009 on
“Bearers of future responsibility: engaging children and youth in building climate change resilience”.
She was fourteen at the time, and both made a very good initial presentation about the reality of
climate change in Haiti, and responded to questions with intelligence and humour. Referring to the
air conditioning which had made the conference room quite chilly, she asked, “why, since we are in
Cancun, which is warm like Haiti, are we all freezing?” This provoked embarrassed laughter from
the environmentalists in the audience!
Cora, now sixteen, has updated me on her activities at school, where she is on the editorial board of
the school’s newspaper, in charge of the environmental section, has founded a committee named
“Citoyens du Mode” to raise awareness of issues such as deforestation, and as a member of the
YMCA in Haiti will participate in a three week leadership camp in New York and Washington in
Summer 2012.
I support Cora’s wish to study in a good American University, and hope she will receive a scholarship
which will enable her to develop her undoubted potential.
Signed
Mary Robinson
President Mary Robinson Foundation, Climate Justice