Danoushka Capponi

Born in the South of France of Belgian parents, Danoushka Capponi Omer was inspired very young by her family’s example of helping the less fortunate. Her father Jean Omer created an organization to provide rescue and comfort to the women who had survived the holocaust at the Belzig-Ravensbruck concentration camp. Her mother was involved in an organization called Les Petits Riens which provided food and support to poor children in the slums of Brussels. She often join them in participating in their activities. Later after studying both in Europe and in the US and moving to Miami with her husband Fefo, she got involved at the Miami Rescue Mission and is a founding member of their Girlfriends for Girlfriends co-organization for women and children.

She joined her son Michael Capponi in his efforts to save and support the Haitians right after the terrible earthquake, both in Haiti and from Miami in creating a new non-profit organization called Haiti Empowerment Mission, now GEM. She was mostly involved in the schooling and housing projects and continues to support food, wellbeing and educational programs.

Since the early 90′, she joined several organizations dedicated to combat climate change and to the protection of nature and animals, both locally and internationally.

She is also presently involved in some ministries at Barry University in Miami, a longtime member of St. Joseph Church and an Officer for the Archdiocese of Miami Development Program.

She believes in unity and fraternity. Her motto:

“There is no them and us, there is only us”.