Communities Organizing For Haitian Engagement And Development

TO PARTNER WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN HAITI TO ASSIST THEM IN DISCOVERING, CREATING, AND REALIZING THEIR OWN VISION OF SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR LASTING TRANSFORMATION.

EARTHQUAKE RELIEFHEALTH: IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE AUGUST 14TH, 2021 EARTHQUAKE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF, HOPITAL ESPOIR (HOPE HOSPITAL) IN PORT-AU-PRINCE AND HUMEDICA INTERNATIONAL GERMANY, WE PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL CARE TO OUR PARTNER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AFTER GETTING PERMISSION TO WORK FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO SEE PATIENTS AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL IN CAMP-PERRIN. OVER 2,000 PATIENTS WERE SEEN AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES WERE LEFT FOR OUR COMMUNITY NURSES AND OTHER CLINICS IN THE AREA FOR CONTINUOUS CARE. SANITATION AND HYGIENE KITS: A TOTAL OF 407 SANITATION AND HYGIENE KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 22 COMMUNITIES, STAFF AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYST TRAINEES. EACH KIT INCLUDES LAUNDRY SOAPS, POTS AND PANS, CUPS, BOWLS, SERVING SPOONS, SPOONS, FEMININE PADS, TOILET PAPERS, TOOTHBRUSHES, BUCKET TOOTHPASTE, BODY SOAPS, A COMB AND A TOWEL. IMMEDIATE CASH ASSISTANCE: A FEW DAYS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE, FCH PROVIDED $4,265.00 IN CASH ASSISTANCE TO A LOCAL CHURCH, 12 STAFF MEMBERS, 18 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYST TRAINEES 7 COMMUNITY LEADERS. THIS QUICK AID SUPPLIED MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO AID IN TRANSPORTATION, RECOVERY, FOOD, AND COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT.TEMPORARY SHELTER: A TOTAL OF 26,357 TIN METAL SHEETS AND 5,885 POUNDS OF NAILS WERE PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED TO 892 FAMILIES IN 14 COMMUNITIES AND 5 CHURCHES. EACH FAMILY RECEIVED 30 TIN METAL SHEETS AND 6LBS OF TIN NAILS. A TOTAL OF 230 16-FT X 20-FT TARPS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 217 FAMILIES, STAFF AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYST TRAINEES. A TOTAL OF 500 TIN METAL SHEETS, 297 2-IN X 4-IN X 16-FT LUMBER UNITS, 150 BOARDS AND 236 LATHS, 65 BAGS OF CEMENT, 15 CASES AND 20 LBS. OF NAILS, 3 TRUCKLOADS OF SAND WERE PURCHASED FOR LE JARDIN DES ROSSIGNOLS SCHOOL IN THE RAYMOND COMMUNITY AND THE LOUGOU SCHOOL. SIX 16-FT X 20-FT TARPS WERE ALSO GIVEN TO THE SCHOOLS. WATER FILTERS: SAFE DRINKING WATER WAS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES AFTER THE QUAKE. MANY PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING OF SKIN INFECTION AND IRRITATION, DIARRHEA AND VOMITING. WE PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED 1,075 SAWYER WATER FILTERS TO FAMILIES IN OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES. BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR: WE ARE ADDING AN EMERGENCY EXIT TO OUR CURRENT OFFICE BUILDING. WE ALSO REPLACED OUR FRONT GATE. WE PURCHASED SOLAR PANELS, BATTERIES AND AN INVERTER TO REPLACE THE ONES DAMAGED BY THE EARTHQUAKE. WITH NO LOCAL ELECTRICITY, IT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE OFFICE OF FONDATION COFHED HAITI RUNNING AND SERVING PEOPLE. ADDITIONAL BUILDING REPAIR WERE DONE IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES INCLUDING PLUMBING WORK AND IN SOME SECTIONS OF THE CAMPUS SECURITY WALL. FOOD KITS: WE PROVIDED 367 FAMILIES LIVING IN 15 COMMUNITIES WITH FOOD KITS WHICH INCLUDED CORN, RICE, SUGAR, SALT, SPAGHETTI, BEANS, OIL, SARDINES, FLOUR, TOMATO PASTE AND SUGAR. WE PROVIDED FOOD KITS TO THE LOUGOU KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL WHICH INCLUDED: 165 LBS. OF SUGAR, 200 LBS. OF FLOUR, 18 CASES OF SPAGHETTI, 8 CASES OF SARDINES AND ONE CASE OF SALT. WE ALSO PROVIDED FOOD KITS TO LE JARDIN DES ROSSIGNOLS SCHOOL IN RAYMOND: 7 GALLONS OF OIL, 100 LBS. OF FLOUR, 100 LBS. OF SUGAR, 550 LBS. OF RICE, 10 CASES OF SPAGHETTI AND 7 CASES OF SARDINES.COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY REPAIR: WE PROVIDED CASH ASSISTANCE OF $3,000 USD TO CAEPA (COMITE D'APPROVISIONNEMENT EN EAU POTABLE ET D'ASSAINISSEMENT) TO REPAIR THE WATER SYSTEM FOR THE SECOND COMMUNAL SECTION OF CAMP-PERRIN. WATER STARTS TO FLOW IN MANY HOUSEHOLDS AS THE REPAIR CONTINUES.COMMUNITY-LED PROGRAMSMICROFINANCE: - MOFADEL -- MICROCREDIT ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE WOMEN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOUGOU -- IS A WOMAN-LED MICRO-LENDING ENTERPRISE IN THE LOUGOU COMMUNITY. WE SUPPORT MOFADEL WITH SOME FUNDING TO PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL LOANS TO REPLACE LOST CROPS AND LIVESTOCK TO SUSTAIN FAMILIES ECONOMICALLY. ROSE EMIE IS AN AGRICULTURAL LOAN CLIENT HAS THIS TO SAY: "THE AGRICULTURAL LOAN PROGRAM HELPS ME A LOT. MY HUSBAND USED TO BE THE ONE GARDENING YAMS AND BEANS EVERY YEAR, BUT HE DIED DURING THE EARTHQUAKE AND NOW I AM ALL MY FAMILY HAS. WITH THE LOAN, I PLANTED BEANS, YAMS AND CORN. I HARVESTED THE BEANS ALREADY. MY FAMILY HAD ENOUGH TO EAT AND I SOLD SOME TO SUPPORT MY OTHER CHILDREN IN PORT-AU-PRINCE. THIS TYPE OF LOAN SUPPORT FAMILIES IN LOUGOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION, IF A FAMILY DOES NOT PLANT SOMETHING, THAT MEANS NO FOOD ON THE TABLE. AGRICULTURE IS OUR BOSS. I WISH THAT THIS LOAN PROGRAM CAN BE AVAILABLE TO MORE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. I STARTED TO REIMBURSE MY LOAN SO I CAN APPLY FOR A BIGGER LOAN TO PLANT MORE PRODUCE." CURRENTLY MOFADEL HAS 438 MEMBERS (253 WOMEN AND 157 MEN) AND 28 COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS. TEN YEARS AGO INDIVIDUAL LOANS STARTED AT $15.00 USD NOW THEY ARE GIVEN LOANS UP TO $1,500.00 USD. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ORA AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND, WE SUPPORT EDUCATION IN RAYMOND AND LOUGOU COMMUNITIES. FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE (535) STUDENTS IN PRE-K TO 6TH GRADE, TAUGHT BY 25 TEACHERS ATTENDED LE JARDIN DES ROSSIGNOLS AND LA PETITE ACADMIE DE LOUGOU SCHOOLS. ELEVEN HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE 12TH GRADE IN JUNE 2023 IN LOUGOU AND 4 GRADUATED THIS YEAR. BOOKS WERE PURCHASED FOR THE STUDENTS A TOTAL OF 36 STUDENTS ATTENDED OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. A TOTAL OF 23,256 HOT MEALS WERE SERVED. EMERGING COMMUNITY LEADERS EDUCATION FUND: WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM CALLED EMERGING COMMUNITY LEADERS EDUCATION FUND TO SUPPORT STUDENTS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY CAN LEARN A TRADE OR A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH SKILLS THAT CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT AND TRANSFORMATION. THE REASON FOR THIS EMERGING COMMUNITY LEADERS EDUCATION FUND IS TO TRY TO BOOST COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE USED THIS APPROACH IN THE VILLAGES OF LOUGOU AND RAYMOND, AND TO THIS DAY WE SEE IT HAS YIELDED GOOD RESULTS. THE MAJORITY OF TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL IN LOUGOU, COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSES, BANK TELLERS, BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM. WHEN COMMUNITY PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND EMPOWERED TO SERVE AND LEAD THEIR COMMUNITIES, THE DIVIDENDS CAN GO DEEP, FAR, AND WIDE. THIS MAKES SURE THAT FONDATION COFHED HAITI STAFF MEMBERS DO NOT RUN THE SHOW AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. WE SUPPORTED 12 STUDENTS STUDYING NURSING, ADMINISTRATION, ACCOUNTING AND ENGINEERING. COMMUNITY HEALTH OF RAYMOND AND LOUGOU * 704 ADULTS RECEIVED CARE FOR THE YEAR* 55 HOME HEALTH VISITS TO FAMILIES * 190 PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY HEALTH SESSIONS LEARNING ABOUT PARASITES, WATER, SANITATION, AND MALNUTRITION. * 349 CHILDREN HAD A WELL-CHILD CHECKUP AND 105 RANGED FROM 0 TO 8 YEARS OLD * 293 CHILDREN RECEIVED ANTIPARASITIC TREATMENT* 209 CHILDREN RECEIVED VITAMIN A* 295 WOMEN ARE ON BIRTH CONTROL YOUTH CLUB/ VIOLENCE PREVENTION KOLEKTIF JN AK ADOLESAN NAN LOUGOU (KOJAL) TRANSLATED TO ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT COLLECTIVE OF LOUGOU IS THE NAME CHOSEN BY THE GROUP. THEIR VISION IS TO SEE YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS IN LOUGOU AND NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGES BECOMING ACTIVE AGENTS OF CHANGE AND LIVING THEIR LIVES WITHOUT VIOLENCE. THEIR PURPOSE IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE ON GIRLS AND TRANSFORM THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN LOUGOU AND NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGES.YOUTH CLUB AND ACTIVITIES: THE LOUGOU YOUTHS HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND THIS YEAR THEY PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS CRAFTS AND SEWING ACTIVITIES. YOUNGER CHILDREN TOOK PART IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PLAYING SOCCER, JUMPING ROPE, BIBLE STUDIES, TUG OF WAR, ARTS AND COLORING. OLDER YOUTHS (38) LEARNED HOW TO SEW SKIRTS AND APRONS; CROCHETED BAGS, SANDALS AND BELTS. OTHERS GREW A VEGETABLE GARDEN. WE PROVIDED EDUCATION ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND WAYS TO AVOID EXPOSURE. OUR CONVERSATIONS CENTERED ON COMMUNITY NORMS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE AND WAYS TO CHANGE THEM WHILE IDENTIFYING THE POSSIBLE RISKS EMBEDDED AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. AGROFORESTRY/AGRICULTURE PROGRAMOUR COMMUNITY FIELD ENGAGEMENT CATALYST TRAINEES STARTED A TREE NURSERY AND SO FAR WE HAVE: * 3475 SAPLINGS OF CACAO * 960 SAPLINGS OF CEDAR* 1744 SAPLINGS OF MORINGA* 694 SAPLINGS OF COFFEE* 116 SAPLINGS OF ACACIA* 175 SEEDLINGS OF PAPAYA WE STARTED TO TRANSPLANT SOME MORINGA ON THE GROUND WHERE OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED. WE ARE PLANNING TO ADD TO THE NURSERY AVOCADO, PLANTAIN, AND SUCRIN BEFORE YEAR ENDS. OUR PLAN IS TO DISTRIBUTE SOME OF THE PLANTS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT TO ALSO DO SOME REFORESTATION AS WELL. THE COFFEE AND COCOA WILL BE USED FOR TRANSFORMATION.