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.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYST TRAINING PROGRAMWE CELEBRATED A MAJOR MILESTONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FIELD ENGAGEMENT CATALYST TRAINING PROGRAM. OUR 18 TRAINEES GRADUATED ON AUGUST 20TH, 2022. IT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION FOR OUR TRAINEES, OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM 10 PARTNER COMMUNITIES SHARED WITH THE AUDIENCE THEIR ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRAINEES, LESSONS LEARNED IN COLLECTIVE CONVERSATIONS,AND TRANSFORMATION TAKING PLACE IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. ATTENDEES TOOK TIME AFTER THE CEREMONY TO CONGRATULATE US AND TO ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE WORK. OVERALL WE CAN SAY IT WAS A GREAT AND EXCITED DAY FROM OUR TRAINEES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR STAFF TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYST LEADER'S TRAINING PROGRAMWE STARTED OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYST LEADER'S TRAINING ON FEBRUARY 4, 2023. WE WERE INUNDATED WITH APPLICATIONS WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF RECRUITMENT IN NOVEMBER 2022. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 43 PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING 3 OF OUR STAFF) ATTENDING CLASSES EVERY SATURDAY FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:30 PM THEY ARE FROM 14 COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND THE COMMUNE OF CAMPPERRIN. THE EDUCATION LEVELS OF PARTICIPANTS RANGE FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO UNIVERSITY, AND THE GROUP IS MADE UP OF EDUCATORS, TRADERS, HEALTH AGENTS, ELECTRICIANS, ACCOUNTANTS, FOREMAN MASONS, TILE SETTERS, MICROCREDIT AGENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND PASTORS.WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH SOME LOCAL EXPERTS TO OFFER TRAINING IN THEIR RELATED FIELD OF EXPERTISE. ONE OF THEM IS A PSYCHOLOGIST AND SHE PRESENTED A 3-DAY SEMINAR FOCUSING ON TRAUMA RELATED TO VARIOUS FORMS OF VIOLENCE, NATURAL DISASTERS, GRIEF AND DISCUSSED COPING SKILLS AND STRATEGIES FOR A HEALTHY RECOVERY. OUR SERVANT LEADERSHIP IN DEVELOPMENT WAS PRESENTED BY OUR COLLABORATOR AND FOUNDER OF UNIVERSIT SEED INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (USITA) OUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES/RURAL LAW /CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEMINAR WAS PRESENTED BY A CIVIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER.OUR 17 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYSTS WHO GRADUATED ON AUGUST 20TH, 2022, ARE AT WORK ADVOCATING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ENGAGING AT A DEEPER LEVEL WITH FELLOW CITIZENS. COMMUNITY MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING EVERY WEEK AND MORE THAN EVER WE VALUE THEIR EFFORTS. WE ARE HOPEFUL WITH THEM, FOR THE SPACE THEY HAVE CREATED FOR THEMSELVES AND WITNESS HOW THESE SPACES BECOME SO VITAL TO SHARE IN THEIR GRIEF OVER THE COUNTRY, TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, TO PLAN, TO CONNECT SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY.ENGAGING WITH PARTNER COMMUNITIESWE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEY ARE ABLE TO GO BEYOND THE CRISES AFFECTING EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY TO COME TOGETHER. JUSTIN ONE OF OUR GRADUATES FROM GUILLAUME HAD THIS TO SAY: "COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN ATTENDING OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE HARDLY HAVE ENOUGH ROOM IN OUR MEETING SPACE FOR EVERYONE; SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO STAND OUTSIDE BECAUSE OUR ROOM IS ALWAYS FULL. WE HAD LOTS OF RAIN IN SEPTEMBER AND DESPITE OF THAT WE HAD 4 MEETINGS AVERAGING 130 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THE ISSUES THE COMMUNITY IS FACING NOW IS HUNGER DUE TO HIGH PRICES OF FOOD. BUT I AM NOT DISCOURAGED AND THE COMMUNITY IS ON FIRE AND ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT WHAT OUR CONVERSATIONS WILL BE ABOUT. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SO KEEN TO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS THAT I DON'T EVEN GIVE REMINDERS OF MEETING TIMES ANYMORE."FROM JANUARY-JUNE 2023 WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 178 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS IN 10 COMMUNITIESAGROFORESTRY PROGRAMOUR AGRO-FORESTRY INITIATIVE, AIMS TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES INCREASE THE DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR FARMING PRACTICES, AND ALSO CREATING REVENUE FOR US THROUGH FARMING. THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN SPEARHEADED BY OUR SPECIFIED STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYSTS; SOME OF THEM HAVE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS IN AGRICULTURE. FONDATION COFHED HATI HAS ALREADY PLANTED THE FOLLOWING TREES: 223 PLANTAIN, 139 MORINGA, 199 CACAO, 40 SUCRIN (WILD INGA VERA) 206 PAPAYA, 60 CEDAR, 30 ACACIA, 37 COFFEE, AND 57 AVOCADO. TO ANOTHER PARCEL OF LAND, WE PLANTED 102 LBS. OF BEANS, 12LBS OF CORN, 440 MALANGA PLANTS, 312.5 KILOS OF YELLOW YAMS, 180 PINEAPPLE AND 50 CEDAR TREES.WE ARE SO EXCITED TO COLLABORATE WITH UNIVERSIT SEED INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (USITA) IN LES CAYES. WE HAVE AN AGROFORESTRY/VETERINARY STUDENT FROM USITA DOING AN INTERNSHIP WITH FONDATION COFHED HATI AND HE IS ALSO SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES. HE WORKS IN OUR NURSERY AND OUR AGROFORESTRY GARDENS. HE OFFERS COMMUNITY TRAINING ON ANIMAL CARE, VEGETABLE PLANTING AND SOIL PRESERVATION. HE TRAINED OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CATALYSTS IN ANIMAL CARE AND TREATMENT. WE HAD HOPED FOR A GOOD HARVEST BUT EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO SOME OF OUR CROPS. FROM THE END OF 2022 UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE FACED VERY LONG PERIODS OF DROUGHT, WIND, AND HIGH TEMPERATURES; THUS, OUR PLANTS HAVE SUFFERED FROM SEVERE WATER STRESS. BUT WE'VE DEPLOYED A LOT OF EFFORTS WATERING OUR GARDENS LOCATED NEAR A WATER SOURCE. THESE EFFORTS ALLOWED US TO HARVEST SOME EGGPLANTS, CUCUMBERS, CABBAGE, PEPPERS, CARROTS, SPINACH, BEETS, OKRA AND BLACK BEANS. WE WERE ABLE TO SELL SOME. WE RECENTLY HARVESTED OUR CORN AND WE HAD A GOOD YIELD DESPITE THE HARSH CONDITIONS.AGROFORESTRY IN GUILLAUME COMMUNITYWE DISTRIBUTED TO GUILLAUME, AND VACHON COMMUNITIES:1731 SEEDLINGS OF CACAO298 CEDAR TREES50 INGA VERA WILD TREES15 ACACIA TREESON MAY 1ST, THE AGRICULTURAL DAY IN HAITI, PEOPLE FROM GUILLAUME AND ORGANISATION DES PAYSANS EN ACTION POUR L'EMANCIPATION DE CAMP-PERRIN (ORPAECC) PLANTED TREES AT THE TOP OF CAVAILLON RIVER TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE EARTHQUAKE.90 MORINGA TREES216 PAPAYA TREES28 AVOCADO TREESCOMMUNITY-LED EDUCATION IMPACTIT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO FINISH THEIR STUDIES IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS FEEL THE CONTINUOUS STING OF FUEL CRISIS, ECONOMIC CRISIS, KIDNAPPINGS, CRIMES, PRICE HIKES AND UNAVAILABILITY OF BASIC GOODS. FAMILIES REGISTERED SEVERAL LOSSES BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY. FOR INSTANCE, BECAUSE OF ROADBLOCKS, COMMUNITY PARENTS COULD NOT BRING THEIR GOODS TO PORTAU-PRINCE TO SELL AND BUY GOODS AT THE CAPITAL TO RESELL. THE IMPACT OF ALL THESE CHALLENGES WAS FELT BY BOTH JARDIN DES ROSSIGNOLS SCHOOL IN RAYMOND AND PETITE ACADMIE IN LOUGOU. IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR PARENTS TO AFFORD THE EVER-INCREASING TUITION RATE. FOR INSTANCE, HIGH SCHOOL TUITION RANGES BETWEEN $200-390 USD PLUS BOOKS, UNIFORMS, AND LUNCH MONEY. FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2022-2023, PETITE ACADMIE DE LOUGOU (PAL) OPENED ITS DOORS ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2022, AND THEIR SCHOOL YEAR ENDED ON JULY 7TH, 2023. PAL SERVED STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO 6TH GRADE. BOTH SPONSORED AND NON-SPONSORED STUDENTS RECEIVED THEIR REQUIRED BOOKS. PAL PROVIDED 36,085 HOT LUNCHES TO STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND PAID SALARIES TO 14 TEACHERS,1 PRINCIPAL, 3 CARETAKERS AND 1 JANITOR. THE STATE COVERS SALARIES FOR 6 STAFF.STUDENT PROFILE AT LA PETITE ACADMIE DE LOUGOUFOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2022-2023, JARDIN DES ROSSIGNOLS (JADRO) IN RAYMOND COMMUNITY OPENED ITS DOORS ON DECEMBER 5TH, 2022, AND THEIR SCHOOL YEAR ENDED ON JULY 10TH, 2023. JADRO SERVED STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO 4TH GRADE, PAID SALARIES TO 7 TEACHERS, 1 PEDAGOGICAL ADVISOR 2 CARETAKERS, 3 KITCHEN STAFF AND 1 PRINCIPAL. THE SCHOOL PROVIDED 10,472 HEALTHY SNACKS AND 3,819 HOT LUNCHES TO STUDENTS AND STAFF.STUDENT PROFILE AT LE JARDIN DES ROSSIGNOLS DE RAYMONDWE ALSO SUPPORTED 54 HIGH SCHOOL AND 31 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.COMMUNITY-LED ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION FOR EDUCATIONONE OF OUR GOALS IN OUR COMMUNITY-LED ENGAGEMENT AND CATALYST IS TO SUPPORT THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACQUIRE MORE SKILLS AND DEVELOP THEIR AGENCY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN CHANGES. THE COMMUNITY OF RAYMOND AND LOUGOU USED THEIR ADVOCACY SKILLS IN FINDING PARTNERS TO REBUILD THEIR SCHOOLS CRUMBLED BY THE AUGUST 14TH, 2021, EARTHQUAKE. WE ARE SO PROUD THAT THEY DID IT THEMSELVES. THE SCHOOL OF LOUGOU WAS BUILT BY UNICEF AND THEY HAVE 6 CLASSROOMS, A PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, WATER FILTERS, SCHOOL DESKS, CHAIRS, AND A SANITARY BLOCK. LOUGOU SCHOOL USES ITS OWN SAVINGS TO BUILD A STORAGE ROOM. THE SCHOOL IN RAYMOND WASFUNDED BY CARITAS SWITZERLAND AND BUILT BY ASSOCIATION HATIENNE D'ASSISTANCE AGRICOLE, MDICALE, EDUCATIVE ET SOCIALE (AHAAMES). IT ALSO HAS SIX CLASSROOMS AND A SANITARY BLOCK.THE COMMUNITY OF RAYMOND COLLABORATED WITH KONBIT POU RANFSE AKSYON LOKAL (KORAL), A HAITIAN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPLIED JADRO WITH MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR NEW SCHOOL. SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES IN HAITI PROVIDED EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN ON HOW TO MANAGE STRESS AND ANXIETY BROUGHT BY THE LAST EARTHQUAKE.