Urban oasis: a Haitian entrepreneur’s vision
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THE REGIONLatin America is comprised of the South American continent, Mexico, Central America and the islands of the Caribbean whose inhabitants speak a Romance language. For years the region, which is home to over 500 million people, has been plagued by drought, conflict, poverty, high unemployment, human rights violations, natural disasters and unstable governments.
THE FACTSOne in five Latin Americans lives in chronic poverty. Latin Americans account for 130 million of the nearly 500 million who live in chronic poverty worldwide.
Approximately 20 percent of the population lacks access to healthcare. The region also has high rates of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancer.
Seventy-seven million people lack access to safe water or live without a water source in their homes. Of the 77 million, 51 million live in rural areas, and 26 million live in urban areas. An estimated 256 million rely on latrines and septic tanks as an alternative to basic sanitation.
Sources: World Economic Forum, World Water Council, Chronic Poverty Research Center
THE FUNDThe Global Impact Latin America and the Caribbean Fund brings together four of the most respected, best-in-the-business international organizations focused on helping those in the region: Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), Project HOPE, Rise Against Hunger and SEE International.
Through this fund, you will join with millions of people to change the world by helping to provide increased access to healthcare and education, job training, women’s and youth empowerment, economic development, and a host of other services to those in need throughout the region.
Your contributions go directly to supporting real and meaningful work to improve the lives of those living in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Pink hibiscus flowers greet visitors to Lakou Breda, a hotel in northern Haiti's city of Cap-Haïtien. The gardens are full of fruits and vegetables and guests can see chickens, guinea fowl and rabbits roaming the grounds. It's an oasis in the city with historic significance as the home of Toussaint L’Ouverture, leader of the Haitian independence movement during the French Revolution.
At the heart of the hotel is owner Herold Decius, whose persistence and vision has created a sanctuary for the local community as well as for weary travelers. Lakou Breda also offers nature classes for young school children.
Born in Cap-Haïtien, Herold attended school in Canada, but longed to return to his homeland. “The day I finished university, I took a plane back to Haiti,” he says.
But starting a business in Haiti wasn't easy. “The loan at the bank is really expensive,” he says. “It's very difficult.”
Decius received a matching grant and technical assistance from PADF’s Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments (LEAD) program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The program supports small and medium-sized Haitian business, allowing them to expand their operations, increase employment and spur economic growth.
Today, the hotel includes 46 apartments and 10 bungalows. Decius is in the process of expanding the business to offer a full-service conference center and pool. Even before the construction started, the Haitan National Police came for a three-day conference.
“We’ll have the best conference room in Cap-Haïtien,” Decius says. “It will be sold out.”
In addition to funds, LEAD is providing Decius with technical support in tourism, administration and marketing.
For Decius, the secret to becoming a successful entrepreneur is never giving up.
"You have to adapt," he says. "It’s like driving from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien. You know where you want to go, but you have to adjust your course to avoid potholes.”
All content courtesy of Pan American Development Foundation.
Rosa was born and raised in Monte Plata, a province of the Dominican Republic where Project HOPE supports a maternal and child health clinic. Life was not easy for her growing up, but she made it into a university. Just a few semesters before completing her degree in arts in 2001, what she thought was a blessing came into her life. She found a partner, – a man who she thought had good intentions toward her. Just one year later he became sick and confessed that he was HIV+.
In 2003, her partner passed away. That same year Project HOPE and the Clinica Orden de Malta in Monte Plata opened their doors to her. They were looking for someone who could act as an HIV counselor and could speak from her/his experience with the disease, but that maintained a positive attitude and good sense of humor.
Thanks to Teresa Narvaez, Project HOPE’s Country Director for the Dominican Republic, she received additional trainings. "Today I can say, thanks to her, I do my job with a smile on my face," said Rosa.
She works with pregnant women who are HIV+
She hosts workshops and focus groups to speak about HIV prevention
She visits community members who have been identified as HIV+
"Now I am very happy because, although I have been living with HIV for more than 11 years, I am able to see life with optimism. I have been able to help many HIV+ patients and families – teaching them how to be healthy and be positive about living with their condition. You can live with HIV and be useful to others."
All content courtesy of Project HOPE.
Minimal irrigation infrastructure, unverified seed quality, decreasing sales prices. These are only a few of the challenges affecting farmers near Gonaives, Haiti. Even in the face of these obstacles, they remain undaunted.
Sadrack, an experienced farmer, says, “I am not going to be stopped!”
He raises pigs, grows spinach and has established 1,450 banana trees since June 2016. His increased production has allowed him to hire a neighbor. Sadrack’s farming techniques are examples of the agricultural technologies and management practices that Rise Against Hunger will begin promoting through our Siloe Agricultural Development Initiative. He has divided his spinach field into four sections, and plants each section one week after the next. This ensures that it ripens at different times and does not arrive at market when the price is lowest. To conserve rainwater for the banana trees, Sadrack digs dykes around sections of the field to prevent run-off.
When Rise Against Hunger launched the Siloe Agricultural Development Initiative almost two years ago, we hoped to serve as a catalyst to create sustainable access to healthy food for school children and community members like Sadrack.
In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #2, the project goals include:
Under the Siloe Agricultural Development Initiative, Rise Against Hunger collaborated with HHH to set up a five acre farm, drill two wells for irrigation and build an aquaculture system to produce fish and leafy greens. The farm has already established thousands of seedlings, which were either planted on site, sold or donated to other agricultural projects in the area.
But Rise Against Hunger and HHH did not stop there. Agronomist Telson Eloi teaches introductory agricultural theory and practice to adolescents, some of whom have already applied the knowledge to their own households.
One student said, “I’ve planted trees to reforest my house.”
Another started his own home garden, planting onions, shallots and leeks. A third stated that he taught his father what he learned at the classes so that they can farm better. Eloi can also be found interacting with the local community. He visits farmers and shares knowledge on best practices for pest control, soil health and water management. Building trust with farmers is a crucial component for the project’s next stage. In the first quarter of 2018, Eloi plans to establish 12 farmer groups and provide a year-long training curriculum designed to reduce the costs of agricultural inputs and increase food production. Farming leaders like Sadrack will be instrumental to convening farmers in field schools and demonstrating new techniques.
Many factors affect whether the harvest will be good or bad, but with more knowledge, farmers can respond better to risks like irregular rainfall, infestations and poor seed quality. Siloe Mission’s production of vegetables has already increased access to healthy food for the school children. By adding training for farmers in 2018, Rise Against Hunger and HHH will enable households to more regularly eat healthy, filling meals and earn additional income to meet family expenses.
All content courtesy of Rise Against Hunger.
During an expedition to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, our volunteers met Denise, who came seeking vital vision care. A grandmother at 52 years of age, Denise’s sight had diminished for years before she went blind in both eyes due to cataracts. Now completely dependent on her family, she was unable to work or care for herself. Denise faced many struggles due to her blindness, but the most difficult part was not being able to see her newborn granddaughter.
Had Denise lived in the United States, she would have been treated for cataracts long before losing her sight. But Haiti is a poor country with a fragile medical infrastructure, so Denise didn’t have that option.
Luckily, she was able to make the journey to one of SEE International’s eye clinics in Port-au-Prince. Led by Dr. David Baker, a volunteer ophthalmologist from Pittsburgh, PA, the SEE team successfully removed her cataracts fully restoring the sight she once had. It was a truly memorable sight to see Denise happy when the team removed her eye patch.
When she returned home, Denise’s newly restored independence allowed her daughter to resume work and provide for the family. But most importantly, Denise was finally able see her beautiful granddaughter for the very first time. The neighborhood children were also thrilled to have her home, and are pictured with Denise and her granddaughter below.
Thanks to supporters like you, Denise has now regained her sight, independence and productivity. Her daughter’s life has also been transformed as she has now returned to work and is able to provide for their family. All of them have hope for a brighter future.
All content courtesy of SEE International.
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