Day 6!

We set out this morning with our guides from Fonkoze, Linda and her assistant Helaina. First, we went to a Fonkoze center meeting with the Ti Kredi group. Ti Kredi is a group of women who are just beginning the microfinance process with Fonkoze; some of them have just graduated from Fonkoze's CLM program (In Creole: Chemen Lavi Miyo which means road to a better life). The CLM program is for women living in extreme poverty who have not started the loan process. Fonkoze gives them the materials necessary to build a sturdy house (cement and a tin roof), assets (either a pregnant chicken or a goat), and sets them up with a case manager who meets with them each week to do health and literacy trainings.

At this center meeting, we visited with Ti Kredi (In Creole: Small Credit), which is the next step up from CLM. These women receive small loans and pay them back at each meeting; at the meeting they also have the option to put money into a savings account, which many people previously did not have access to. A center consists of 5 groups of 5 women, and a credit agent who leads the meetings. Not only do the credit agents collect money, they also teach the women about savvy business practices through an interactive workbook. The women read stories and then act them out as skits to show that they understand the material.

At the Ti Kredi meeting we attended there were 13 women present. Usually there are up to 30but many were missing because they were selling their goods at the market place. Meetings can be held in any place that is convenient for the women, and they are often held under mango trees. The meeting was held in a cock-fighting ring.

The women at this meeting ranged from being in their early 20s to late 70s. The credit agents are often men. Having a strong and encouraging man in their lives helps teach women that men can be supportive, which is important because many men leave or mistreat their wives. The credit agents tell them that they are capable to support themselves and that they do not have to be dependent on their husband. These credit agents spend 3 months in training, including psychological training to fully support these women. They also come from the immediate areas, so they can understand the specific culture of the area.

Towards the end of the meeting, a female credit agent, Wislande, came to visit. She pumped up the group by leading them in songs and dance. One of the songs involved a Wozo plant, a plant that always grows back after it is cut. In the song they compare themselves to the plant, saying that when they are cut, they will always grow back. After the women sang to us, we shared a song with them: Amazing Grace.

After the meeting ended we went to visit clients from the CLM program to see where and how they live. On the way to the houses I heard President Martelly singing on the radio. It was very surreal to hear the music of the President, even though I knew he was a musician.

The first woman we visited was almost finished with the CLM program. We walked up the hill to her small, two room house to be greeted with a smiles and hugs. She was so happy to see us and to show us all that the CLM program did for her. She rebuilt her house with stones, cement, and a tin roof. She also was given two pregnant goats. Over the time she has been in the program, her assets grew to 10 baby goats, lots of chickens and even a cow. She said before Fonkoze, she had to serve her children stewed mango leaves from the tree behind her house for dinner. Now she is able to cook and provide real food for her family. Her credit agent taught her how to read and write. She proudly showed us how she wrote her name. Her pride and smiles were contagious, and we were all excited for her future.

Next we visited women who had just started the CLM program. These women are considered the ultra-poor; they live in mud and stick houses with dirt floors and banana leaves for a roof. They had absolutely nothing, and their only thought surrounded what they were going to feed their children the next day.Thankfully we knew that Fonkoze would help the woman build her house before the rainy season.

After seeing Fonkoze’s CLM clients, I realized the severity of the poverty in Haiti. This has definitely been some of my hardest moments in Haiti and I will never forget what I saw. After today’s adventures, I am even more determined to continue my work for Haiti both in Haiti and back home in the United States,

Day 5!

Day 5!

Today was an emotional day because we had to say goodbye to the UNIF students. We got to know all of them very well and they were so nice to us during our stay in Fondwa.  We are so grateful that they were so welcoming when we arrived, and that we had the opportunity to learn from them.  We talked about school, life, politics, and many other things.  It was a great learning experience because they gave us insight into what it is like to live in Haiti, and what the future holds for them.  Our group was very grateful for their hospitality and was sad to say goodbye. I am really glad that we met them and exchanged information because I want to stay in touch.

After we left Fondwa, we headed back to Port-au-Prince to stop for lunch, where we met with Carla and had the opportunity to share our experiences from Fondwa. Then we got back on the road and headed to Mirbale, where we met with Linda Boucard, the Director of Communications for Fonkoze.

Fonkoze is the largest microfinance institution in Haiti.  It is a Haitian run organization that seeks to alleviate poverty by providing women in extreme poverty with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed.  Linda told us all about Fonkoze and how the organization and bank operate. After reading about this organization for months, it was so great to finally hear about the work they do firsthand. Fonkoze is committed to making sustainable change in Haiti.  One thing that really stuck with me as Linda explained Fonkoze was the fact that majority of the NGO’s in Haiti were not going to be able to provide the type of change that Haiti needs like Fonkoze can.  I say this because Fonkoze understands the Haitian culture and history and this knowledge gives them the opportunity to better connect with the Haitian people and make sustainable change.  I came away from the day with the idea that the only real change that will successfully happened in Haiti is going to come from the Haitian people themselves. 

As I reflect each night, I continue to question my role as an American and what I can do to help bring change in Haiti. I was restored with hope and confidence after hearing Linda's stories about her work with the clients. I am really looking forward to working with them tomorrow and going to visit their clients.  Today I also realized that as much as I wanted to help Haiti, Haiti was actually helping me.  Haiti opened my eyes to who I am as a human being and allowed me to tap into my spiritual side.  I understand now that it is not my role to try to become some kind of superhero to Haiti but rather listen and learn from the people.  I am so grateful for this experience, and I can’t wait for tomorrow!

- Kevin Felisme

Day 4 -- Day of Service!!!!

Today was a busy day filled with sweat and satisfaction. We had our service project at APF in Fondwa. All 10 of us along with some Haitian volunteer, helped clean up the area that contains what is left of the APF Center post-earthquake. The area was filled with rubble and garbage: wrappers, bottles and even personal items like a pacifier and shoes. The personal items were a sad reminder of how the earthquake destroyed lives, and not just buildings. (Fortunately, during the earthquake, no one died in the APF Center). It’s unbelievable to think that all of that rubble and garbage was sitting there for two years. Also, under some of the rubble, Becca found a tarantula! I was shocked (and scared!) because I had never seen an animal like this in the wild! Also even though our group was sweating from the scorching sun we had a fantastic time spending the day together and being able to volunteer. 

We were given the opportunity to pull out some tree stubs that were blocking the path way. Tis action was symbolic because our trip is focusing on tackling problems at the roots.” After a few hours of cleaning the APF Center, the sisters at APF cooked a delicious meal for us including: chicken, fried plantains, rice, beans, and picklies (which is like a spicy coleslaw—it’s a group favorite!).  At lunch we were introduced to another American volunteer group from Philadelphia and were able to discuss the implications of international volunteering.

           

After replenishing our bodies, we met with a few young school boys. Dressed in their blue and white checked uniforms, they played “Hot Potato” with us. Despite the language barrier, we were able to convey the rules of the game through non-verbal communication. It was fantastic to be able to interact with the young boys firsthand. The excitement of the game attracted the attention of the older high school students. Finally, a combination of our guide, Edmond’s persuasiveness and Becca’s French skills, we were able to interact with the students. After the shyness disappeared, the group was able to disperse and engage in more intimate conversations with the students. 

Some of us were speaking in French, some in Spanish and some in English. Many of the students were shy about their English speaking skills—but in reality, they shouldn’t have been because they were great! Most of them spoke three languages, we were blown away! I’ve never met so many eager and bright students in my life. Their devotion to education, their compassionate spirits, and their motivation are all so admirable. These are qualities that we, Americans, can aspire to integrate into our lives through our education. These students serve as our role models, our teachers. After saying our good byes and thanking them for spending time with us, they embarked on an hour-long walk back to their homes. Again, that speaks to their dedication to learning.

We return to the APF Center to help the Philadelphia group with the remainder of their project. When we got back they were sifting rocks and sand that would later be used to make cement and transporting dozens of cinderblocks from one end of the Center to the other which was about 60 yards away. Today, we left the APF with a great deal of inspiration, hope, and peace. I am so grateful for me amazing experience thus far and all of the knowledge I am gaining from the local communities.

--Julia B

Day 3

We awoke up in Fondwa to a beautiful morning in the Haitian mountains, which seemed to go on forever, reflected in the Hatian proverb "Dye mon, gen mon," literally meaning mountains beyond mountains. The morning started a bit too early with the roosters starting to crow around four in the morning, but I slept well and was ready to face the day, especially after a delicious breakfast of eggs, fruit, and Haitian coffee.

Today we had a meeting with the University of Fondwa students to learn about what their university was like, what their lifestyles were like, and to just learn from one another. We were all amazed by their dedication to study, and how they all planned to take the knowledge they learned back to improve their own communities, echoing the belief by the University Founder that development must come from rural Haiti. They were all incredibly smart, and very open and friendly to use, speaking to us in English, Creole, Spanish, and French!

For lunch we had a delicious meal of chicken, potato salad, fried plantains, and a cinnamon banana dessert, then went on a hike throughout the town of Fondwa with some of the UNIF students. We saw beautiful mountains and landscapes, passed by large farms planting corn and beans and populated by friendly Haitians. It began to rain when we reached the top of the mountain we had been climbing and we waited out most of the weather in a church that had been rebuilt by an international mission organization, although the school next door was still comprised only of tents.

The mountains and walk were beautiful, and the countryside was calm and incredibly pleasant, the rain was very pleasant and soft, and the people of Fondwa were so nice and welcoming, it was an incredible day. We finished it off with a delicious garlic pasta, but not before some of us took a few minutes to look at the beutiful night sky, so full of bright stars, away from the light and noise of crowded, bustling, Port-au-Prince.

Day 2!

           On the second day of our trip we got to speak to Rev. Djaloki who told us things about Haiti and the Haitian people that you can't read in a book or see in the news.  He emphasized the importance of establishing human relationships in order to build trust. "With a trusting relationship, the impossible is possible...without it, things that seem very easy become impossible." All to often in the U.S. we meet and work with people without even asking how they are doing. In the Haitian culture trust is built through human relations. If you don't build that trust you will accomplish very little. Life and experiences have showed them that promises are going to be broken. This is why the 5 billion dollars of aid has made little change. Throwing money and goods to them will not help in the long run. Yes, they will accept the goods and the money knowing that its not going to make a difference. However, if you befriend the Haitians, they will put their mind, body and soul into the effort and make the impossible come to fruition.

            What we don't realize is that in the process of helping, the U.S. is actually harming them and their economy. For example, donating clothes takes away business from the Haitian tailors and thus takes away from their economy. Also when the U.S. gave all of the subsidized rice to Haiti no one wanted to buy the Haitian rice because it was more expensive. Also by doing these things and coming in and trying to make their county more like ours,  they are belittling the Haitian culture. Djaloki advised us to be apart of the group of Americans that respects Haitian culture not ignores it.

            However there are ways that we can help! Fifty percent of the decisions need to be made on capitol hill. A country cannot change by itself, they need the international community's help. They do not what you to do it for them though. Haitians are not looking for handouts! They want you to help them help themselves. As Einstein eloquent stated, "You cannot solve a problem from the same state of mind that created the problem." This means that the former European colonizers of Haiti who have harmed Haiti through economic and political oppression cannot help restore Haiti under those same circumstances. The Haitian people know that they need a stable government, but they don't yet know what kind. However, they know that it will not be that of Europe or of the U.S., they need to find a form of government that works for them.

             In Haiti, they the Elite, which is the richest people in the country who only make up 5% of the population, basically run the government. They speak French, they're usually Catholic, and because they're over privileged, economic conditions don't affect them. They are essentially above the law. Therefore the people who need the most help from the government, the poor, have no say in the government. The Haitian people, minus the elite, don't expect the government to take care of them. They expect the government to oppress them as they have done in the past. The elite are often descendants of the slave owners and are also lighter in skin tone.

            Although Haiti is facing tough times right now and all people see is bad,  Rev. Djaloki reminded us that dye moon, gene moon. Literally meaning "Beyond mountains, more mountains." This proverb speak to Haiti's topography, but symbolically represents the idea that there is so much to learn about Haiti. The country's history has many layers-- sometimes they aren't congruent.To truly be committed to being apart of the healing process, we have to be committed to tackling one mountain, one obstacle, one layer of history at a time and then continue our commitment on to the next.

-Patrice Noel

Haiti Day 1!

                Upon arrival to Haiti, the chaotic airport traffic and "Bonjou, mwen rele.."'s left the 10 of us in a dream like state, questioning the reality of finally having arrived to the country which we had been eagerly studying about for so long. AS we weaved through the many other student volunteer groups and made our way to the exit, we were met by Carla, our tour guide and host for the night. She was able to give us in-depth details and history about every landmark and market that we passed.
                 On the street, women, children, and men sold everything from fresh mangos and fried snacks to medicine for the common cold. En route, Carla discussed the tent cities which were now beginning to be dismantled in an effort by the government. Not only did Carla point these out, she knew and worked with a man named Mona who was the head leader and educator of a tent city. This specific tent city was constantly forgotten and overlooked by the UN and other aid organisations. Mona explained his tribulations with these organisations , and his efforts to educate the parents living in the tent city that violence is not a way to discipline children. Mona also shared his love and talent for music. He then told us a story of how his band recorded their music on a CD, which was never aired despite it winning 1st place in a UN music competition. They also never received the 10,000 copies of the CD promised by the UN. Mona then kindly answered our many questions , and we left the tent city in awe of his accomplishments.
                 Back in the bus, we left with a better sense of the urgency of the problems within the government and foreign organisations have failed to provide for these forgotten people. AS we passed graffiti displaying leaders of Haiti and the Haitian sense of national pride, we also noticed the enticing smell of the food being cooked in the street, and eventually stopped at a local grocery store to try some of these Haitian delicacies.  Little did we know that that night we would be fed an array of Haitian food such as rice and peas, plantains, griot, chicken and an eggplant dish!
              As we made it up the mountain rocking back and forth  with the movement of the rocks beneath us, we caught our first glimpse at an expanse of beauty of the likes of national geographic. It was strange to think of such a paradise as a country with so much inequality and social injustice.
             We walked the last 10min to Carla's house , where we would be staying that night , and were instantly wrapped up in the warm welcoming of neighbours , not to mention the secret garden-esque landscape surrounding the beautiful cottage style houses. After settling in and devouring the delicious meal, we were treated by a ceromony conducted by Carla and 3 of her neighbours. Candles were lit, and in matching white t-shirts, the 4 began and interpretive theatrical representation of Haiti's history and struggle for independence. The History , presented in a interesting story-like manner, was also told with the use of objects, such as the silver key and matching lock. We were left with the question of what is still needed for the key to be able to unlock Haiti and the troubles experienced by this resilient country. As Carla put it, this was our "gift for the week," to be able to take back to our families and friends in the USA. As seen through the eyes of the struggling  Haitians, I hope to be able to let myself remain open minded to this beautiful culture, and give a part of myself to the community.
 -Gulia

March 8, 2012

On the eve of my departure for third trip to Haiti, I've thought a lot about my previous trips.  On March 8, 2011, on International Women's Day, we were meeting with the most inspiring women's organization in Fondwa.  I was lucky enough to have very organized trip leaders who just gave me a letter I had written to myself one year ago.  Reading it a year later, it brought back all of the feelings I had when leaving Haiti. I wanted to share it with you.  Thank you Keesha, for keeping it for me all this time!  I am so excited to return and continue to learn.

March 12, 2011

Letter to Self (written one year ago on the airplane on the way home from AU’s first Alternative Break trip to Haiti ):

When we took off at the airport in Port-au-Prince I looked out the window and knew I’d be back.  Something draws me to Haiti. Not the language, I can’t seem to learn Creole, too hard for me, not the food, too much starch, but the people we meet. Their resistance and resilience in the face of such injustice is remarkable. (Andre says it makes him mad when people talk about the resilience of the Haitian people, because really, what choice have they had?)

I leave with anger at the under development and complete denial of basic human rights. And inspiration from the case workers of Fonkoze, who, inch by inch, undo the harm done by foreign powers, bad governments, dictators, greed, apathy and natural disasters.

I hope the AU students follow through on their plans to support Fonkoze and APF.  I hope Haiti gets through these presidential elections without incident.  

I will return to Haiti and we will continue to learn and be involved.

Mesi anpil

Thank you for the experiences, for the laughter, for the friendships, for the knowledge and for the hard work.

Shoshanna

Haitian Premier Says Loss of Support Led Him to Quit –New York Times

There was another blow to an already weak government in Haiti on Friday, February 24, 2012 when Garry Conille, prime minister of Haiti, resigned.  This news is very bad for all of Haiti because it affects Haiti on two different fronts.  The first front is the government, because the government is very fragile and the resignation of the prime minister does not help the issue.  The other issue is the Haitian people that are desperately waiting for assistance.  They are relying on their government to step up to the challenge of rebuilding Haiti as soon as possible.  Unfortunately the government is struggling to come together and make important decisions that will help promote much needed change.

Many Haitians are still living in tents that are plagued with disease and crime.  Although there has been some progress such as clearing out camps, building a new industrial park and hospital, and beginning to promote private investment, there is still much change that needs to be done.  It all starts with the government, because the government is in charge of building and maintaining a solid infrastructure.  Although Haiti’s government has a lot of work to do, it is possible for them to rebuild Haiti if they work together.  Perhaps the most critical issue with this resignation is that international donors and investors will become reluctant to work with Haiti’s government when there is so much chaos.

Although this is another bump in the road, I am confident that one day Haiti will overcome all of these issues.  It could take a long time, but there is no doubt in my mind that they will.  In my opinion Haiti’s history is the greatest of all time compared to any other country.  It became the first black republic in 1804 when slaves defeated the powerful European Army.  I get chills every time I think about it and it makes me so proud to be Haitian.  So although this story is not good news for Haiti, it is important to keep a positive attitude because change will come.

L’Union Fait La Force!

A Summarization and Response to Time article “Haiti Without a Prime Minister Again: Is this Reconstruction or ‘Deconstruction’?”

Gary Conille

In Tim Padgett’s recent article in Time, the recent political happenings in Haiti are discussed. On Friday
Feb 24th Garry Conille resigned from the position of Prime Minister
to Haiti, after being on the job for about four months. The Haitian President,
Michel Martelly is urging the public to stay calm following this event because
the Haitian government has “already taken every step to that… [it can to]
continue to work normally.” However, the political nation is not receiving this
chain of events calmly; some think that this is a step backward in Haiti’s
progress to become a stable nation. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the
Western hemisphere, and on top of that, the recent earthquake that devastated many
lives and pushed back recent progress. This is a time when Haiti needs support,
especially support from a stable government that can control the masses and
create solutions that utilize international aid for the good of all people.
Without
a stable government including a President and a Prime Minister, international organizations
are reluctant to give a country the aid it so desperately needs. The organizations
are afraid that the aid will not go to the people who need it most but instead
to the elites and government professionals. In fact, many projects worth
millions of dollars to help those in need in Haiti are slowing. Due to the
political crisis organizations are not sure if their money will really help. Because
these organizations are becoming uncertain about the choice to give to Haiti,
the Haitians that would have received that aid are still struggling, their situation
getting more desperate daily.
Reasoning
behind Conille’s departure could be due to the disagreements between Martelly
and Conille, and the unstable political system. The two often disagreed upon
many issues including different interpretations of the constitution, and the
determination of which position had more power. Even through this public
struggle between the two politicians, Conille announced two weeks ago that he
was committed to the position and would work to smooth relations so that they
could do their jobs. However, Conille’s cabinet abandoned him, obviously siding
with Martelly. Because of this shift of opinion, Conille decided that he could
no longer hold his position. The Haitian cabinet could have felt aversion to
Conille because he portrayed himself to be more committed to the UN and other foreign
parties than to Haiti.
Before
any official work is able to be completed, the Haitian government needs to become
organized, with a set priority list that includes getting aid from foreign sources
that are more than willing to donate. They need to realize who their work as a
government is for, obviously being the Haitian people; the people who are still
struggling and suffering from malnutrition, poor living situations, and
desperate poverty.
The search
for a new Prime Minister is underway in Haiti, and hopefully, the replacement
will have the strength to create a stable government that is able to help the
Haitians who are most in need.
Response written by Lizzy Menstell

"The Road to Fondwa," a documentary about AFP's development initiatives

The motto that Haitians live by, “unity makes strength,” has prompted development work focused on the countryside, which consists of a large portion of Haiti—the peasants.

The Peasants of Fondwa (AFP) is an organization established by Father Joseph to help peasants help themselves.  Their first community service project was to build a road, or “konbit,” as the Haitians call it, which is one of the most basic needs that can advance development tenfold.  Although Haiti still suffers greatly from the turmoil after the earthquake and floods, AFP has already provided potable water, good schools—the AFP School and the University of Fondwa—a radio station, and a health clinic. 

With the increased emphasis on schooling in Fondwa, students have become very involved in learning about agriculture, which is engaging them to continue development work in Haiti, as well as fostering a love for their country.  In the documentary, one student claims to have to walk three hours to and from his home in order to get to school, because of his conviction that his determination will help in the advancement of Haiti.

Although AFP has helped in alleviating certain fundamental issues in the countrysides, the abundance of trash—which leads to children dying of malaria and malnutrition, and creates unfavorable working conditions for those selling their products on the street—remains a problem.  Furthermore, as Herault, the community leader of Fondwa, pointed out, not everyone has money to buy fertilizers and seeds to properly cultivate their fields, potable water is still not available for a majority of the population, and education remains an issue for those who cannot afford it. 

The fundamental issue seems to be the need for means for better work, in order to improve Haitians’ overall living standards.  In an attempt to rid themselves of these issues, peasants move to the cities, like Port-au-Prince, but often find the same problems encountered in the country, such as the lack of food and good jobs, leading some to join gangs.

To continue the development work being conducted in Haiti, it is important to keep in mind that the unity of the community can only lead to positive outcomes, because problems are often solved collectively.  As one of the development workers mentioned, working together is not hard, because we all have the same ideas and decisions, something that he defined as “adja.”

As development and microfinance organizations increase in Haiti, the possibility of prospering increases as well, while the devaluing of Haiti by the international community decreases. In an attempt to eliminate the common perceptions of an impoverished, dismal Haiti, “The Road to Fondwa” was produced with three goals in mind: to present a realistic view of Haiti, to spread the word about Fondwa’s alternative vision for sustainable development, and to increase collaboration with and financial support for the people of Fondwa, and Haiti in general.

Before you pay to volunteer abroad, think of the harm you might do!

            For many years people have been paying to go abroad and volunteer in poverty stricken countries. While most intentions are good, studies have shown that this gesture actually does more harm than it does good. When people go on these trips, they tend to do such things like plant trees, build houses, donate goods and visit orphanages. What they fail to realize is that these gestures make little to no difference in the overall well being of the country. The people there can most likely build houses and plant trees more efficiently than the volunteers. Visiting orphanages is moving and although taking pictures is tempting, doing so puts the children on the same level as an animal. Also, what about the children who have just taken a liking to you? Now you are going to leave to go back to the US and leave them behind. The locals of the country have taken notice to how orphanages attract tourist and money and now they see them as a gold mine.

            These orphanages cash in on the guilt of volunteers like us. Often times the children aren’t even orphans. "Westerners take a pity on the children and end up creating a grotesque market that capitalizes on their concerns", said Birrell, author of this article. Majority of these orphanages are also unregistered!

            As stated in the Article, "Voluntourism is more about self-fulfillment of westerners than the needs of developing nations". Careless attempts to help have harmed nations. By not doing your research before you go somewhere, you may end up fostering corruption, dumping cheap food and clothes, and destroying local industries and enterprises. Conclusively, before people go on these types of trips they need to examine the consequences for the people who they are trying to help.

The Haiti Compact

The primary goal of the Haiti Compact is suitably ambitious: to engage US campuses in effective, responsible, and sustainable service work in and for post-earthquake Haiti through 2015, ensuring consistent and mutually beneficial support. The Compact currently consists of 5 colleges and universities: American University, University of Maryland-College Park, Loyola Marymount University, Indiana University and the College of William and Mary. The Compact members commit to work with and for the Haitians toward the vision of a strong, dignified, and peaceful Haiti – with citizens empowered by sustained education, jobs, and voice. We call upon all institutions of Higher Education in the United States to make a commitment toward aiding Haiti. The Compact believes that real advocacy and change come from deepened relationships and kinship between people and organizations, and that there is much that North Americans can learn from Haitians as we witness their resilience, learn their skills, and realize how to become more responsible consumers of the world’s resources.

Over the next five years, the Compact plans to:

1. Promote Higher Ed involvement in Haiti, through on-campus education and advocacy, and where appropriate, the development of multi-year Alternative Breaks to Haiti;
2. Serve as an information and training resource for policy, logistics, safety, pre and post trip reflections and action and advocacy for student involvement and trips to Haiti;
3. Provide the framework and/or the program to be conducted by each cohort of students with each participating NGO by coordinating and streamline the process for NGO partners and AB coordinators to facilitate connections and consistency of efforts;
4. Expand outreach to campuses across the US through at least 2015;
5. Regularly provide updated reports, and share current information on best practices, partnerships and calls to action through haiticompact.org; and
6. Modify each program and trip to continually meet the needs of Haitians as the Compact develops.

Shoshanna Sumka, the director of American University's Center for Community Engagement and Service was one of the founding members of the Haiti Compact. She oversees Alternative Breaks and other international community-based learning programs. Shoshanna is our staff advisor for our trip this Spring. She has been to Haiti twice before, one of her previous trips was the first AU Alternative Break to Haiti in Spring 2011.

Spring 2011 AU Alternative Break - Haiti group

The Alt Break Experience

Alternative Breaks are an opportunity for students to travel and explore social justice issues through service learning experiences. These trips are student-led and participants work with communities for hands-on experiential learning, addressing global and local challenges. Alternative Breaks are part of Break Away, an organization that helps universities provide quality programming that exceeds the typical volunteer experience. The trips are based eight components: strong direct service, orientation, education, training, reflection, reorientation, diversity, alcohol and drug free. http://alternativebreaks2012.org/.

American University offers many Alternative Break programs, focusing on a variety of different social justice themes. In less than a month, me (Rebecca Stein-Lobovits), and my co-leader Rebekah Israel will travel to Haiti with 7 students and our faculty advisor, Shoshanna Sumka. This is American University’s third Alternative Spring Break to Haiti. After the earthquake in 2010, AU signed onto the Haiti Compact, which is a commitment to support Haiti through 2015. We dedicate our support by leading this Alternative Break trip and continuing the conversation about stability, reconstruction, and sustainability. Our trip will focus on women and youth empowerment, and we will spend our time in rural Haiti working with two organizations that promote community development and microfinance. To prepare for our journey, our group meets weekly for educational trainings on our partner organizations (APF and Fonkoze), women and microfinance, Haitian culture and Creole. We discuss the issues surrounding our trip theme, and our role in Haiti as an Alternative Break group.

The Alt Break participants will be posting more information about the partner organizations that will be working with on the ground, and a further discussion on women’s role in reconstruction in Haiti.

APF!

On March 10, 2012, I, along with nine others, will be embarking on a journey with American University’s Alternative Spring Break Program to Haiti. During the eight days spent in Haiti, we will be working with two grassroot organizations centered in Haiti—Fonkoze and APF (Associate of Peasants of Fondwa). Both associations are dedicated to relieving the poverty situation that impacts all Haitian people through microfinancing and education. 

Since its creation in 1988, APF has been an essential, non-governmental organization to Haitian society. Although the organization focuses on projects in Fondwa (a small village in western Haiti), its success has spilled over to benefit six other rural community areas—helping the lives of approximately 50,000 people. The emergence of APF began when a group of Haitians, as well as non-Haitians, defined the problems that affected not only Fondwa, but all of Haiti. As years passed, APF was given loans to further establish itself. Since then, the organization has been able to continue its work.

APF focuses on empowering peasants, who lack the basic necessities of water, health care and housing, so that they can feel integrated within Haitian society.  APF hopes to accompany peasants to identify their problems and priorities, educate them on how to obtain access to basic infrastructure in their community (roads, water, health care, agricultural assistance), increase their produce to maximize profit, and influence them to share resources and lessons learned to other struggling Haitians through the University of Fondwa. The University of Fondwa and the Secretariat National Congress of the Haitian Peasants provide higher education to young Haitians as community leaders so that they hopefully can return home and work in the sustainable development by using Fondwa as a model.

Unfortunately, the catastrophic earthquake, in January 2010, destroyed most of APF’s infrastructure that was constructed over the last twenty-three years. Instead of losing hope, APF members discovered a solution and partnered with various organizations to help again obtain necessary resources. Through dedicated service and optimistic mindsets, it is hoped that APF will return stronger than ever.

Through education, inspiration, and encouragement, the Associate of Peasants of Fondwa takes an active part in promoting positive lifestyles in Haiti. This NGO hopes to provide life lessons that can be applied to any situation—regardless of location.

For more information on how you can help APF and volunteer click here!

Fonkoze!

Fonkoze is the largest microfinance institution in Haiti serving as the bank of the poor with over 56,000 borrowers and 250,000 savers. With forty six branches Fonkoze is truly the most nationally renowned microfinance institution in Haiti, and one that has impressive results to show for its methods. Founded in 1994 by a Catholic priest, the “Fonkoze Family” is actually three organizations working in solidarity with each other: The Fonkoze Foundation is a rural microfinance institution that nurtures community development through adult education and training, social impact monitoring of poverty, branch incubation, and through innovations in rural microfinance delivery. Fonkoze Financial Services is like a fully fledged bank or credit union, delivering financial services and capital to the poor in the forms of loans as well as safe places for savings, it is “designed to generate self-reliance and promote a democratic economy in Haiti.” Fonkoze USA is the American counterpart dedicated to “securing financial and technical support for its Haitian partners.”

Fonkoze was a brainchild out of the democracy movements in Haiti during the 1990s during military dictatorship. Political democracy could not come without economic democracy and strong economic foundations to give people the ability to support themselves and their country. Typical of microfinance institutions, Fonkoze lends virtually only to women, as they have been shown over and over again to be the best economic investments to make in a community. Women are much more likely to invest any money earned back into families, education, health, and child development, as compared to men, who are much more likely in poor societies to gamble away money or spend it on alcohol and cigarettes. In addition, mothers than invest in their children will also invest in their daughters’ education, increasing their knowledge of reproductive health, population control, and which will in turn mean they look better after their children and recognize the importance of their own education.

Fonkoze also recognizes that poverty is incredibly hard to break out of, and that it is not simply possible to lend a loan to an individual and expect them to be able to sustainably leave poverty behind them for good. Fonkoze incorporates a unique staircase approach to how they view issues of poverty and the ladder to overcome them. The institution recognizes that it needs to help the poor every step of the way and that they will steps backward for steps forward. The first level of help is for the poorest of the poor, and Konkoze’s efforts to helping educate and facilitate a microfinance enterprise to help them out of abject poverty. The second tier offers very small loans and literacy classes, while the third tier offers larger loans for longer periods of time in a unique group donor fashion, where groups of women take out the loans together and help each other in their money and project management in solidarity. The fourth step is business development where large sums are lent out to women ready to run and manage businesses and employ others.

The best thing about Fonkoze in my opinion, is that it is a Haitian run organization for the benefit of Haitians.