Contribute to Long-Term Rebuilding in Haiti

I walked the streets of Port-Au-Prince and there were many signs indicating a movement towards rebuilding Haiti physically;  especially the additon of 700 kilometers of roads, some paved,  some unpaved, spilling a rising cloud of dust for miles and muds when the rain falls. Unfofrtunately, these new constructions do not bring in local jobs since contractors are coming with their own crews from other countries.  

At the Lambi Fund of Haiti,  it is not business as usual since the earthquake and we continue this year with a portfolio of 24 activities in sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, community credit for farmers and womens' enterprises, mills and oxplows.  We are looking forward to closing this year, our 20th year from 1994 to 2014, having worked with 250 organizations in rural Haiti.  These were memorable years.  From the local wisdom we learned that shaped our approach and methods, to the increase in food production, animal breeding and the training across communities of women and men, we witnessed rural communities taking charge, making a difference even in the absence of infrastrure planning and support from government.  

While increasing the capacities of organizations with skills training and management training, we are ensuring long term stability in communities with the least resoources to sustain the aftermath of these major crisis.  In this renewal, Lambi Fund is looking towards increasing its own response capacity. In the coming year,the Lambi Fund of Haiti will,  for the first time, establish a permanent space for its offices which will include a site for training and meetings in an effort to reduce costs in the future.  

I hope you will be one of the first to jump onboard to help us create the space.  In the meantime, know that we planted 422,000 new trees, added 1021 goats to the herd and launched the construction of 20 new cisterns in drought ridden Jean Rabel, in the locality of Dityet, Mawotye and Lakoma.  We avail $2,000,000 gourdes in credit for planters and women at 2% interest revenue that goes to their organization to increase their loan fund.  These activities are very active e elements of rebuilding life in the communities affected, increasing food production assuring involvement to support the local market through local enterprises.

All that because you have been there also for the long haul.  I cannot thank you enough and wish you the best for this Holiday Season!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

Links:

• More about our programs here!
• A closer look at Lambi...

When 438 farmers,  representing 71 rural peasant organizations, showed up to join the Lambi Fund of Haiti to reflect on the 20 years of partnership, it was a time for celebration. More importantly, it was a time to affirm that change is a long term process and that there is no room to step back.  As the issues emerge, it is clear that our partnership with locally knowledgeable farmers assure that strategic solutions are implemented that make a difference.

2014 is only four years after the devastation of the 2010 earthquake, but having been in Haiti for 20 years, we have learned that from the bottom up, Haitian peasants are making a difference in their local communities, building a stronger economy with the investments we have made together in partnership, investments that allow Haitians to begin to meet their extraordinary potential.

At the same time, the Lambi Fund continues to  work on projects of economic development and sustainable agriculture and environment, contributing to long term rebuilding.  For the northeast, plagued with an 8-month drought that is impacting every life in the three communities in which we are working -  Didyet, Lakoma and Mawotye - each community is getting 10 new cisterns to provide water to 7,500 families. 

This is in addition to the fourteen cisterns built in 2012 each of which provide water for up to 90 families.  It is all adding to the long term rebuilding of Haiti.

Links:

• Lambi Celebrates 20 Years!
• Read About Our Programs Here!