Gender Equality Haiti Project #23479

Revenue Creation for Women in Rural Haiti

by Lambi Fund of Haiti

Revenue Creation for Women in Rural Haiti

Project Report | Nov 1, 2018
I am that woman

By Marie Marthe Saint Cyr | Executive Director

I used to get up and had no idea what I will do today. When the harvest was over and when inundation washed away my production, there was barely enough to assure food on the table. Even getting together enough seed for the next production became a challenge. What is most frightening is to have nowwhere to turn to look for work. So for some of us it might be getting a day of labor when someone is in need of help. Sometimes it is just an exchange of good and services.

As a member of the organization in the community of we started our own small fund. One after the other we hope for our turn, we waited just to begin our small " barque".

Our barque takes many shape. It could be school supplies, easter wear, clothing and needed accesories, often it is food and household accesories. Our barque is the recipient that we carry. It could be a large weaved plate, it could be a large basket that we carry on our head, it could also be a large bag that we carry on our arm from place to place from house to house selling our inventory. It is most often on market day that we go with the small inventory and sell to have some revenue to renew.

My life was going to change but I had no idea. what I earn makes it possible for me to contribute to the household, to help my sisters. I started with selling coffee in the morning with bread and peanut butter, in the corner of my house. I needed to also go to school. I would sell from 4 in the morning till 8 and I would go to school. It is that way I could have food for my sister and school supplies and I hope to finish school bext year. I am that woman.

As Roselene related, so I am telling you.

Roselene is joined by for 497 women who started their small business in 2018 when the Lambi Fund of Haiti granted each one a micro-loan of 10,000 haitian gourdes that stimulates local markets bringing in a variety of consumable goods including food, accesories, personal items much needed in isolated rural communities.

During this year, Lambi Fund has successfully assisted 498 women to initiate their own small commerce, bringing much needed goods to their local market and building their clientele and as result being able to be better providers.

We thank you so much because you are among those who have made our effort possible.

Thank you/mesi.

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Jul 13, 2018
Goals for women credit: Where are we midyear?

By Marie Marthe Saint Cyr | Executive Director

Women Finance Committee for Microloans

As we witness the upheaval of the hungry Haitian population since July 6th, we remain determined to provide this resilient population with hope through our projects. While attempting to return to Port au Prince after visiting projects in the south, we faced barricades where rocks were being thrown and tires were being burned. While crossing this barricade, we spoke to the people blocking the roads, they explained how life is hard and raising gas prices would make the cost of living higher. Once we crossed that barricade, we faced a second one about 100 feet from the last one, where rocks and bottles were being thrown. Making our way from the south to the capital, we face many barricades and when speaking to the population, everyone spoke about how life in Haiti is difficult and that there is little opportunity for the mass population to improve their lives, while a few in the middle class keep all the wealth.

It is evident that the priority set to increase “revenue producing activities among our partners” remains. Assessing where we are midyear, the overall goal to assist 150 women to start or reinforce their small enterprises is well underway.

To date: Three organizations engaged in this activity: AFTA (Asosiasyon Fanm pou Transfomasyon Agrikol), MFM (Mouvman Fraternite Major), OPDERGM (Oganizasyon Plante Pou devlopman Ravin Gwomon) have established funds initially totaling (HDG)1,200,000.00. Together they have facilitated access to loans to 263 persons. Among them, 183 women have established small enterprises of varied retailing items such as: objects for personal care, agro related sales of food stuff, transformed agricultural goods such as peanut butter, bread, cassava bread, etc.

The initial (HDG)1,200,000.00 invested has generated interest that currently brought the value of the fund to (HDG) 2,261,991.00 with a total of 183 women beneficiaries.

The need of women to create revenue continues to be an urgent need. With revenues produced, their major goal is to educate their children and maintain their health. Our role is to partner and support them and remind them to care for themselves so they can continue to care for their families.

We join together with our partners to thank you for your help and your concerns as you contributed to make this project successful. Thank you.

Grain Transformation

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Apr 11, 2018
Getting started-Highlighting a Credit Fund Project

By Lourdes Eliacin Mars | Deputy Director

Women paying back their loans to the organization

Four months into the new year, the Lambi Fund has realized many exciting projects including providing more enterprise opportunities for women. Our 2018 vision is well on its way and with enthusiastic partners like the Organization of Planters for the Development of Ravin Gwomon (Oganizasyon Plantè pou Devlopman Ravin Gwomòn), OPDERGM for short, lives are being changed.

March 2018 marked OPDERGM’s 10^th month with their credit fund project. So far, 74 women have benefitted from the 10,000 Haitian Gourd loans. Those women have paid or continue to pay the loan back in a timely matter, repaying at 100%.

When the women of OPDERGM receive the loan, they use the money to buy and re-sell goods at different markets. They sell items like agricultural products, food, cosmetics, or whatever is in-demand at the time. Buying and re-selling goods allows these women to provide for their family and to support themselves in a country that has an unemployment rate of 65%. These small enterprises allow children to go to school and families to have food on the table.

Aside from the individual benefits of the loan, the organization as a whole benefits. Each loan given to members has a small interest rate of 3%. This interest rate, which all members pay as part of their borrowing contract is added to the pot of money that is managed by OPDERGM. Due to this system, OPDERGM now has 212,000 Haitian Gourd added to their credit fund, allowing more members to borrow in the future. What began as a 712,000 Haitian Gourd Credit Fund has now grown to 924,000 Haitian Gourd in 10 months.

The current success of the project would not have been possible without our partner’s resolve to participate in Finance/Record-keeping and organizational management trainings and each member making the effort to repay their loans on time and in full. OPDERGM members take into account that a timely repayment allows their fellow members to receive their loan faster making it possible for them to support their household. In the spirit of community, they all work together to improve their livelihoods.

OPDERGM is one of many examples of our partners making strides to create lasting revenue in their communities. As the title of this report states, the Lambi Fund and its partners are just getting started with projects like these. Our vision is to empower women and put 150 women into their own small businesses.

We thank you for sharing in our vision and are grateful for the constant support!

Links:

The Lambi Fund of Haiti Website

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