(Community Matters) Much complexity and inevitable political strife continue to challenge our friends in Haiti. While the cholera outbreak appears to be “somewhat contained” Haitians are still too vulnerable to not worry about further, even more devastating outbreak. Though, agencies know what to do, how to combat it (and I believe most have funding), the physical and logistical hurdles are just not in Haitians’ favor. Nevertheless, to date, it’s been handled and contained much better than almost any would predict. The same is true with health care in general. Though, news reports suggest the availability of clean drinking water – especially in unsponsored camps – is increasingly a challenge. I’ve asked and there is still a priority for safe drinking water at the projects we’ve funded. In fact, through CharityWater, we’ve match funded a sustainable, fresh drinking water project in Titans Village, in partnership with Concern Worldwide.
I wish our relatively small fund could have an even broader impact and bring more to the needy. And, I look at the progress we’ve made, the difference our contributions have made in the lives of thousands of Haitian, and I feel great about our decisions, investments and contributions.
On the political front, I believe the OAS supervised recount of presidential election votes started yesterday or today. There remains real risk of more political fighting, some even say the outbreak of a civil war. The old Haitian saying “beyond the mountains, more mountains,” resonates even more today than when I visited in July.
The HelpHaiti grant committee considered health and political risks before awarding our final grant from the HelpHaiti Fund. Just this morning we wired our last $163,000 to Concern Worldwide to fund their “Restoring Livelihoods Through Income Generation Activities in Tabarre Project.” [Our monies will be matched at least dollar for dollar, bringing the total raised by HelpHaiti to $1.5 million.] This project focuses on 500 families in one model camp in the fastest growing suburb of Port au Prince.
A study carried out in the Tabarre Issa Camp during October by Concern Worldwide and Fonkoze, revealed that 90% of residents were involved in petty trading (before the earthquake) and around 45% of them lost their entire equipment or inventories required to generate incomes. Since then they are depending on aid from agencies and support from relatives. Very few people have restarted income generation activities due to the lack of capital and being unable to undertake appropriate actions. (an earlier $100k Help Haiti grant (matched, so $200k) funded cash for work for these same residents)
Concern, in partnership with Fonkoze, will develop this project to help hundreds of households develop sustainable livelihood strategies to overcome their socio-economic constraints. Concern is additionally building a market area with several retail units inside the camp, allowing residents and surrounding communities to sell their goods and services in a secure environment respectful of hygiene standards.
The project consists of four parts (a) Targeting: selection of beneficiaries through the analysis of the records kept by the different programs including Nutrition, Protection, Wash & Shelter and previous entrepreneurial experience, (b) Assets transfer: through vouchers for kits and trainings, the project will provide the beneficiaries with the productive assets needed to generate income meeting their family members’ needs, (c) Technical assistance: program participants will be further trained and supported, accompanied through bi monthly advisory visits, and (d) The project will liaise with local microfinance institutions providing additional access to financial services.
This last grant reflects our desire to go deeper rather than broader in our last rounds of funding. It also meets the grant committee’s objective to invest substantially in economic empowerment, so that some Haitians have a chance of a better economic life after the earthquake. About 30% of our contributions have been channelled to economic empowerment projects.
update: well, I’ll have to revise “final” as Alchemy Systems employees this afternoon donated another $2k more to Haiti earthquake relief
Community Matters 