Our family is doing well. We all got back to Haiti June 7. The kids are very happy to be “home”. Julie and I are still adjusting but William and Abby are smiling all the time now. I never look forward to summer in Haiti. Just way too hot for me. I am always looking for ways to stay cool. My current project is trying to get shade material to put up on the roof so our house does not heat up so much. It is like an adobe oven. We had to cut down two trees in our yard and the sun just bakes us all day long.
I had Tim and Carole Heath over the other night. I know they were able to find housing and pay for 6 months for one family and are working on a second one with the money you sent. I think this week will be the last week of the water trucks coming. Heaths will be moving this month.
I have been working with Fonkoze to use the money for micro loans to help people become more self sufficient. Here are the projects that have gotten funding so far. Other people have also made donations so on most of the projects I am not the only person making a contribution. I really like these type of projects because they have more of a chance of being self sustaining and really helping people instead of being a one time hand out.
I have also requested projects that are in Pignon since I can go there to check up on them and if you want, can stop in to see how your funds are helping the community. Fonkoze is still vetting some of the Pignon projects so I have not seen them yet. Some of the below projects are set up as donations and some as loans. A Fonkoze business rep checks in on them occasionally to offer assistance and business training if they need it.
Project #1
Mirlande Dormeus refreshment stand in Arcahaie, Haiti. The total for this project was $1150 USD and there were 12 other contributors. This is to purchase a small generator and freezer for the business.
General information:
Mirlande opened her business a year ago to serve her community without realizing her idea and location would
become so popular. The amount of patrons have exceed any expectation, and sales are so high that that her
husband has recommend that she open a larger facility to satisfy the community need. Her homemade
lemonade, produced from her own lemon tree, is extremely popular and frequently the most purchased beverage
from the various selections offered. Consequently, she would like to increase the amount of lemon trees in her
own backyard, associated with her plantain crops. Her objective is to provide more refreshments to school
children to take advantage of this market, which is very important both in terms of demand and providing those
kids with a natural, healthy beverage. Additionally, two more jobs would be created, which involve sales,
distribution, and harvesting.
Project #2
Iie-a-Cache charcoal alternative. Total project $1000 with 11 other contributors.
Ile-a-Vache Development Group is requesting funding to start a charcoal production plan to bring an alternative to wood charcoal. The project is aimed at providing training to existing charcoal producers and encourage them to partner with Ile-a-Vache Development Group to produce charcoal from waste. Funding will be used to develop the business production and to create a viable business.
Project #3
MC+Productions. Total for project $1500. I decided to donate more towards this business because it is in PAP and about 5 minutes from my house. This will keep several people employed and hopefully grow his business and add employees. From the information I received I realized that several missions I know and friends use him for badges. I plan on putting pressure on my buddies to continue giving him business. That will really help the people that work for him.
MC+Productions wants to increase its production capacity with the acquisition of additional and modern equipment. In this context, MC+ Productions is looking for a new dual-side ID badger that has the capacity of printing holograms. This piece of equipment costs about 1,500 USD.
Project #4
Scholarship: Learn to Read and Write Program in Mirebalais. This will cover 4 students. Annual tuition for one child, plus supplier, including notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, backpacks, and books. This is overseen by FATEM. (Foundation for the Technological and Economic Advancement of Mirebalais)
It also had a matching grant from another donor.
Project #5
Kiskeya Aqua Ferme increase production capacity of pig farm and fish farm. Total for pig farm is $1000 with other contributors has been fully funded. The fish farm total is $2200 and is 30% funded.
Aqua Farm needs partners in order to help it to retain some of its pigs instead of selling them, and to recapitalize by buying protein concentrate (locally). As Leogane was the epicenter of the recent earthquake, the original 2 acre pig enclosures sustained heavy damage. Thankfully, no animals perished in the quake and AF was able to rebuild some of the walls soon afterwards to secure the operation. However, the earthquake severely disrupted food availability as many of the feed suppliers were affected. The stress from the earthquake and aftershock coupled with the lack of protein concentrate caused severe weight loss in the animals. Despite significant demand for them, AF has have halted selling them until they are able to regain weight.
These funds will help Aqua Farm to increase their fish production significantly! Instead of simply adding organic matter periodically to the ponds, AF will be able to supplement with fish food (bought locally) and enhance fish production to fish production to 100,000 lbs of red tilapia per year! The impact of this enhanced capacity will be to contribute to food security and to sustain jobs already created in rural Leogane as well as to create new employment opportunities.
There is also the donation towards repairing our wall. Thanks so much for that.
God Bless,
Will
