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 | Jan 29, 2019
The Alternative For Revenue Production

By Marie Marthe Saint Cyr | Executive Director

The state of affairs in Haiti continue to worsen at some levels: While insecurity has reved up and access to fuel for transportation is difficult at best, it is essential that there is continuity and opportunity to create revenue while unemployment is so high across the nation, reported at 70% by the World Bank in 2016. In general the cost of living is unaffordable and the rate of exchange to the USD has shifted from 60 gourdes (HDG) to 1 USD .

An effective alternative is community credit among grassroots organizations. The partnership of the Lambi Fund with rural farmers has prioritized community credit to assist women to access gainful activities.

2018 is a commendable year as we have reached 498 women farmers whose harvesting capacities were enhanced at two levels:

a. Having access to low interest loan (2-3%) that benefit the growth of their membership organizattion and substantially support sustainable agriculture

b. Assuring timely repayment so that the opportunity is available to other members of the organization, thereby sharing and extending opportunity; and

c. Lambi Fund further serves the community by assuring the training of those who receive the loans to bring a product or a service needed by the community for the community dwellers; like availing school supplies in a remote village without a formal store. The availability of the loan motivates creativity and diversity in supplying in the local market the needed goods. Small entrepreneurs define the season for the product and invest in the season accordingly. It is a marketing process and a pattern of supplying for the demands of the community. It is also focussed on increasing and enhancing revenue, it is profit based activity. These women are managing, needs, seasonal investment with profit focus, reaching population in need and improving their investment.

The Lambi partnership resulted in 498 women from 9 rural farming communities who initiated their own businesses and create revenue that allowed them to meet their payment schedules in a timely manner and meet some of their family responsibilities in the off season of planting. These women have great pride of their capacity and level of responsibility to the organizations and the solidarrity of the membership.

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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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