By Karen Wienberg | Chair, Board of Directors
October 4 marked the first anniversary of the catastrophic Hurricane Matthew that devastated Haiti's southern peninsula. Through LFBS' agriculture program, crops are flourishing throughout the decimated southern peninsula. Our Agronomist has been working with families in multiple rural communities bringing supplies of seeds, seedlings, tools and providing training on compost, natural pest control, crop and seed harvesting, maximizing transport to marketplace, etc. He has also been mentoring and training a local youth in each area to build local capacity and opportunities.
Through your support, we are also assisting a dedicated young man to attend University, specializing in Agronomy. Along with University registration, we have provided him with agriculture tools and supplies as he assists our agronomist with real field experience! They have begun planting crops on the land Little Footprints Big Steps has purchased for our future permanent home. The planting will used as a training ground for those without land of their own and the crops will be a nutritional food source for both the Safehouses LFBS has as well as families we serve.
Numerous youth are currently involved in cook training, hospitality training, electrical wiring trades, driver training and solar energy panel construction. All of these programs result in certification, often apprenticeship/practice placements and the opportunity for practice experience with LFBS projects such as the continued housing construction with families in rural communties. When possible, we have continued to rebuild houses of families in remote communities. SO many lost their homes during Hurricane Matthew. The families are completely involved in preparing the base and assisting with construction. Some home locations are far up rural mountain areas, requiring all of the building supplies and tools to be carried up steep, rocky trails!
We recently had a young woman graduate as a school teacher! This was one of the youth who was in the horrific orphanage our Head of Haiti Operations lived in during 2011, and was instrumental in having shut down. How amazing to see this young woman become a teacher! The possibilities are real.
Our business start-up projects are well underway for single mothers and families that are ready for that new step forward. Our key staff who lead that program area will be attending a week long Train-the-Trainer session focused on all elements involved in successful business set-up and maintenance. We ensure our staff are continuously increasing their knowledge and expertise with regular, targeted training sessions often provided in collaboration with our partners and Haitian Government departments.
LFBS Head of Haiti Operations, Morgan, was a presenter/participant at the Family Preservation Symposium held in Port au Prince in September. Her presentation focused on: “It's not just about orphanage transition but about investing in families.” She and two staff members also attended Ansanm Pou Ayiti (Non-Profit and NGO Summit "The Effectiveness of Aid") in Port au Prince, October 19 to 21. This event was opened by the Prime Minister of Haiti. What a wonderful, much-needed event discussing innovative solutions to more effective methods of supporting Haitians, and bringing government officials into an open discussion with NGOs. INTERESTING POINT: of all NGOs working in Haiti, only 4% are in regions outside of Port au Prince (where there is tremendous development need, and where LFBS work is focused).
LFBS Medical team continue to provide medical care to those who would not otherwise be able to access it. We have our own pharmacy and the team travels and sets up Medical Outreach Clinics in various communities. Just days ago, in the impoverished community of Renaud, the three doctors saw over 90 children during the two day clinic!
Just a glimpse into all that is going on! Our 2016/17 Annual Report will be available on our website soon.
Thank you for supporting us and making this possible!
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