By David Stillman | PPAF Executive Director, Project Leader
Dear Supporters and Friends,
In this 11th report on our project we want to thank you for continued support and highlight a few elements of our work with collaborators in Haiti.
Very much on our minds during these past months has been the political and humanitarian crisis in Haiti, with the country locked down by huge demonstrations and blockades. Only by the end of the year did tensions ease enough for roads, schools and businesses to reopen. People are suffering from lack of fuel, food, health, schooling, employment and any other metrics. We have thought and said over and over that if solar and biogas cooking and garden fertilizer were more widely available, people could more adequately live independent of the tremendous dependence on petroleum and charcoal for daily cooking.
The University Notre Dame d’Haiti at Hinche, and the Art Creation Foundation for Children in Jacmel were able to resume activities by the end of November. We are glad to be able to resume support to them, and show evidence of their activity. Please see the attached photos.
As I write it is the 10th anniversary of the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti, which led to PPAF’s involvement there. It is a solemn moment of remembrance, but friends in the Smallholder Farmers Alliance have put together a special publication highlighting the work and accomplishments of 46 organizations or projects. It is entitled “Voices of Hope for Haiti’s Future.” PPAF and collaborators were honored to be included in it. A copy of that is attached as well.
As stated before, our work is innovative and effective. It focuses on renewable energy, environmental concerns and empowerment of girls and women. With Haitian and American colleagues we support --
* university teaching and fieldwork on solar cookers and biodigesters for biogas fuel and garden fertilizer
* a young entrepreneurs program that teaches baking and sewing skills for low income children
* assistance to a program that helps impoverished adolescent girls grow into capable young women
* promotion of photos by a talented young Haitian artist
* seminars and presentations for information exchange and advocacy.
As you know, PPAF is a volunteer-based organization with long arms and many collaborators.
At Hinche the second group of university students is now learning in class and in practice the benefits of solar cookers, biodigesters and biogas and to maintain the new tree nursery on campus. The Vice Rector and students are eager to continue. PPAF has provided a new round of funding and our collaborating experts in solar and biodigesters/biogas have updated their materials for support to the teachers.
In Jacmel the first round of cooking and sewing classes progressed well and a second group of students have taken up the program. The instructors and new groups of students are eager to continue.
The nationwide program that helps teenage girls build self-confidence and life skills has benefitted from our inputs toward financial literacy and income generation. PPAF was also able to bring a senior staff member to participate in a program on Haiti that took place at Purchase College/SUNY. (See more about this below.)
PPAF and friends were glad to participate at (T)HERE: A Global Festival of Arts, Culture & Ideas of HAITI, held November 14-16 at Purchase College of the State University of New York. We offered information and ideas and networked with a variety of organizations. At the session Envisioning Haiti's Future held on Saturday the 16th we joined in discussions and demonstrations that focused on community engagement organizations based in Haiti and the U.S. Our group included members from Solar Cookers International, Solar CITIES Global Biogas Education, and Université Notre Dame d’Haiti. Purchase College invited several of the organizations for that session at our suggestion. We made possible the visit from the Haiti Adolescent Girls Network and a display of photos by a Haitian colleague.
We are delighted to report on good work and recognition of it by others. Thank you for your support GlobalGiving contributors!
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