Why we work where we work…the challenges…and our solutions
Our work is committed to the rural communities of Haiti. Rural communities are often neglected and rely heavenly on support from NGOs and the private sector to increase access
to resources and maximize success by avoiding corrupt regulatory systems. We rely on our Haitian partners to identify communities that are in extreme need and develop relationships with the community leaders to develop practical solutions that will help families build economic solutions in their own communities independently so the success they gain is earned and sustainable.
Although we know the statistically data collected in developing countries such as Haiti, the accuracy is challenged because of the abundance of communities that remain in extreme under-developed conditions and may be excluded from the data and the collection of data generally represent 1 or more years prior to the current date. The following information was collected from sources such as World Bank and Trading Economics represent the latest information found into date.
In Haiti, 45% of the total population of 11 million live in rural communities … nearly 5 million people. It is fair to say the majority are living in deplorable conditions of poverty but more accurately, 75% live in extreme poverty…3.6 million people.
Improvements to the conditions are shortcoming and investors from other countries are discouraged because of the loss of resources due to corruption and political unrest continues to hinder progress with investments already extended. Political instability and weak governance contribute to the overwhelming corruption and continues to oppress the nation leaving families without food security, clean water, power, sanitation, housing, education, and medical care. Layered with 2 major natural disasters within the last 10 years, the harsh reality is that Haiti’s population continues to grow in devastating conditions of poverty.
The Challenges:
Political instability + Corruption + Weak Governance + Natural Disasters =
Power, Water, & Sanitation:
The latest information from World Bank reports that in rural communities:
.5% have access to power…that means 4.8 million people live without power
52.4%…2.5 million people do not have access to clean water
80.8%…3.9 million people do not have access to proper sanitation
Food Security
USAID reported in 2017 that 50% of the population were undernourished and 30% of children suffered from chronic malnutrition. The food insecurity contributes to long-term effects of malnutrition is resulting from “increased environmental degradation, natural disasters, and reliance on rainfall for crops. Demand for food exceeds local food production. This has created a dependence on imports for more than 50 percent for the population’s needs as well as 80 percent of Haiti’s main staple, rice. … Poverty, compounded by the depreciation of the Haitian gourde, means approximately 4.5 million Haitians struggle to access food.” (https://www.usaid.gov/haiti/agriculture-and-food-security)
Housing
Given the reported extreme poverty conditions, the conclusion on housing is clear without presenting a statistic. Deplorable living conditions are throughout the rural communities and even attempts of new construction by other organizations, structure fail to meet the capabilities to withstand strong hurricanes or earthquakes.
Education
The challenge of education in rural communities:
Lack of schools or the closest school is too far for children to walk and parents are unable to pay for transportation
Parents are unable to pay for tuition and school supplies
While the World Bank reports that throughout urban and rural communities, enrollment in primary schools 88%, enrollment in secondary schools is approx. 20%
Of the overall primary school population enrolled in school, many repeat a grade or drop out before completing the final primary grade (6th grade)
Our solutions...
are targeted to identify projects in communities that will benefit hundreds of families and minimize the compounding problems of poverty resulting from political instability, corruption, weak governance, and natural disasters.
External support remains crucial to rural communities in Haiti to build economies, reduce poverty, and encourage a morally strong foundation. Working in these communities with private funding lessens the impact of political instability and corruption to our projects. Our team leads the workforce to provide hands-on job training, develop conflict management and ethical decision-making skills, and are driven by our combined desire to help our brothers and sisters in need.
We believe our investment in community projects will secure the investments made by other organization directly to individual families and provide the family an opportunity to sustain themselves independently after these services have ended. In communities where families are completely unsupported by other organizations, our development projects will provide new economic opportunities for families to succeed independently.
Our projects are coordinated with the intended beneficiaries to develop practical solutions that will lay a foundation for future economic growth.
Dome Structures are a perfect solution for Housing, Community Centers, Relief Aid Shelters, Sanitation and Water Depots in the equatorial and coastal regions:
Dome structures are also virtually disaster proof
The dome's shape and composition provide resistance to high winds up and exceeding category 5 hurricanes
The shape and construction provide a malleable building, ensuring that seismic events do not damage the structures
Dome structures are environmentally friendly
Domes use 50% less concrete and reinforcing materials than traditional homes, making them cost efficient
Their concrete construction is clean – no potential for insect infestation and they offer the highest durability to long term weathering
A dome can be built with few materials and can be completed in as little as four weeks
The raw material resources needed to build dome structures are also typically found in the local areas of Haiti.
Schools are traditionally designed with 20’ x 20’ classrooms with either a structurally strong
heavy grade tin roof or concrete
Our Partners provide resources to further our community development projects with:
Solar power
Wells and clean water systems
Sanitation systems
And more…