Haiti: One Year Later

 

One year later. Three hundred and sixty-five days since the ground shook and forever changed Haiti. I thought a lot about what I wanted to say about the earthquake and my Ayiti Cheri as we take this day to remember and honor the loved ones lost.

 

Undoubtedly, countless news stories will air this week looking at Haiti’s journey this past year and how the rebuilding effort is progressing. To be certain, Haiti has had more than a tough go at things. The earthquake left Port-au-Prince and many cities in ruin, hurricanes flooded and damaged the south, cholera has mercilessly swept through the country leaving Haiti brimming with hardships, anxiety, and uncertainty, and Presidential elections held in November had chaotic outcomes. The entire election swirled with rumors of rampant fraud and ballot-stuffing and most viewed the entire process as illegitimate. When results for the run-off election were announced in December, riots and violence broke out in the streets of Port-au-Prince.

 

By most accounts, the rebuilding effort in Haiti seems stagnant. Tons and tons of rubble still litter Port-au-Prince’s streets, millions struggle to survive in tent cities, a comprehensive reconstruction plan still has not been agreed upon, and millions of dollars in aid money sits in banks. Despite these tough realities and the difficult road that Haiti must journey down, I would like for a moment to stop and offer a glimmer of hope. It seems that despite all this, life in Haiti goes on.

 

In 2010, the Lambi Fund of Haiti witnessed countless stories of heroism, peasant solidarity, recovery, and movements to envision, plan, and work to rebuild Haiti. While much of the media may paint Haitians as helpless victims, nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, it is in the people where Haiti’s strength lies.

 

Immediately following the earthquake, Lambi Fund staff and its local partners were very much in the midst of the disaster. It took an agonizing six days to finally make contact with Lambi Fund staff in Haiti. Fearing the worst, Lambi Fund’s country director, Josette Perard, reported that the office just blocks from the presidential palace was damaged, yet miraculously all staff members were alive and healthy. Everyone though, had lost close friends and family.

 

Lambi Fund quickly sprang to action and thanks to years of working with local grassroots organizations throughout Haiti, it seemed Lambi Fund was uniquely positioned to provide immediate and effective relief. Partnerships with local organizations that Lambi Fund had been developing for over 16 years served as an essential network during this time.

 

Lambi Fund convened regional committees of local grassroots leaders throughout the country to determine immediate and long-term needs. Over a half million earthquake survivors fled Port-au-Prince to stay with friends and family in rural Haiti. Household sizes doubled overnight and for Lambi Fund partners already struggling to survive on less than $2 a day, they did not have the means to provide relief.

 

Based on these discussions, Lambi Fund was able to swiftly distribute emergency grants to 44 grassroots organizations to purchase life essentials like food, water, shelter and medical supplies. In all, 8,000-9,000 people received emergency relief (1,080 families received grants and each family had an average of 8 people).

 

Mr. Josephat, a member of a community organization in the Artibonite, recalled tearfully:

 

"I had 21 people, strangers staying with me and my family. We did not think twice about welcoming them, but we had not yet figured out how they would be cared for or how they would be fed.

 

When we heard about Lambi Fund's program to help impacted families, I was so happy that I cried. I cried because I was touched and shocked that people who had been at the center of this disaster had the time to think about us.

 

I was so proud to be a member of a strong organization, and I really deeply understood why being organized is the path to a better life. We would have been left to our own devices without Lambi Fund's support.

 

The government never came and the NGOs which did drop by brought free food supplies and their methods of distribution stripped us of our dignity."

 

Mr. Josephat's sentiments were echoed throughout discussions with other partner organizations in Haiti.

 

"My name is Ostazia. My husband and I have 10 children and we live in the North West. After the January 12, 2010 earthquake which destroyed Port-au-Prince, our household increased by 10 more people. This was extremely problematic as we did not have the means to care for them. It is thanks to my organization and the Lambi Fund that we got the relief we so desperately needed. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU!"

 

The Next Phase

 

Knowing that food security and restoring livelihoods for the thousands of survivors now living in rural communities would be essential, Lambi Fund’s second phase of relief focused on expanding crop production and the availability of locally produced food. An emergency credit was provided to 1,254 farmers in 41 partner organizations to allow them to purchase more seeds, tools and supplies to increase crop outputs and feed more families.

 

Based on reports from farmers, it is projected that about 10,000 persons benefitted from this program. By all accounts, communities generated bountiful harvests of peas, corn and vegetables for consumption and sale at local markets.

 

In addition, Lambi Fund replenished community microcredit funds to help small business owners purchase more goods and restart their enterprises. Two women’s groups in Port-au-Prince who fight violence against women and provide support for women’s small businesses lost everything in the earthquake. Women and their families have been forced to live in squalid conditions in tent cities. Lambi Fund worked with these women to provide small grants to start small businesses and to send their children back to school.

 

Looking Towards the Future

 

Never before has Lambi Fund faced a disaster of such a daunting magnitude and it is thanks to you and your amazing support in this past year that Lambi Fund was able to mobilize and provide such urgent relief. For an extensive breakdown of Lambi Fund’s earthquake relief, I ask you to read the Earthquake Activities Update on our website www.lambifund.org.

 

Haitian peasants are determined to be part of their country's reconstruction and thanks to previous Lambi Fund organizational development and capacity building — they are organizationally strong and ready to serve as a collected front to implement change.

 

In addition to continuing our support of sustainable economic and environmental activities, Lambi Fund has pledged to amplify the voices of the Haitian people and their determination to be included in this historic moment for nation building in Haiti.

 

In 2011, the Lambi Fund of Haiti is ready to implement the next phases of the Earthquake Recovery Plan:

 

• Increase micro-enterprises with additional community microcredit funds.

• Increase organic, locally-grown food and clean water with expanded sustainable agriculture, reforestation and water access projects.

• Increase livelihoods with expanded sustainable development projects, such as pig and goat breeding, grain mills and sugar cane mills.

• Build latrines to prevent spread of disease and increase sanitation in rural areas, as a result of rapidly growing population.

• Expand women’s program to address the special needs of women (more vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual assault in tent cities but several organized women’s groups are standing up for the rights of women and children).

• Support Policy Advocacy program to express voice of the Haitian people in rebuilding Haiti. As foreign corporations and governments jockey for rebuilding contracts, the Haitian voice has been neglected. Haitians must be involved in all facets of rebuilding.

 

People from rural communities are working together to increase sustainability in their communities and ongoing training in sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, and increasing organizational capacity will be key to long- term success. The Lambi Fund Earthquake Recovery Plan will continue in 2011 and beyond. Rebuilding Haiti is a long-term commitment for the Lambi Fund and we hope that you choose to take this journey with us. With your continued support, Lambi Fund and the people of Haiti can work to achieve sustainable communities and a vibrant Haiti.

 

Looking to the future,

 

Karen Ashmore

Executive Director

Lambi Fund of Haiti

 

 

 

 

July 12, 2010

6 Months Later:

 

An Update on Quake Recovery

 

Today marks the six month anniversary since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12.  By now stories of immense loss and unimaginable damage are well known. Over $8 billion has been pledged in international relief, yet rebuilding continues to be slow. Hundreds of thousands of people still live in tent cities and rubble litters the street. At first glance, it may appear that little or no progress is being made, yet the Lambi Fund of Haiti's unprecedented partnerships with local grassroots organizations throughout Haiti have been yielding significant results for thousands of earthquake survivors.

 

Lambi Fund Supports Local Economy

 

In the immediate weeks following the earthquake, the Lambi Fund activated its key partnerships with local peasant organizations. After convening regional meetings with local grassroots leaders to determine recovery priorities, Lambi Fund disbursed over $700,000 to 43 community organizations. As you can see in the photo on the right, Lambi Fund partner organizations were able to quickly and efficiently distribute emergency recovery funds to its members.

 

These funds supported the local economy when communities purchased needed essentials like locally grown food, clothing, and medical supplies. Women's organizations were able to protect and advocate for women, whose vulnerability increased in the tent cities.

 

Helping Rural Communities

 

Over a half million earthquake survivors who lost everything, fled the city and streamed into rural communities to live with friends and family. Emergency funds to these 

community organizations helped them survive the disaster.

 

Ostazia Ogusrten, a beneficiary of the earthquake recovery program, has 10 children and lives in northwest Haiti with her husband. She explained, "After the Jan. 12 earthquake destroyed Port-au-Prince, our household increased by another 10 people. It is thanks to my community organization and the Lambi Fund of Haiti that we got the relief we so desperately needed. Thank you. Thank you VERY much."

 

Focus on Rebuilding is Critical

 

At the six month milestone, it is important to look forward towards Haiti's future. Much work is left to be done and the Lambi Fund of Haiti continues to urge that rebuilding includeall members of Haitian society, as well as the promotion of local business enterprises and the strengthening of civil society. To learn more about Lambi Fund's long term rebuilding priorities, click here.

 

True to Its Mission

 

The Lambi Fund of Haiti was founded in 1994 by Haitians and North Americans. Its mission is to assist the popular democratic movement in Haiti. The Lambi Fund provides financial resources, training and technical assistance that promotes the social and economic empowerment of the Haitian people.

 

 

Donate Online or PayPal

Or Send a check to:

 

Lambi Fund of Haiti

PO Box 18955

Washington DC 20036

(202)-833-3713

 

 

 

 

1/20/2010

 

Lambi Fund of Haiti has conducted rural meetings with peasants from the 175 rural communities we have worked with over the past 16 years. In our usual bottom-up model, we are asking the peasants for their immediate needs and to prioritize rebuilding efforts. Asking the people what they need — what a concept!

 

As a result, Lambi Fund is implementing a four-phase plan to help cope with this mass exodus:

 

1. Food and emergency essentials to those migrating from Port-au-Prince to rural areas.

2. Repair damage in rural communities

3. Expand sustainable agriculture programs to meet the increased demand for food in rural areas

4. Increase opportunities for sustainable income for those displaced by the earthquake so that the influx of people migrating to countryside can start earning sustainable livelihoods

 

• Specific details for rebuilding:​

  • Provide seeds, tools and equipment for peasant groups to plant more crops to feed local communities.

  • Rebuild grain mills, sugar cane mills, and other economic development community enterprises lost in the earthquake. These buildings are the centers of communities’ economic livelihoods.

  • Recapitalize micro–credit funds run by peasant organizations so that people can replenish and continue their small businesses.

  • Repair rainwater cisterns so people will have a supply of safe drinking water.

  • Plant trees critically needed to stabilize topsoil and prevent mudslides

  • Create strong partnerships with a coalition of like-minded groups working together to rebuild Haiti.

  • Take a leadership role in advocacy for the voice of the people.

 

To help our Haitian neighbors, please donate now or

 

Lambi Fund of Haiti

PO Box 18955

Washington DC 20036

(202)-833-3713

1/20/2010

 

 

 

 

1/13/2010 

The strong 7.3 earthquake that rocked Haiti has left this

impoverished nation in a state of ruin.

 

Nearly every building over one-story has collapsed. The Presidential Palace has collapsed. Schools have fallen, hospitals have fallen, and hotels have fallen. The ministries of finance and other depart-ments, Supreme Court, and Parliament have all collapsed as well.

 

This strong earthquake and its 20+ aftershocks have pounded Haiti and destroyed many of the sus-tainable development projects run by grassroots groups that are partnering with the Lambi Fund of Haiti. Here are our plans for helping communities recover:

 

• The Lambi Fund of Haiti is not a first responder, but a second responder meaning Lambi Fund will be there to help Haiti rebuild long after the relief service providers leave.

• Help members of peasant groups get food and essentials for their families to re-establish their lives.

• Help Lambi Fund field staff replace their belongings (food, clothing, furniture) that were lost in the quake. The sooner we help them get back on their feet, the sooner they can help peasant communities rebuild.

• Recapitalize micro–credit funds run by peasant organizations so that people can replenish and continue their small businesses.

• Rebuild grain mills, sugar cane mills and other economic development community enterprises lost in the earthquake. These buildings are the centers of communities’ economic livelihoods.

• Repair rainwater cisterns so people will have a supply of safe drinking water.

• Help peasant organizations buy goats, pigs, and chickens to replenish livestock. A few animals will quickly reproduce and provide offspring for animal husbandry projects.

 

To help our Haitian neighbors, please donate now!

 

Lambi Fund of Haiti

PO Box 18955

Washington DC 20036

(202)-833-3713