Project Jatropha

 We would like to report that conditions in Haiti are greatly improved and that the people of Haiti are doing much better.  Sadly, this is not the case and living conditions have actually worsened.  When our project partner, Director of Sirona Cares Foundation, Michelle Lacourciere traveled to Port au Prince in August she found huge tent camps throughout the city.  Reporting many people have left the rural areas and have returned to the city looking for a way to survive.  Conditions at these tent camps are worsening with every rain, and hurricane season has started.  Sadly, the camps are also unsafe, particularly for women. She has reported, clean water is still a problem for most people, and waste builds up by the day.  Haiti also is experiencing a cholera epidemic and other health concerns continue to confront the children.   Electricity service in the capital is available only a few hours at night, and in the country there still remains no power for the vast majority of people.  She has also reported that a large amount of the debris in Port au Prince has been removed, but many hazardous buildings are still left leaning over streets.  Although many people around the world are still discussing Haiti, and great sums of money have been spent on the assessment process, things are moving slowly. 

 First Haiti Model:  Change of plan with regard to our school choice:

We are also sad to report that the Mission of Hope School has been severely damaged in the earthquake, but they are working hard to find funding to rebuild.  We have located another school in L’Azile, Haiti; the name of the school is Eglise de Dieu.  It has a population of four hundred children.  There are rivers, so water is no problem for the garden.  We will replicate this project at the Mission of Hope School in Grand Goave once it is rebuilt.  The Eglise de Dieu School survived the earthquake, but classes were held outside through the summer as they reinforced the structure.  The school site has a large garden plot available.  Michelle Lacourciere has spoken with the director of the school about the potential for a garden managed by the students and he was very excited.  L’Azile is very fertile and we are confident that the children would benefit tremendously from the school garden.  The school has many students who walk for miles to attend and they have no official feeding program available. The garden project will be wonderful for them, and local farmers will assist with the garden set-up and training.  The entire community works well together and will support the garden.  The knowledge will definitely benefit the students who can, in turn, take cuttings home and plant these in their own gardens. 

We have provided initial funding in the amount of $300 granted by the Ashoka Youth Venture for the purchase and planting of vegetables that will include:  Beans  ($6 per pot), Corn ($4 per pot), Tomatoes ($4.50), Eggplant ($4), and Cabbage ($3).  *(And other vegetables as available & costs are approximate) Funding will also be provided for garden tools and basic irrigation.

Due to the earthquake, we have found that Haiti is focused on addressing the immediate needs of the people.  We want to provide funds to Sirona Cares Foundation so that they can purchase the plants and school supplies in Haiti, so that the local economy is bolstered (this also eliminates the risk of harming local markets), and we will do our part to support self-reliance.  We support sustainability!

 Next, We will provide funding for the purchase of a selection of school supplies and French reading books.  The conditions at the school are dismal and they will benefit from any basic school supplies that can be provided.

What is Next?

 Our team is hopeful that we will be able to travel to Haiti with Sirona Cares Foundation to visit the schools in late spring or summer of 2011.  We are hoping to coordinate a team from our high school to go and expand planting, improve irrigation, and actually work in the gardens with the children.  We are still committed to education on nutrition, climate change, and other environmental issues and hope to provide the students with appropriate information. We would also like to be there to emphasize to the children how much we truly care about them.

 

Thank you Ashoka Youth Venture for your support and guidance.

 

AYV : Haiti Budget  for Phase I

$300 – Haiti Vegetable Garden

Planting of vegetables that will include:  Beans  ($6 per pot), Corn ($4 per pot), Tomatoes ($4.50), Eggplant ($4), and Cabbage ($3).  *(And other vegetables as available & costs are approximate) Funding will also be provided for garden tools and basic irrigation.