Fonkoze, Fonkoze

Snapshots of rural Haiti

The rice fields of Haiti

This week, I traveled to Limbe for an in-depth orientation to the work of Fonkoze. Limbe is near the northern coast of Haiti, and takes about 5 hours to get to from Port-au-Prince. I was able to attend two client meetings. The Solidarity groups meet twice a month: to make payments on their loans, apply for the next cycle, submit deposits to their savings accounts, and to learn about various topics (literacy, business skills, health). As well, it is a time for them to come together and share their experience. In contrast to my journey to the Dominican border, this trip was very scenic.

Wake Up Call

The morning was off to a bad start. It had rained heavily the night before, making our steep backyard more slippery than usual. It's slippery to start with because the soil is loose, and crumbles beneath your feet. No one else really attempts to navigate it but Eric and I, to walk our dog Lady.

The Future of Dreams

Is this a metaphor or something?

We drive by the Place St. Pierre, and I am surprised by the brown, compacted, desolate parts, where the people have been paid by the mayor to leave (and go where?). The occupied parts are as dense as ever, raggedly concealed from the street. Catching a glimpse through the outer barrier, I see a little open area with children and a woman, crouching down in her underclothes. It is starting to get hot again, but I wonder if she knows she can be seen, whether it even matters in the context of her situation. All these people, so tightly packed together, with crude doors that cannot be locked. Their privacy is violated on an hourly basis.

Update on Eau (Water)

UPDATE Feb 14, 2011: Beatrice Lindstrom, a human rights lawyer who works with the IDP camp population has written a great article on water rights.

I'll be posting again soon.

Darkness and Light in Haiti

Life here is highly regulated by natural light and darkness. I see people moving around in the darkness, walking home along the side of the road, and I think, do they have a light where they are going? Are they afraid of the dark? More than half of Port-au-Prince and 85% of all Haitians lack access to electricity. Electricity is a poorly run state-operated monopoly, Electricité d’Haïti (EdH). For reliable electricity, one must have a generator (which I learned recently cost $800 and up).

Haiti 2.0 Economic Drivers for Growth

Earlier this month World Vision and the Harvard Business School held a workshop on the economic growth in Haiti with Haiti's business leaders. I am happy to share the results of this workshop. Economic growth potential was discussed in the areas of foreign investment banking, import/export, tourism and sustainable employment.