DGES, International

In Memory of

2012-01-12T20:10:00.000-08:00

Haiti's Angels, just hours before

Time it seems is not linear.
We hang onto elements of the past carrying them with us and looping back to them whether we remember them or not. They haunt us, teach us, protect us and intimidate us. The future tantalizes us, filling us with dread or hope depending on our perspective.
What makes humanity worth saving?
When we see hopeless conditions, manifestations of our potential evil, anger, neglect, hate, greed, and the despair left in its wake, it is hard to believe that humanity can be saved. Power can corrupt, but through powerful positive leadership, great growth and change can happen.
The second anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti is upon us and the media tells us that Haiti is a mess. Little progress has been made and blame is abundant. Tragedy does sell news. I often wonder what percentage of journalists "made" their careers with a positive story. It is usually triumph over tragedy.
Haiti hasn't triumphed yet. That will still take some time but great progress has been made. As we loop back in time blaming, angry, frustrated we need to check our perspective.
January 12th, 2010 at 4:53PM, that perspective for many Haitians was "Fen mond lan" "The end of the World". From that perspective, Haiti has come a long way. We were millions of people caught in hell, desperately looking for the exit. With cell phones and radio's useless, there was no hope of a helping hand from the outside. Haitians are survivors. They have survived hundreds of years and that survival is based on their human compassion. It is "the miracle" that saved most of us that night, on into the days after and is still what drives them to keep finding hope for a thriving future. The majority of Haitians keep helping each other despite the darker elements of society. Those dark elements are not just those who have turned on their brethren but parasitic aid organizations that are milking the situation for money, self satisfaction and illegal activities (pedophilia and slavery are apparently common, but still rarely exposed).
The earthquake scars run deep. It will be at least a 100 years before they fade from view, but never from memory. In San Francisco we still talk about the 1906 quake that leveled the city. The remnants are only in museums, but we are still doing retrofit upgrades yearly. Haitians too will always look back, remembering where they were, telling stories about ancestors, and with great hope...how life after progressively improved. It has to be an evolution of progressive change for it to last. Otherwise, 25 years from now the NGO's will be gone and everything will be in need of repair. A cyclical pattern all to common throughout the developing world. Haitians want to change the pattern. But will we let them....?

It is one of my biggest regrets that I live in a greedy world in which children die because of the lack of everyday items like food,water and basic medical care. I have watched so many children die, slow painful deaths while on the same planet I witness transplants for chihuahua's wearing diamonds. It is considered malpractice for me to turn my back on a pet in America. And the children of Africa......well "That's too bad, but what can we do?" is a common response. As we watch the Occupy movement grow across the globe I find myself asking again if we can really save humanity. As our populations continue to swell, our mere 7 billion of today will appear to be but a minor rash on the earth. Do we need an antidote?...like the one that set back the dinosaurs... or are we capable of higher reasoning, selflessness and control. Can we bring our presence on earth forward to a point of equilibrium in which we can all thrive in harmony? I have to see the glass as half full and time as non linear, because hope is as vital as food and water. The rest will eventually be either history or wondrous tales shared for generations.
Where does the line of time take us? Straight along the ruler's edge, drawn by an analyst or through the wavy lines of progressive evolution?
The analysts say that Haiti's main concerns are: "Where did all the money go?"; housing the homeless; cholera; education.
When I ask the Haitians what their main concerns are: Jobs; food security, education for their children.
Should the question be "Are we there yet?" or should we forever be "Building back better"? To achieve the later we need to be building choices back into people's lives and helping them gain the confidence to make choices. Living those choices is where hopes thrives.

Press Release: Second Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti

2011-12-31T12:34:00.000-08:00

Press Release: Second Anniversary ofthe Earthquake in Haiti

How People from the SF Bay Area areHaving an Impact

Topics: Haiti, Bay Area, Poverty & Hunger,Sustainable Development, Alternative & Sustainable Energy, Agribusiness, Entrepreneurialism,Women in Business, Women & Children, Human Interest, Book Release, Coffee.

The Bay Area Haiti Network is an informal network of Bay Area residents whohave a connection with Haiti and wish to share their experiences with others inan effort to increase efficiency. Thegroup meets for potlucks several times a year to meet new participants, seekadvice on problems needing solutions, share ideas and to collaborate. Several projects have arisen as a result ofthese gatherings and many Haitians have benefited.

The BAHN maintains a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bahaitinetworkfor members to share what they are doing and to invite new participants

The following is a list of some of our members and abrief description of what they are doing. They are available for interviews. We could also arrange a gathering for thegroup to come together. We allunderstand the tremendous value and need to keep the awareness of Haiti’splight active in the public’s mind. Many organizations have left Haiti oncetheir funding drew them to new programs while many others are committed toseeing change happen and to help Haiti succeed. Below are some very interestingapproaches that continue to contribute to Haiti’s growth. Please feel free tocontact us.

Ì Gusner Anezil-anezil@att.net; (707) 779-2450

Gusner came to the group after the earthquake, desperate to find a way tohelp his fellow Haitians. Afterlistening to the stories shared by others, he and several of his friendscreated Vision Pour Enfants (visionpourenfants.org) whose goals are as follows(from their website):
• The first objective is to take abandoned children off the streets
and give them a befitting home.
• Education is the best investment in children. The mission is
determined to help the children as far as they want go to in their pursuit ofacademic excellence
• To create a safe and beneficial environment for children to grow in
that is an alternative to the foster care system or private adoption.
• To protect the children from being targeted by human traffickers who
may sell them into slavery and or prostitution.
• To educate them so they can be assured a future and be able to
function independently.
Email: visionpourenfants@aol.com
Po Box 23243, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phones: 916-640-9272 / 707-319-4926,
Fax 925-891-4275

Lisa McFadin
in SF at 415.297.4293. In Haiti at 509 3170 4328.
bidcheck@aol.com or greenvenues@yahoo.com

Lisa McFadin traveled to Haiti in March 2010, shortly after thedevastating earthquake in Haiti. Lisa McFadin, president and founder ofGreen Venues based in SF and Haiti, focuses on sustainable enterprises andentrepreneurial training. Her experience as a women business owner andher in sustainable construction and architecture led her to the country toassist with the rebuilding efforts.

Green Venues co-produced the Haiti Huddle SF 2010, a conferenceenvisioned to bring small to medium NGO's and companies together to help formmeaningful collaborations and to keep the focus on Haiti. Green Venueshas worked in Haiti now for almost 2 years, and has met with over 110 communityleaders to create an awareness program for plastic collection and environmentalclean up. The program called HEAR Haiti is a sustainable business modeldesigned to prosper from plastic and create much needed jobs. Currently, 10kiosks and one main collection center are being built in the Martissant area ofPAP and will create about 2000 jobs. This program is a partnershipbetween USAID and the Haitian Government and is endorsed by the Minister ofEnvironment. There are plans for at least another 500 kiosks in themetropolitan area to set the infrastructure and a future plan once this isproven, to decentralize and place plastic collection points throughout thecountryside. One of the most important aspects of these programs is the basicbusiness training and sustained entrepreneurial support that is included in theprogram.

In addition to the HEAR Haiti program, Green Venues is supportinglocal artisans and community sports programs including bringing baseball toHaiti.

Our objectives:

· Focusing on culturallyappropriate solutions for and by Haitians

· Rebuilding anenvironmentally, socially and economically sustainable Haiti

· Working in partnerships toaccelerate and sustain change and development

· Participating in issuefocused dialogue to work toward synergistic solutions that maximize impact and valuefor stakeholders and the Haitian people

· Community building

Lisa will be in Haiti to honor the second anniversary of theearth quake and will be available for on the ground reporting from January 9thuntil January 15th, 2012

Websites - Green Venues - www.greenvenues.biz and www.hearhaiti.com

Michelle Lacourciere –
mlacourciere@sironacares.org

Recent article about her work in Haiti creating jobs and alternative energysources: http://www.worldmag.com/articles/article.cfm?eid=AFCF770C-0340-66E8-12C812F01F650CFB

Ì PamelaKeenan, Director of Development

WhatIf? Foundation

www.whatiffoundation.org

pamela@whatiffoundation.org

510-528-1100

The What If? Foundation, based in Berkeley, CA, haspartnered with members of the Ti Plas Kazo community in Port-au-Prince toprovide food and educational opportunities to impoverished children since 2000.Their Haitian partners used earthquake relief funds to distribute food, waterand other emergency supplies to thousands just days after the January 12, 2010,and to many more throughout 2010. They provided more than 750,000 hot,nutritious meals to hungry children and some adults through their food programin 2010. They also continued to run their well-established schoolscholarship, summer camp and after-school programs, all of which providecritical educational opportunities to hundreds of children each year.

In 2011, the number of meals served at the foodprogram that the What If? Foundation funds gradually declined, as people movedout of neighborhood tent camps and/or found ways to support themselves andtheir families. By December 2011, the cooking team were serving about 5,000meals per week to hungry children and some adults. The What If? Foundation isgrateful that the food and education programs it funds continue to offerchildren and their families critical support, and hope and opportunity for abetter future. They are committed to working with its Haitian partners tosupport these programs for as long as there is a need for them. They are alsoin the process of moving forward with plans to build a quality school for thepoor on land they purchased in the Ti Plas Kazo of Port-au-Prince.

Ì AnnieBlackstone:
ablackstone@sionfonds.org

Sionfonds for Haiti was founded in 2004,by Guesno Mardy and Annie Blackstone. Their experiences in Haiti, as theDirector of Foyer De Sion Orphanage, and as an adoptive parent
(Annie), inspired them to work to prevent children from becomingorphans. Many families are forced to give up their children because they do nothave the means to feed or educate them. Sionfonds fights against poverty,malnutrition, lack of education, health care, and opportunity that tearsfamilies apart. Guesno and Annie knew that, with a minimal amount ofassistance, many Haitian families would not face the heartbreaking decision togive up their children. Sionfonds first began with two schools, then three, nowfour. All our projects, including schools, sponsorships, the sewing school forwomen, a goat giving program, medical trips, and a nursing program, grew fromthe needs expressed to us by Haitian families. Sionfonds is a Haitianorganization in Haiti working from within the communities we serve.

http://www.sionfondsforhaiti.org/

Ì MyriamKaplan-Pasternak DVM
myriamsemail@gmail.com

www.Dgesinternational.blogspot.com
707.953.0980

Myriamhas been working in developing agricultural entrepreneurialism in Haiti for thelast 5 years. She and her family were inHaiti during the earthquake and also during the cholera riots. Her work as anagricultural consultant (through USAID’s Farmer to Farmer program) for MakoutiAgro Entreprise ( a Haitian agribusiness) takes her all over Haiti working toimprove food production and incomes. Rabbit meat production has been theprimary focus of her work. Survey data done by USAID’s Farmer to Farmer staffhas shown that rabbit producers are earning and average of $840 per year inprofit, 70% now have their children in school and can pay tuition and feel lessstressful about the future. Makouti has also developed a nationwide beekeepingprogram and is expanding into coffee and goats.

In2011, Myriam and fellow BAHN member Yves Gourdet started Haiti Coffee, a localcorporation which imports Haitian green coffee beans and sells them via theinternet; www.haiticoffee.com. Theyare currently shipping in 45,000 pounds of new beans, assisting over 5000Haitian families. It is believed that coffee has the potential to be 40% ofHaiti’s GNP and a truly sustainable way to rebuild the economy and theenvironment. (a google search of Haitian Coffee yields many recent articles)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/north_bay&id=7895175

http://www.dges.org/articles.htm

http://devilsgulchranch.com/articles.htm

EthanCasey :

ethan@ethancasey.com
(206)226-0509

Author and journalist is publishing abook about his adventures in Haiti,

datingback to 1982, when he first went there with his father at age sixteen. Bearing theBruise: A Lifetime in Haiti to be published in spring 2012.
” Haiti is a place for big questions. I’ve been trying to understand it fornearly thirty years, and its politics, history, and culture have many twistsand turns that are still opaque to me. But one thing I know is that anythingthat’s true of Haiti is true of the world as a whole. And that’s a truth that’snot complicated at all, only hard to swallow. We deny it because it’s lesspainful – in the short run – to avert our eyes”

http://www.ethancasey.com/books/bearing-the-bruise/

Ì JessicaJaswal
ucd.director@uchaiti.org
UC Haiti Initiative- Projects involving students from the University ofCalifornia campuses.
UCHI Mission Statement: TheUC Haiti Initiative partners with the State University of Haiti (UEH) tostrengthen public higher education and enable local capacity in the sustainabledevelopment of Haiti.
Project Update: The 10 UCHI campus chaptersare actively recruiting graduate students for section director positions forthe agronomy and environmental sciences, engineering, economic development, lawand social justice, and health fields. These directors would work onco-implementing and leading sustainable projects with UEH student leaders.

Formore information or to get involved: marketing@uchaiti.org or ucd.director@uchaiti.org

JessicaVapnek

Monica Underwood

TetraTech DPK

PROJUSTICEProject

jessica.vapnek@tetratech.com

monica.underwood@tetratech.com

AtTetra Tech DPK in San Francisco, Jessica and Monica manage a

justicesector improvement project in Haiti funded by the US Agency

forInternational Development. The project started in 2009 and will

endin 2014. It works in Port-au-Prince, in particular poor areas such

asCité Soleil and Martissant, providing free legal assistance; educating

thepopulation about their legal rights and how to access them; training

communityorganizations (including in the displaced persons’ camps) on

mediationto reduce the number of cases entering the court system;

workingwith courts to improve case processing; interviewing detainees

inprison who have been imprisoned without seeing a judge or beyond

thelength of their sentence; assisting the Government of Haiti in

improvingthe capacity and efficiency of justice sector institutions;

advisingon improving legislation governing legal processes; and training

judges and courtstaff to improve the administration of justice.

Travel Checklist: Item 1. A sense of humor

2011-11-14T18:32:00.001-08:00

Its been a very long day after riding the red eye in a bad seat and no sleep, but I am in Haiti finally and excited about being invited by the Clinton Foundation to attend the Coffee Summit in Furcy, Haiti. Both Yves and I are here with Papy and Robenson who have been helping us with coffee procurement. Tomorrow we head up the mountain to Furcy.
Tonight we are staying in Le Rendez Vous 33 Hotel. It really is a very nice simple hotel at $60 a night. It has internet and remote controlled air conditioning and a tiny discotheque that is pitch black with wall to wall mirrors. My Haitian friends once told me that all discotheques are pitch black and secluded in Haiti. It comes from the slavery days when they could only dance in secret in the dark of night. The mirrors on the other hand baffle me as you can't see anything in the room. Maybe a light ball sneaks out once in a while?
The rooms in this hotel don't have numbered doors. Instead each room is named after something sexual. I am in room Sensation. Across the hall is Satisfaction. My colleagues are in Orgasme, the red room. All the furniture and carpet is flame red. It must be tought o sleep in that room. Down the hall we have Point G (french for G spot) and Germe (French for sperme). I haven't braved around the other corner yet.
My room is on the yet to be remolded list. The walls are green, the carpet , yes flame red and the head board and lounge chair are black. In the bathroom the soap is red and there is no mirror. Not to worry about my morning routine though. I have 4 mirrors on the ceiling.
I suspect that after surviving the earthquake, which many hotels did not, it became more profitable to rent these precious rooms by the night than by the hour.

Time to turn on the new flat screen and while away a 3 hour time change.