Projects of the Movement in Haiti
How the idea was born…
In 2008 the idea was born to create an organization with legal status for all the activities and projects the Movement is undertaking in Haiti. On March 17, 2010, we received the government’s certificate as a non-profit organization with the name of PACNE (Action contre la pauvreté du nord-est - Association Against Poverty in the North-East). This certificate is extended every two years.
The directors and officers of the association are the Haitian members of the Focolare’s Volunteers branch or close adherents. Wilfrid Joachin is the coordinator. PACNE has set up a commission for the various activities it sponsors: education, Support Bank, construction, housing centre for the poor, adoptions at a distance.
Overview of the projects
Covid-19 Pandemic. Covid-19 entered this country later than it did here. At that time, the pandemic was spreading rapidly, with thousands of cases of infection and dozens of deaths. People were afraid. It reminded them of the cholera epidemic that had come through the country a little earlier, causing many deaths.
Survival from the COVID-19 virus
In addition to economic and political problems, the COVID-19 virus has also affected Haiti. Water sanitation and disinfection project. More on Survival from the COVID-19 virus project.
“Adopt-a-Garden”
Another impact of COVID-19, was the rapid lack of food due to the blockage of the border with the Dominican Republic from where normally many food products are imported, and as you know, the state does not provide any support there and it is impossible to do work remotely. This has caused a sharp increase in prices as well as the 3-month drought experienced last year, many families in our communities in Haiti have found themselves in extremely difficult situations.
The agricultural cooperative came up with this idea to instill a dynamic that would snowball and where people "take back their destiny". They started the "Adopt a Bean Plant" program, which we renamed "Adopt a Garden" to have small vegetable gardens close to the houses, to which the inhabitants would give special care, including water chores. More on "Adopt-a-Garden" project.
Adoptions at a distance
The project consists in sponsoring a child, providing for his/her education and health care according to local standards. Benefactors are currently sponsoring 150 children in Haiti. Sponsors include single people, families and organizations, who pledge $400 CAD a year per child. More on Adoptions at a distance project
Schools
Members of the Movement in Haiti realized that many children were not able to attend school because of the poverty of their parents. They started by giving free lessons in writing and reading to these children. Soon there were five localities where these initiatives grew into regular private schools. More on Schools project.
Support Bank
Many people live in huts scattered throughout the countryside, not always easily accessible. Some are elderly, destitute, sick and have no one to look after them. The groups of the Focolare support them out of their own meager resources: bringing them food, cleaning their huts, bringing them to the hospital if needed and serving them in other concrete ways. More on Support Bank project.
Scholarships
Some of the poor but gifted young people that finished our schools have received a scholarship for university studies.
They desire to put their knowledge at the service of their country, above all in the field of agriculture, in order to help the numerous small farmers to produce food in a more efficient way. More on Scholarships project
Housing for the poor
The project for a housing center in Savanette (Mont-Organisé) was proposed by the members of the Focolare in Haiti in December 2009. It was meant to provide housing for Haitians living in poverty, abandoned and in need of daily care. More on Housing for the poor project.
Repatriation shelter
The Focolare Movement is active in the North-Eastern part of Haiti, along the border with the Dominican Republic. Because of the great poverty in Haiti, many Haitians are illegally crossing the border in search of work. These migrants are sent back to Haiti with nothing. Therefore, they are totally destitute. A few years ago, the city of Mont-Organisé built a shelter to allow them to stay for one or two days once they have crossed the border back to Haiti. More on Repatriation shelter project.
These are but the main activities that the Focolare has in the North East region. But the Movement is also present in other parts of the country: in Port-de-Paix, Port-au-Prince, Jérémie and throughout the countryside. Wherever people come in contact with its spirituality, they become aware of the necessities and needs of their neighbours and try to help them.
Anybody who desires to help alleviate the poverty of the people living in Haiti can do so by making a donation.
Any donation, small or large, makes a big difference for the people there.
