HAITI Displaced Families Works Project

HAITI Displaced Families Works Project

Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by Tim Stoner in Blog, Justice

I share this post with those of you who are interested in earthquake relief that builds self-worth, strengthens broken infrastructures, protects from dependency and, best of all, is amazingly simple. It was sent to me by Ted Boers, a friend who is successful businessman and has been working in Haiti for several years in land development and job creation for the poor. He is an entrepreneur and a man of intergrity and compassion. He has access to a 15 mile stretch of coastline in Northwest Haiti and is proposing a remarkably practical project to assist the families fleeing from the capitol.
(By the way, Nouveau Kiskeya means “New Haiti” in Creole. If you look to the top of the map pf Haiti and see a thin island off the northern coastline (Tortuga Island), the property is directly beneath it on a westrely diagonal.)
 Dear Friends,

For the past week we have been brainstorming on how we can use our connections and resources in Northwest Haiti to respond to the current crisis.  The crisis, which started in Port-au-Prince (PAP), is now moving into the countryside as thousands of people are leaving PAP where they no longer feel safe.  Many are leaving PAP with little more than the clothes on their back.  As of last Sunday, we had already identified 1020 families in the immediate vicinity of our land development project, who were hosting refugee families from PAP.  Unfortunately the host families do not have the resources to help their friends and relatives from PAP.  In addition, it will take a while before the relief agencies can reach out to the countryside since they are focused on PAP.

Our plan of action, which will create relief and jobs at the same time, is as follows:  

1. Through the Nouveau Kiskeya Foundation, our non-profit arm, we will hire as many people as we can afford to do public works projects in the Nouveau Kiskeya neighborhood.  (Think FDR and the WPA)

2.The first project will be to hand dig water retention canals in a flood plain near a 3000 acre agricultural area.  This project will prevent erosion and the retained water will be used for crop irrigation, watering animals and household use, other than drinking water.  This project will benefit hundreds of local farmers and increase food production.

 3. Priority hiring will be offered to refugee families and families who are hosting refugee families.

4. Workers will work on a contract basis which will allow them to earn $100 in 10 days.  This represents a very fair wage for the area.

5. Robert Ulysse, our Haitian partner, will be supervising the hiring and the work project.  Since we have had as many as 1000 workers working on the NK project in the past, he knows how to do that.

Our goal is to raise $100,000.  We have already raised $10,000.  This means that 100 refugees will be able to start work on Monday.  If we raise the full $100,000 we will be able to hire 250 refugee workers for two months giving them a chance to resettle their family during these difficult times.

To accomplish this goal we need your help.  If you are willing and able to support this effort, please send your tax-deductible contribution to the address listed below.  If you would be willing to forward this note to others who may want to help, please do so.

These are truly amazing times.  I do not think the world yet fully comprehends the scope of this crisis.  Thank you for your consideration as we try to reach out in Jesus name to help families resettle under these very difficult circumstances.

If you have any questions feel free to call me at 616.443.7066.

Ted

Please mail your support contribution to:

Nouveau Kiskeya Foundation

2600 Five Mile Road NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

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One Response to “HAITI Displaced Families Works Project”

  1. Tim Stoner

    12. Feb, 2010

    To all Friends of the Nouveau Kiskeya Foundation

    Today is the one month anniversary of the Haiti earthquake.

    Because of your generosity we were able to put over 100 people to work on February 1. All of our workers are refugees from Port-au-Prince or represent families that are hosting refugees from Port-au-Prince. Robert tells me that people are continuing to pour into the area and no one is talking about going back to Port-au-Prince. So the need to provide jobs to support these families will continue.

    Today we will be wrapping up our first project. As a result of this project there will be almost 3000 feet of feeder canals that will channel rainwater into two large retention ponds. Each pond is 435 feet long by 40 feet wide by 5 feet deep. Together these ponds can hold 1.3 million gallons of water that will be used for crop irrigation. I am attaching a picture that will give you some idea of what these holding ponds will look like. The availability of water for irrigation will substantially increase the local farmers ability to grow food for the people in this area. Again, thanks for helping make this possible.

    Monday we will be starting project #2 which will duplicate project #1 in a different area. We currently have enough funding to keep about 100 workers employed through the end of March. If you or anyone you know would like to help us expand this project, please direct your tax deductible contributions to the address below.

    Thanks for your partnership,

    Ted

    Nouveau Kiskeya Foundation
    2600 Five Mile Road
    Grand Rapids, MI 49525

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