Hurricane Relief and a New Relationship with The Debley Foundation
Written by Lindsey Walker
Last year, Haiti was hit by a series of devastating storms in a hurricane season that would go on record as one of the most expensive and fatal in recent decades. While the projects already completed by Roots of Development, and the community of Gran Sous, remained unharmed, families across La Gonave saw their homes, gardens, and livestock washed away. A young organization was about to face new challenges in the wake of natural disaster. Though new to the process of emergency relief, members of the community organization KODAG assessed the damage, and worked with Roots to form a plan for reconstruction. Both groups began examining how this new facet of need would fit into the organization’s primary goal of sustainable development. Questions arose such as how replacement of livestock might be equitably distributed in a way that would not disturb the local ecological or economic climate.
Today, walking through the hillside of La Gonave, one can see the signs of hurricane relief efforts that have been underway over the course of the past year. Three families previously left living in dilapidated, substandard structures, now go about their daily activities once again- making a life for themselves and their family members. Daily life has resumed and each one of those families whose homes were replaced trusts that if, or, more likely, when another storm hits, the structure they call home will stand firm and unthreatened.
Impressed with the success of these efforts The Debley Foundation of Atlanta, Georgia, has stepped in to partner with Roots of Development in completing the hurricane relief efforts. Three (of seven) homes were built using donations from our individual donor base, and the remaining four are now under construction thanks to a grant from The Debley Foundation. “A house that is being built by Roots of Development not only provides shelter [for a single family], but a sense of security [for an entire community],” offered Anna Pless, a board member of the foundation.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
September 2009 Newsletter
Spin Your Wheels for Healthcare in Haiti
Written by Jennifer Applegate
Fundraising efforts are in full force amongst Roots members and cyclists alike as anticipation of the Roots Health Ride for Haiti grows. Meeting the $10,000 goal for the event will allow Roots of Development to effectively begin our healthcare project on the island of La Gonave. In a country where diarrhea and gastroenteritis (your basic stomach flu) are the second leading cause of death, the need for a sustainable healthcare system could not be more evident.
Currently, the Haitian infant mortality rate is 80 per 1,000 live births, in contrast to the U.S. rate of only 8 per 1,000 live births. When the Roots health care team visited Gran Sous, a small village on the island of La Gonave, in April 2009, they learned that about 90% of women give birth in their homes. The local midwives expressed their desire to learn more about how to help mothers during the birthing process; specifically what to do when something goes wrong.
World Vision, a humanitarian charitable organization, currently employs one part-time doctor in Gran Sous. This lone doctor is responsible for serving over 3,000 people in the community. Consequently, not everyone can access the medical care he provides. Roots hopes to improve the community’s accessibility to the local doctor and help expand his medical resources.
Marian Bissonnette, a member of the Roots Advisory Board and Health Ride Chairperson, traveled to Haiti with a health team this past spring. During the team’s time on La Gonave, the Haitians shared with them many stories about the current state of healthcare in the community. Many community members expressed their interest in gaining access to healthcare education, and discussed how important such knowledge would be in helping them improve particular areas of healthcare, such as midwifery. “We are actively working with Haitian committee members to see how we can support them, with their ideas, in making connections to promote sustainable healthcare through education and practices,” explained Marian. Roots now hopes to help the community turn their healthcare ideas into tangible solutions.
In order to raise funds and awareness for the current health crisis on La Gonave, Roots of Development is holding the 1st Annual Health Ride for Haiti on September 20th. Cyclists and their families will enjoy a day’s worth of events complete with refreshments and raffle prizes. The grand prize is a three-night stay at the Brezavar Bed and Breakfast in Manhattan, and will be awarded to the cyclist who raises the most money for the ride.*
For those who can travel to Mansfield, Connecticut, strap on your helmets and register for the Health Ride for Haiti, at http://www.rootsofdevelopment.dojiggy.com/. Cyclists and their families will enjoy a fun and healthy day outside in the midst of gorgeous countryside. The cyclists will pedal along winding paths through the hills of rural New England, ending where they began at E.O. Smith High School.
For supporters that prefer not to take the 20 or 40-mile challenge, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Children, and those out for a relaxing ride, can partake in the 4.5-mile course. Kids can then spin their wheels through face painting booths and brightly colored balloons.
At the finish line, cyclists will ride through the health fair portion of the event. All of the booths will be sponsored by local “mom and pop” stores in and around the town of Mansfield. “We want to provide an advertising opportunity for the small neighborhood stores, particularly in this time of economic struggle, and educate cyclists about the healthy alternatives offered right in their own town,” stated Marian.
Those of us unable to hoist our bikes into overhead compartments to join the cyclists in Mansfield on the morning of September 20th can still offer our support. Aspiring cyclists and non-riders alike, should visit http://www.rootsofdevelopment.dojiggy.com/ to find out how you can have a part in the Health Ride for Haiti festivities. Product and service donations, as well as cyclist sponsorships can all be made directly online. There are also opportunities for particularly dedicated organizations to match funds raised for the event. So let’s all tap different resources and see how we can do our part to support sustainable healthcare in Gran Sous. Remember, “Men anpil chay pa lou- Many hands make the load lighter.”
* Participating members of the Bissonnette family are not eligible for the grand prize.
September 2009 Newsletter
An Interview With This Newsletter's Star Volunteer, Peter Jacques
Interviewed and written by Bianca Bidiuc
“I am just one spoke on the wheel”, says Peter Jacques, a volunteer and supporter of Roots of Development. “We need all the spokes on the wheel to do their part.” His words are a reflection of his involvement with Roots and also of his philosophy for “healing the world one person at a time.”
Peter, a lifelong resident of Connecticut, owns Hop River Concrete, a construction company in Columbia, CT. He has quite a deep connection to Roots, having known founder Chad Bissonnette’s family for 35 years. He feels he can continue to fulfill his life’s mission by “helping Chad to live his life in mission.” By combining the resources
of his business with a commitment to “making an impact in the world by paying it forward,” Peter has not only supported Roots through monetary donations, but also allowed Roots to store the tools collected during the recent tool drives on his company's property. He has also provided a truck for transporting the tools to the port from which they will be shipped to Haiti.
When Peter first heard about the lack of fundamental resources in Haiti, like clean drinking water, it had an immediate impact on him. Since then, his commitment to the people of La Gonave, Haiti, has only gotten stronger. He passionately believes in doing things for “the greater good, instead of for the greater almighty dollar;” stating, “If people do what they can, and it doesn’t have to be a lot, it will help create a better world for others.”
Interviewed and written by Bianca Bidiuc
“I am just one spoke on the wheel”, says Peter Jacques, a volunteer and supporter of Roots of Development. “We need all the spokes on the wheel to do their part.” His words are a reflection of his involvement with Roots and also of his philosophy for “healing the world one person at a time.”
Peter, a lifelong resident of Connecticut, owns Hop River Concrete, a construction company in Columbia, CT. He has quite a deep connection to Roots, having known founder Chad Bissonnette’s family for 35 years. He feels he can continue to fulfill his life’s mission by “helping Chad to live his life in mission.” By combining the resources
of his business with a commitment to “making an impact in the world by paying it forward,” Peter has not only supported Roots through monetary donations, but also allowed Roots to store the tools collected during the recent tool drives on his company's property. He has also provided a truck for transporting the tools to the port from which they will be shipped to Haiti.
When Peter first heard about the lack of fundamental resources in Haiti, like clean drinking water, it had an immediate impact on him. Since then, his commitment to the people of La Gonave, Haiti, has only gotten stronger. He passionately believes in doing things for “the greater good, instead of for the greater almighty dollar;” stating, “If people do what they can, and it doesn’t have to be a lot, it will help create a better world for others.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 2009 Newsletter
An Interview with Mitchell Howard Saint-Luc, a resident of Gran Sous and member of KODAG.
As translated by Mara Hiley Chery
Why did you decide to join KODAG?
I decided to join KODAG because it’s working for the development and advancement of Gran Sous, just as it says in its name KODAG (Komite pou Devlopman ak Avansman Gransous/Committee for the Development and Advancement of Gran Sous). And, another reason is because of the humanitarian aspect of its work.
How would you describe your experience in KODAG?
The experience has been extraordinary for me because, for the first time in my life, I feel as though I’m doing something that can help change the lives of a lot of people. In general, people find motivation in their work because it provides them with money, but in my case I was surprised to see a group of people (KODAG), with problems of their own, comfortably working—even though it wouldn’t give them money.
What did you learn about “community” in KODAG?
I’ve learned that community comes from a group of people who need to believe in the work they’re doing. When you have great faith, you find motivation to convince others, to engage others in your work. Every day, as more and more work is being done, people can become discouraged when they don’t yet see the fruits of their labor. When people see their vision become a reality you find that you don’t need to do much else [to convince them to join you] because the people really want to work.
This is why I say you need to have great faith because people can discourage you with their words when they don’t see your ideas becoming a reality.
Since the formation of KODAG, what changes have you seen occur in Gran Sous?
The people are now more motivated to work because they’ve seen the results they can have through KODAG. It is clear to them now that they are able to realize a lot of dreams when they come together with discipline.
Are there people from other communities that would like to join [KODAG]?
Because they’ve seen the results of our work and what can happen when we come together, they not only want to join us but they have begun to ask us to open KODAG so that it works for the entire island of La Gonave. They have also begun to submit projects for us to do in their areas.
Ah, that’s good. So one day [KODAG] could begin to develop La Gonave?
That is KODAG’s biggest dream.
What do you remember most about your time in KODAG?
What I remember most is the large amount of effort you have to put into convincing people to work with you in the beginning, when they don’t yet see what it is you are talking to them about. Then it became easier to ask them to do more of the work we wanted them to do, as they saw what we were talking to them about in the beginning become a reality.
What efforts did you make to convince others [of the importance of that work]?
You need to invest all you have to convince people in these kinds of activities. I mean, your time, your strength, your intelligence, your money, etc. That was what we all did in the committee (KODAG), every member.
In general, with this kind of work, you need the strength of the people to work beside you. In order to convince them to work you not only need to speak to them a lot, but to also lead by example, by doing the same work that you’ve asked of them. You need them to carry rocks—carry the rocks yourself too.
For a new project this will be truly easy because they have seen the results of their work.
They have faith now.
What made you believe in KODAG when you had not yet seen the results it could have?
I am a little different in this case. I can see what most cannot. I am a positive man. I am a fan of change. I believe in this a lot.
As translated by Mara Hiley Chery
Why did you decide to join KODAG?
I decided to join KODAG because it’s working for the development and advancement of Gran Sous, just as it says in its name KODAG (Komite pou Devlopman ak Avansman Gransous/Committee for the Development and Advancement of Gran Sous). And, another reason is because of the humanitarian aspect of its work.
How would you describe your experience in KODAG?
The experience has been extraordinary for me because, for the first time in my life, I feel as though I’m doing something that can help change the lives of a lot of people. In general, people find motivation in their work because it provides them with money, but in my case I was surprised to see a group of people (KODAG), with problems of their own, comfortably working—even though it wouldn’t give them money.
What did you learn about “community” in KODAG?
I’ve learned that community comes from a group of people who need to believe in the work they’re doing. When you have great faith, you find motivation to convince others, to engage others in your work. Every day, as more and more work is being done, people can become discouraged when they don’t yet see the fruits of their labor. When people see their vision become a reality you find that you don’t need to do much else [to convince them to join you] because the people really want to work.
This is why I say you need to have great faith because people can discourage you with their words when they don’t see your ideas becoming a reality.
Since the formation of KODAG, what changes have you seen occur in Gran Sous?
The people are now more motivated to work because they’ve seen the results they can have through KODAG. It is clear to them now that they are able to realize a lot of dreams when they come together with discipline.
Are there people from other communities that would like to join [KODAG]?
Because they’ve seen the results of our work and what can happen when we come together, they not only want to join us but they have begun to ask us to open KODAG so that it works for the entire island of La Gonave. They have also begun to submit projects for us to do in their areas.
Ah, that’s good. So one day [KODAG] could begin to develop La Gonave?
That is KODAG’s biggest dream.
What do you remember most about your time in KODAG?
What I remember most is the large amount of effort you have to put into convincing people to work with you in the beginning, when they don’t yet see what it is you are talking to them about. Then it became easier to ask them to do more of the work we wanted them to do, as they saw what we were talking to them about in the beginning become a reality.
What efforts did you make to convince others [of the importance of that work]?
You need to invest all you have to convince people in these kinds of activities. I mean, your time, your strength, your intelligence, your money, etc. That was what we all did in the committee (KODAG), every member.
In general, with this kind of work, you need the strength of the people to work beside you. In order to convince them to work you not only need to speak to them a lot, but to also lead by example, by doing the same work that you’ve asked of them. You need them to carry rocks—carry the rocks yourself too.
For a new project this will be truly easy because they have seen the results of their work.
They have faith now.
What made you believe in KODAG when you had not yet seen the results it could have?
I am a little different in this case. I can see what most cannot. I am a positive man. I am a fan of change. I believe in this a lot.
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