Meet the volunteers!

We'd like to think that Sustain Haiti is an equal partnership between Haitian and foreign volunteers, but really, it's the Haitians who run the show. Rony Charles, our in-country manager, is the impetus behind just about everything that Sustain Haiti does. And he's not alone. Meet the rest of SH's full-time Haitian volunteers, who provide the brains, muscle and language skills for everything Sustain Haiti accomplishes. 

Junior Senécharles is our Agricultural Coordinator, which means that he directs, coordinates, and plans for the organization’s planting and gardening, poultry, and other agricultural projects. He and his wife Saskya have three children, with one on the way. Although he lost his home and his job in the earthquake, he still has an unquestionably positive outlook on life and strongly believes in the importance of Sustain Haiti’s projects.  Junior currently works as a motorcycle taxi driver, but he donates the great majority of his time to working with Sustain Haiti. He is expert at both teaching agricultural classes and working in the gardens themselves. He's got a killer jumpshot, absolutely contagious laughter, and enough popularity in and around Leogane that one wouldn't be surprised to see him elected mayor... or President one day, for that matter. Junior pou pwezidan!

Fritz Gérald Février is 24 years old.  He graduated from a private high school in Léogâne and has since taken some university-level classes in Port-au-Prince.  He is currently volunteering full-time for his second year with Sustain Haiti and plans to continue pursuing his education in the United States.  Along with Junior, Fritz Gérald is Sustain Haiti’s other Agricultural Coordinator, and has much experience with planting and gardening. He is especially excited about taking the reins on our pilot poultry program. Fritz Gérald’s knowledge of English also enables him to serve as a translator for business and health seminars, orphanage programs, and any other situation in which the American volunteers interact with local community members.  His care and concern for others and his willingness to help out whenever needed make him well-loved by all at Sustain Haiti.  Fritz Gérald would like to obtain a university education in medicine and return to Haiti to work as a doctor, helping and serving his fellow countrymen by administering to their medical needs.

Roody Février is 25 years old. Like his brother Fritz Gérald, he attended high school in Léogâne, has taken some university classes in Port-au-Prince, and is hoping to further his education in the United States. This is Roody’s first year as a volunteer with Sustain Haiti. His willingness to help out in whatever way he is needed is remarkable; like his brother, he speaks English very well and is able to serve as a translator in any and all situations.  Consequently, he often attends the business and health classes to help with interpreting, and also frequently helps out with orphanage programs.  He is very knowledgeable and willing to work hard, but he is best loved for his loyal and trusting attitude. Roody wants to study law so that he can return to Haiti to work as a lawyer, helping build his country’s judicial system and protecting the rights of the innocent. He also has more knowledge of music than anyone I've met, and can rarely be seen without his headphones dangling from his neck. 

Jean Brunel David is 19 years old. He is actively involved in the Scouts of Haiti organization and serves as a leader in his troop. As a result of his karate training, his whole body is a weapon. He is currently starting his junior year in high school at Lycée Anacaona in Léogâne.  This is his second year volunteering full-time with Sustain Haiti, and he works tirelessly and diligently on our organization’s projects.  Like Fritz Gérald and Roody, he also speaks English very well (although I probably taught him more slang than I should have) and is always willing to serve as a translator in any situation.  It doesn’t take long to feel the genuine love and dedication he has for the other volunteers, the community members we serve, and Sustain Haiti’s projects.  After finishing high school, Jean Brunel wants to obtain a university degree in medicine and work one day as a practicing physician.

(Thanks to Alex Carroll for much of the text of this post.)

First days in Leogane: Initial thoughts

I've been here working with Sustain Haiti for almost three full days now, and as you may guess, I'm having the time of my life. Sustain Haiti is based in Leogane, a relatively quiet town about 20 miles west of Port-au-Prince. This is the town that was closest to the epicenter of the earthquake of January 2010 that so devastated the lives of millions here in Haiti. The effects of the quake are seen everywhere. Tent cities, each made up of several hundred families, can be found all over the city. Some people stay because they have nowhere else to go, having lost their homes, while others stay because they're afraid to be inside buildings. Badly damaged structures that need to be razed have a large red "X" across the front gate, but people rarely can afford to have their homes razed, let alone rebuilt. Most importantly, everyone here in Leogane lost a loved one. In fact, every one of the four young men who regularly attend my intermediate English class lost one of their parents during the terror.

Marvens and Vaguy, two of my stellar English students.

However, this is not a story about pain and devastation. This is a story about hope, and a brighter future for this community. The more I get to know of the people here, the more hopeful I feel for their future. About half of Sustain Haiti's volunteers are Haitian, and the other half are American or Canadian. Our Haitian volunteers are simply fantastic. They're the ones who do the real work, and we Americans just back them up however we can and keep things organized. Every day, we get up at 5:00 to go teach English classes, which have about 200 participants. Most are school-age, but as in the U.S., it's summer break. I don't know too many American kids who would wake up at 5 A.M. to go to extra school during their summers, but the kids here love it. After we finish English classes, we break up into small teams of two or three people, each working on a different project in the community. Some go teach health or business workshops, while others go work on agricultural or water and sanitation projects.

Most of my work has been focused on mentoring people in developing plans for small businesses, which is truly one of my passions. The deadline for submissions to our second annual Business Plan Competition is on Friday, and on Saturday, a panel of successful Haitian entrepreneurs will review the plans and select the winners. So far, we have nearly 80 plans that have been submitted, and we expect many more to be submitted by Friday's deadline. As I've been working with some of these entrants to refine their business plans, I've been amazed by the creativity and passion they show once they know that someone believes in them. I can't wait to find out who this year's winners are and what they're going to do with their businesses.

Hiking through the river on the way back from Zoranje.

The highlight of my trip so far has been a visit to a community up in the mountains called Zoranje. In order to get to Zoranje, you hike up a valley for an hour or so, crossing the river 10 times. At the first crossing, where the river is deepest, you're wading in up to your waist, yet somehow mototaxi drivers still manage to make it across successfully. Along the way, you get to enjoy absolutely gorgeous scenery. The best part about it, though, was how eagerly this community was to have us come. There was a group of about 55 people, all ready with pen in hand when we arrived. We taught a basic first aid workshop, including what to do if you suspect a broken bone. We then reviewed and collected their business plans, 22 in total, and we expect another 15 or so by Friday.

In the posts to come, I'll introduce you to some of the great people here in Leogane that I've had the chance to work with, and show just how much of an impact a small organization like Sustain Haiti can have. As for now, it's time to get to work!

Mesi!
Eric

The Goal Revealed: It's Business Time!

I know, I know. The suspense has been killing you. "What will my donation be used for?", you ask. And my reply up until now has been, "Patience, young padowan. Patience. All in due time." Well, your wait is over. The goal is about to be revealed.

Recently, Sustain Haiti's leaders have been having substantial conversations with leaders and members of the community in Leogane. They have repeatedly asked them how Sustain Haiti can best help them to meet their own needs. One major resounding answer is that people want to work to support themselves -- either to find a job or start a business so that they can employ themselves.

Last year, Sustain Haiti sponsored a business plan competition that turned out to be a huge hit. The winners of the competition were given cash prizes to help them get started on turning their ideas into actual profit-making ventures. And they did: last year's first-prize winner earned enough income for himself through his clothing distribution business that he was able to finance himself for two years while he performs volunteer missionary service for his church abroad. (He handed the management of the business off to his sister while he is gone, and under her leadership it is still flourishing.) This year's competition will take place this month, and is already looking promising with some fantastic business plans being developed.

Hence, we are already looking to expand and improve next year's business plan competition. And there, folks, is the long-awaited goal of "1,000 Miles for Haiti": to raise $5,000 to go toward next year's business plan competition winners. We want this business plan competition to become one of the most impactful events around, turning innovative ideas into businesses that provide sustenance, opportunity and growth for the community. We want to be able to increase both the number and size of awards we grant next year, so that even more Haitian entrepreneurs can start businesses and ventures that will have a positive impact. Ultimately, that's what Sustain Haiti is all about: providing resources and opportunities so that Haitian people can get to work addressing Haitian problems through uniquely Haitian solutions.

More to come!

-Eric