Haiti - Short Trip

I am currently on my way home from spending the week in Haiti. I was fortunate to be joined by some of our HIV/AIDS team, Dr. Esther Gwan and Joanna Mayhew, as well as Jeff Demers who provides support to the Haiti office. Later on during the week, we were all joined by a friend of World Relief, Mr. Ken Graber.

My primary purpose for the trip was to work with Ken to start the merger between our microfinance program and another microfinance program managed by World Concern. From looking through our books it is clear our program will definitely benefit from being a part of a larger microfinance program, as I believe will World Concern's program.

We met with USAID and ANIMH (the local microfinance network) and found that this would be the first merger between microfinance programs. This created quite a bit of excitement with the agencies. They are keen for consolidation in the sector, and we hope that we can document lessons learned through our merger, so that we can help other microfinance programs in the future.

I also sat with our HIV/AIDS team to discuss greater support to people giving care to HIV/AIDS sufferers and orphans. We have had a microfinance scheme within our program that has provided them with loans, this year through a grant from Tearfund UK, we are extending this.

Haiti amazes me every time I visit. I have lived in Liberia, immediately following the end of their 14 year civil war, but I think Haiti would be even harder to live in. Port Au Prince is densely populated, and very polluted. Houses cling to steep slopes that are prone to landslides due to the destruction of the environment and soil erosion. With Haiti so close to the US, it is sad that this place is one of the poorest countries in the World.

Much of the food and goods consumed in Haiti are imported. The agricultural sector is very fragile, the regular hurricanes can wipe away crops in a heartbeat. But the food that is produced is often organic, not necessarily by design, but because fertilizer is out of the reach for the majority of farmers.

Our microfinance program is looking at how we can better support the agricultural sector, how we can create 'green' loans to promote good environmental practices, and how we can help the poorest of the poor take small steps out of poverty.

Help World Relief support more people in Haiti, donate now and designate your funds to Microenterprise Development.

Thank you for your support. Gareth

The Haiti Challenge

World Relief manages a small microfinance program in Haiti called, Finansman pou ede moun avanse (FEMA), or Financing for Helping People Advance.

With just over 3,000 clients FEMA is currently not self-sufficient, they rely on grants and donations to support their operating costs. We are looking to grow the program so that it can meet all it's operating costs from it's interest income, but growth takes time and your support is vital to ensuring FEMA can continue to provide access to financial services for the poor in Haiti.

Meet the Challenge
FEMA has several supporters that are making sure it continues to moves forward. One group, from Clifton Park in New York, was inspired by the leadership of World Relief Haiti and the opportunities for economic growth in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. They pledged $50,000 to World Relief and are challenging other donors to match these funds to raise a total of $100,000.

So, far they have raised an additional $10,000 to meet the Haiti Challenge. Help us break through the $100,000 mark and help even more people out of poverty in Haiti.

Hallmarks of FEMA
Extending credit in conflict-ridden areas: Ongoing civil unrest in Haiti has placed significant pressure on the program’s loan portfolio. As other microfinance entities have fled the area, World Relief has chosen to stay. We believe the love of Christ shines brightest in dark places.

HIV/AIDS Training: In addition to biblically based ethics training and financial training, World Relief’s program integrates AIDS education during the weekly community banking meetings.

Integration with church-based ministries: Together with our church-based care-giving and health ministries in HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health, our loan programs are providing an integrated, sustainable, church-based solution to poverty.

About Haiti
The Poorest Country in the West, Located in the Caribbean, sharing the Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Haiti has a population of about 8.9m and a life expectancy of just 57 years. GDP per capita is only $1,300 compared to the US at $45,800, or Jamaica with $7,700.

How to Give
Go to http://www.worldrelief.org/ for more information.
Make checks payable to World Relief, in the note section write "Designated for FEMA, Haiti, Matching Grant", and send to: World Relief, 7 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore MD 21202