Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

We have been getting a few donated tools that we will bring to La Gonave that will help in the various projects for the island.  These tools will be used for various projects and will lower the overall costs of building.  Things like drills are very important as they can be used for the many applications we will use on the island.  From building benches, greenhouses, storage sheds, etc, having something as simple as a portable drill makes a major difference.  While it may seems like a small thing, it has a massive value. La Gonave and Haiti must have cooperation from leaders and community members in-order for the region to be successful.  The country is tackling many issues from infrastructure issues to ending malaria.  We have to have NGO's and other not-for-profits working with the business community in Haiti to make major strides. Teaching folks workshop and working with tools will go further than buying a meal for the village.  Skills trainin...

June 26th of this year a large concert that was organized by mega producer Swizz Beats was done, and Chris Brown, and Lil Wayne performed.  Swizz Beats did as well, but obviously the two star attractions were Lil Wayne and Chris Brown.  Some say the Haitian government paid money to bring these folks over to give a free concert, others, such as Swizz Beats claims the artist paid for it themselves.  People were saying that the President, who is a musician, paid for this concert to possibly win a re-election.  The government stated that this will boost tourism to Haiti and will be a boost to the economy.  People were saying if the concert cost $2 million US, then imagine how many people that could have been feed, or housing, etc. Here is my take. In the large scale of things, $2 million is a drop in the bucket for what Haiti needs.  Sure $2 million is nothing to sneeze at, but if the thought of buying food aid or giving food to people is right, then I w...

The only strong path forward for La Gonave is for the Haitians to do for themselves.  Many groups and organizations will supply shipments of food that last for a very short time, but few are doing large scale projects to teach the Haitian's skills, providing large scale farming programs, jobs, etc.  La Gonave and Haiti needs jobs, not food hand outs.  Many of these programs are a form of welfare.  When the money dries up, so does the food.  The Haitians are then still back to to where they were. Money from these organizations should be in helping the locals start businesses.  Offer micro-loans, set the locals up with business ideas.  The less involvement foreigners take in Haitian people's destiny, the faster the Haitian's will take control of their lives.  Most Haitians want to work, want education, want safety, food, and shelter.  The best way to do this, is to help local farmers with farming programs.  Build schools and hire teache...

Early on in my blog writing I mentioned building reservoirs to help with Gonave's water troubles.  Wells serve a small purpose but a larger more stable piece of infrastructure would be reservoirs.  Much of the rain that falls on Gonave isn't captured, and just runs into the ocean or absorbed into the soil.  Once absorbed, wells are usually dug by NGO's.  While this is a great thing, and we encourage it, building wells is places a bandaid on a bullet wound.  Reservoirs provide a stable source of water, which can be treated, and then supplied to nearby homes and factories.  Even building a 5 acre reservoir that are a few feet deep will provide a large source of water.  Water collected from homes, buildings, etc, can then be diverted in special channels to help fill up the reservoir.  Along with the water conservation efforts I mentioned in a previous post, water will be less of a concern and issue.  When you couple this with using natura...