Real change is coming to La Gonave, Haiti
While many organizations will give to people that are in crushing poverty, many times that can create a major problem. If people are enabled and not given tools to survive, then they have no choice but to rely on those that give hand outs.
What happens when those that give the hand out runs out of cash? What happens when their host economy takes a nose dive? What happens when the food runs out?
Well this has happened over and over again. This is one reason why Haiti is still in its current shape. There is always a time and place for everything. Just putting a band-aid on a broken bone not only gives a false sense of hope, but gives a great sense of hopelessness. People of Haiti want to work! People of Haiti want to go to school! People of Haiti want to do for themselves!
So expect change to happen. Slowly it has on the mainland where you are seeing development, new tourist plans, better farming, etc. On La Gonave, not as much activity has been going on. Given the small size of the population, just a few changes can make a major difference. We hope to provide jobs and education to people. We want to train people and give them options to decide their future.
Now we may not have fancy equipment, large amount of donors, facilities in Haiti, etc, but are plan isn't to be a constant source of giving. Our goal is to teach people different farming practices, composting, school programs, etc. We want people to start their own businesses. Our goal is to have Haitian lift themselves out of poverty. No one on the planet can do this, other than the Haitians, who will make this change.
Our first project is honeybees, our next project is Talipia farming. Both projects will be part of a co-op where locals can get the support they need to do either project and then support their own families.
There is a great proverb that I like which is how we view Haiti and the world. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime!"
Go Gonave!
What happens when those that give the hand out runs out of cash? What happens when their host economy takes a nose dive? What happens when the food runs out?
Well this has happened over and over again. This is one reason why Haiti is still in its current shape. There is always a time and place for everything. Just putting a band-aid on a broken bone not only gives a false sense of hope, but gives a great sense of hopelessness. People of Haiti want to work! People of Haiti want to go to school! People of Haiti want to do for themselves!
So expect change to happen. Slowly it has on the mainland where you are seeing development, new tourist plans, better farming, etc. On La Gonave, not as much activity has been going on. Given the small size of the population, just a few changes can make a major difference. We hope to provide jobs and education to people. We want to train people and give them options to decide their future.
Now we may not have fancy equipment, large amount of donors, facilities in Haiti, etc, but are plan isn't to be a constant source of giving. Our goal is to teach people different farming practices, composting, school programs, etc. We want people to start their own businesses. Our goal is to have Haitian lift themselves out of poverty. No one on the planet can do this, other than the Haitians, who will make this change.
Our first project is honeybees, our next project is Talipia farming. Both projects will be part of a co-op where locals can get the support they need to do either project and then support their own families.
There is a great proverb that I like which is how we view Haiti and the world. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime!"
Go Gonave!
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