Giving Thanks & Counting Blessings from My Work in Haiti

Happy Thanksgiving to all who read this.  Growing up Thanksgiving Day meant family trips to visit my grandparents.  Everyone came, my cousins, aunts, uncles, and the special not-really-family members like Miss Jean and a hippy named John Fowler who were adopted by our family.  My grandmother cooked, and our family enjoyed a few days together.  I did not appreciate the reality of all I had to give thanks for, it was simply my life.

I have been working in Haiti for three years now, and for three years my Thanksgiving is completely transformed from those before.  I am humbled by my blessings, and see my life as filled with relative abundance.  I am deeply grateful and appreciate things more than ever.  My health, my home, my family, and the simple fact that we have food to eat and water to drink every day without question.

Many people ask me if it makes me sad to work in Haiti, to see grinding poverty and it's effects.  Isn't it depressing?  A great number of people believe that I and others like me that work in Haiti deserve high praise for our work.  I would love to address both of those points here, today, on Thanksgiving.

First, no, it does not make me sad to work in Haiti, and if you know Haiti you would know why.  I am not blind to the poverty, but when I think about Haitians I think of them as my friend Clay describes them, Haitians smile with intention.  I am more interested in the positive attitude that our partners have, and excited by the possibilities for change.  Haiti is moving forward and it is an exciting time to work there.  I am amazed by the myriad of solutions Haitians find for the issues they face daily.  When something breaks it is repaired with unrivaled ingenuity.  When problems arise communities gather to solve them.  With 80% unemployment every day involves the chore of finding a way to bring economic value to ones life, and as with repairs, the ingenuity is inspiring.  I have never been anywhere in my life where a courteous hello is the expected norm all day, every day, to every stranger you meet.  "Tap-taps" are converted pickups that carry loads of people daily, and it is rude to board a tap-tap without greeting every rider on board with either "Bonjou" or "Salut".

Children walk arm in arm to school.  Beautiful ribbons adorn the complex braids on the heads of little girls.  Uniforms of every color line the side of every road, in the city and in the villages.  Women walk with grace skillfully balancing inconceivably large parcels on their heads.  Haitians have incredible posture.  If poverty is all you see in Haiti you are missing the point.  The culture is complex and the people are warm, they love to laugh.  Celebration is constant as every hurdle of life is conquered.

To the second point, whether people like myself deserve praise for working in a place like Haiti, for myself I will say that I do not.  If you love something, like I love creating sustainable solutions for rural Haitians, the joy of the work fills you, and thanks are unnecessary.  If I could bottle and sell the incredible feeling I get from this work I would have at my disposal the most addictive drug ever made.  I speak for many friends when I say this, the secret is out: we love what we do, we love Haiti, and we don't deserve special attention for what we're doing. 

In giving thanks today I will mention my special blessing, like Miss Jean and John the hippy I am blessed to have been adopted as a not-really-a-family-member by Haiti.  I am greatly enjoying the forward progress of our IEEE/Sirona Haiti Rural Electricity Program and thrilled by the government's adoption of our program as the method for providing energy to rural homes.  I am incredibly proud of our Jatropha farmers who have planted more than 100,000 trees this year.  I am excited, and thankful, and again I wish all who have made it to the end of this post a very Happy Thanksgiving!

IEEE/Sirona Rural Electricity Project: Preparing to Ship

On Thursday we will be in Washington D.C. meeting with potential funding sources for the IEEE/Sirona Haiti Rural Electricity Project and our Jatropha Project.  I cannot possibly express the level of our excitement to see that funders are considering Haiti.  For the first time since the earthquake I feel optimistic that money dedicated to Haiti will finally find its way to help Haiti help itself. 

 
We are also preparing the final logistics for shipment of the IEEE/Sirona Haiti Rural Electricity Project equipment.  There are six 1.2Kw solar trailers and 240 home battery kits (battery, three lights, cell phone charger).  The equipment is in New York, so we must ship to Haiti, move the equipment to Grand Goave for final preparation and training, and then deploy the six units to their operators in St. Etienne, L'Azile, Jeremie, Anse au Veaux, Deuxieme Plaine and Marmelade.  A team of IEEE members will train the Haitian operators and the first members of our Haitian technical support team.  We will also be providing ongoing entrepreneurial support for the new businesses.  The trip should take several weeks and we're optimistic that the equipment will clear customs by early June.

IEEE members have dedicated uncountable hours to design, construct, and test the equipment for this project.  They had technical issues with the equipment and had to make some changes.  This caused a delay but will be worth the wait in the end.  The Sirona team has continued our work with the operators and Haitian teams to prepare for the arrival of the project.  The logistics are complex, and navigating Haitian customs is a process not to be taken lightly.  We are busy working out schedules, crossing our "t's" and dotting our "i's".

This project will literally change the lives of people in Haiti who, until now, have had no option for electricity in their homes.  Children will be able to study at night, people will be able to charge their phones at home rather than walk for miles to do so, candles and kerosene lamps that burn many people each year will be put away.  A step into the present will occur in areas that have been left in the dark for too long. 

Every level of this project generates commerce.  This is an economically sustainable project, not charity.  Charging station operators have access to residual electricity generated by the solar panels that is not used to recharge customer battery kits.  Refrigeration is the preferred business for most of our operators. Each franchise has 40 customer home kits to lease, and the home battery kit user will be able to charge phones at their homes to offset their own utility payment.  Light in and of itself, has value in rural Haiti. 

The project is economically sustainable because station operators lease the equipment from Sirona for $200 US per month starting in month four.  The home kit is currently priced at $50 Haitian a month ($6.70 US) and customers can recharge as often as needed.  The forty home kit payments more than cover the operator's lease payment, and all of the money that the his/her business generates beyond that $200 per month will go to them.  In addition, an operator has the option to keep home kit lease payments for the first three months allowing them to purchase equipment for their business and start debt free.  The solar equipment is leased, rather than sold, to the operators to guarantee that maintenance will be performed by Sirona.  This protects the entrepreneur who would face many challenges repairing/replacing parts for the equipment.  Equipment can decay rapidly in rural Haiti and our program is designed to keep everything working.

We are excited to see how it turns out, and we are looking forward to our trip to DC.  As always I can't wait to get back to Haiti to turn the lights on!

Low Point of Haiti Trip: Cholera Epidemic

Last Monday we were in Port au Prince completing a very successful trip preparing to deploy IEEE's rural electricity project.  The trip was successful in that we were able to get to the locations we needed to, meet with the people we had hoped to, and leave just before the elections took place.  We traveled with higher anxiety about election demonstrations than concern regarding the cholera epidemic.  We knew that we would always have access to safe bottled water, and the education to deal with cholera if, by some bad turn, we did catch it.

By traveling to Haiti every other month for two years we have learned enough to feel confident that our sustainable development programs will work.  I write about the positive, the hope, but there are very sad realities about Haiti that I generally leave to others to report.  After so many trips I have stopped feeling the shock of exposure to the poverty there, and I have stopped talking about it.  I see the people, not their surroundings.  This trip, however, drove home the reality of how dangerous it is to live at this level of poverty. 

Due to Haiti's complete lack of infrastructure (the lack of waste treatment, clean water and education) a cholera epidemic is taking a huge toll nationwide.  The outbreak began about six weeks ago and an hour ago the official death toll was reported at 1,721 (an unofficial count would be higher).  75,888 people have been infected and 33,485 have been hospitalized since the last week of October.  There is no sign of the disease slowing and some fear that it will claim more lives than the earthquake (250,000).  There is confusion in Haiti about cholera, where it comes from, how to treat it, and confusion is dangerous.  The ill are often left by the side of the road by drivers scared to transport them.  Riots occur where caregivers attempt to set up cholera treatment centers.  Ignorance is adding to the death toll.  Cholera is a simple disease to avoid and treat, if you have the means and education to do so.

Spread by fecal-contaminated water, cholera can be avoided by drinking purified water, and by not eating anything that was washed in dirty water.  This is easy for a traveler like myself, but very difficult for the Haitian who has no access to clean water, or who lives by eating food from vendors along the road.  The World Health Organization (WHO) is not recommending restrictions to international travel or trade with Haiti in part because travelers have access to bottled water and education that will prevent contraction of the disease.  If a cholera-infected person leaves Haiti, they will enter a country where the disease would not spread because that countries infrastructure would prevent it.  Cholera is not contagious, soap and water keeps people exposed to cholera patients from catching the disease.

Oral rehydration cures more than 80% of cholera cases if you stabilize your electrolytes by rehydrating with fluid containing sugar and salt.  Education is critical, and sadly coming in the wake of the disease.  As is often the case, one problem in Haiti is exacerbating another.  As reported by the WHO: "Civil unrest since 15 November has slowed down several activities, including delivery of supplies for prevention and treatment of patients... Trainings on cholera treatment and initiatives to chlorinate water for 300 000 people had to be postponed."

We arrived in Jeremie last Saturday, the day after the initial cholera cases began there.  We left on Sunday and of ten cases reported two had resulted in death already.  I've reached out to our partner, the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF), in Jeremie to get an update, but the director has not replied.  Sadly, I know that this is because she is too busy with new cholera cases to check her e-mail today.  The HHF is requesting bodybags, soap, salt, and pleading for the 50,000 nail clippers that Sirona Cares and Global Arts and Education are prepared to send once funds for the clippers are collected.  The clippers are here in San Francisco, and funding is needed to allow us to take them to Jeremie and save an estimated 250,000 lives.

 

Encouraging Words Regarding Sustainable Development in Haiti

The focus of our work has always been to develop sustainable communities in developing countries, and we took Haiti for our pilot for many reasons, not the least of which is the security in knowing that if we could succeed in Haiti, we could succeed anywhere. This is only more true following the devastating earthquake on January 12th. 

 

 We returned for our second trip this year to find the situation there somewhat better and equally worse than it was in February. This post is focused upon what is working, and the real potential for change there. We had many, many positive meetings on this trip. This was the trip in which we saw how far our project has come, and how likely it is that our first communities are working towards true sustainability. We have amazing partners. In St. Etienne on steep grades far above Leogan we saw incredible progress. Eight of ten farmers lost their homes, as did the Agronomist (see photo) but they didn't miss a beat. We were taken to see the farms and I was speechless. As we require, the farmers had lightly intercropped Jatropha with beans on deforested hillsides that seem to be waiting only to slide. The roots of the plant will hold the hills and bring value to the exhausted soil. The farmers will enjoy increased revenue from the Jatropha oil, and they will also get valuable by-products, namely a nitrogen rich fertilizer or charcoal substitute as well as soap from the glycerine that is extracted. They are excited about the opportunities, and we share their excitement. 

 We are working to deploy a pilot for sustainable electricity in rural Haiti, but that is the subject of a future entry. I need to address the farming here and note how elegant it is becoming with the inclusion of our newest community in L'Azile. Again, we find ourselves in the mountains, this time we are in a valley where coffee is farmed for export. In L'Azile we are intercropping coffee and Jatropha with the intention of providing shade to the coffee as well as maintaining the soil (which coffee can be very hard on). We will add bees to increase seed production (and honey), and we will keep the bees present with Moringa because it flowers all year and has incredible nutritional value. Finally, we are also looking at adding rabbits who eat the weeds, supply fertilizer and obviously are valuable for meat or sale. 

Probably because the plan was written with our Haitian partners the community in L'Azile rapidly organized and voted to join the Sirona group.  They produced a committee of thee to run the project as well as a very seasoned Agronomist who will manage it. The trip to L'Azile was one of my favorites. As talk about the state of affairs in Haiti fades from the headlines I want to say this: the people of Haiti are enterpreneurial in spirit and looking for an opportunity to find a sustainable solution to end the poverty in which they are living. The country is full of strong, young community leaders, and while there is so much bad news coming out of Haiti it is very important to note that people there want to take steps forward and to stand on their own. As Sirona helps create that possibility for sets of farmers in the hills of Haiti I am filled with pride for our partners and I love to tell their stories.

 

Life in a Haitian Orphanage

My family and I were fortunate enough to experience life at the Mission of Hope school, which has 500 students and is home to 32 orphans.  As often happens in Haiti, for there are approximately 2 million orphans there, Pastor Lex Edme and his wife Renee "inherited" 32 orphans a year ago when they were dropped at their doorstep.  After taking them in and nursing them to health they knocked walls out of classrooms out of the school and hired the necessary staff to care for the children as they await construction of an orphanage for the children.

We have developed a close relationship with the Edme's and visited them on this trip to expand our Jatropha project which will improve the economy and ecology of the area.  While there our family stayed in the orphanage and learned a lot by just being present.  We experienced sleeping under a tin roof during rain, we woke early to the sound of roosters followed by the sounds of children starting their day and women starting the fires to cook food.  A little puppy even sleeps on the roof of the school.  We experienced the "bucket bath".  After assisting their mission with some money to help them dig a well the orphans now have access to water on their property, including toilets. 

Once the kids are up and ready school (or Church, on Sunday) starts.  On weekdays children come in droves in their uniforms to attend the award winning school, on Sunday mornings the community comes to worship and enjoy incredible music.  The days end with the sunset.  Generators provide electricity until about 8:00 p.m., and shortly after they shut down the only sound is that of the women who care for the children chatting amongst themselves in Kreyol.

The children embraced us, our kids played with them, we even went as a group to the beach one day.  It was a wonderful experience.  This school is the recipient of Sirona Care's first tri-lingual library.  Already more than 4,000 children's books have been collected in English and French.  I took a small assortment of books to the orphans and left them with instruction to care for the books so that when I come back in January I will see that they have been careful, and next summer the addition for the library will be constructed and dedicated.

My birthday occurred during this visit, the day we went to the beach.  It started at 2:00 a.m. when I made my way down the wooden stairs to the toilet in the dark.  As I came back up to our room I glanced at the sky which was white with stars.  It was so incredible I woke my oldest son to come and see.  He, too, was amazed by the brilliance of the sky.  It was a very special trip, and as always a part of me stays there in Haiti with Renee and Lex, and the kids, wishing them well and looking forward to seeing them again.

 
 

Good Evening from HAITI!

We're back in Haiti for the fifth time this year.  Each trip is very different.  Some frustrating due to bad weather, flat tires or missed connecting flights... this one has been incredibly easy and fruitful.  We have done a lot, and met with a lot of people so far.  We had a great meeting regarding shipping issues in Miami; we have had very successful meetings with agronomists and farmers, and we expect to leave very encouraged after this trip.

Last week a petition regarding Jatropha came out in Haiti, and we were anxious about how our project was being received in light of that petition.  Fortunately our business plan is designed with many of the arguments in mind, we don't farm on food land, for instance, and we are careful with water resources.  The petition argues that Jatropha is water intensive, but we had a great example of the plant's resilience on this trip.  In one nursery 800 seedlings were abandoned and left to die are, but three months later they are as tall as my shoulders.  It is truly remarkable.  The only water these plants required was rainfall.  We were able to salvage many seedlings from the nursery and transfer care of an existing Jatropha field to a new agronomist.  Paul is meeting with farmers tonight up in St. Etienne, and while I would have liked to go, I'm here cooling off with the kids.  They have been incredible travelers, as usual, but they needed a break.  These meetings plus an additional church service are going to last until about eleven o'clock tonight, and the kids are bushed but it's only 3:00!

We played at the beach with Mission of Hope's 32 orphans, and that was great.  We painted the girl's fingernails and played in the surf.  It was a great afternoon.  This morning we attended church at Pastor Lex' Mission of Hope Church.  Joyful as expected, we had a great time.  The music at this church was incredible and it was great to get a printed copy of the words, as I can't actually speak Creole, but could sing some with the words. 

Tomorrow we head to Jeremie.  It's a travel day to leave her, go to Port au Prince, and fly to Jeremie.  We are very excited to be going there, and can't wait to visit the orphanages there.  The bulk of the 500 lbs. we brought on this trip goes to them, and it should be a really fun experience giving them the clothing, medicine, soccer balls, etc.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Too much to say, many entries to come.  For now just know that we are safe and sound, we have had a wonderful trip, successful on many fronts, and I look forward to breaking it down, sharing stories, and photos, as soon as I can.  The kids have played themselves to the brink of exhaustion.  Jack, 4, loves it here playing with rocks and kids.  He loves being outside.  Olivia, 5, comes out of her shell here.  She is relaxed, playful, and enjoys the attention she gets.  She loves to ride in the back of the truck waiving at people who are astonished to see her as we drive by.  She things it's great to get so much attention.  Chris, 14, is doing well too.  He was happy (and amazed) to see how much difference the Moringa Program has made for the orphans at Cambry.  The kids he remembered are almost unrecognizable now as they have all grown so much.  It is heart warming to see them so well.  Personally it was wonderful to get to spend time there, I love those kids so much.

Blessings to you all, and THANK YOU for all of the donations.  It is an incredible privilege to tell the people here the types of help your donations are generating, and I can tell you that they really appreciate it, so thank you again.  More to come soon.