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The Haitian American Caucus Volunteer Program in Haiti was established over two years ago and continued after the January 12th earthquake in 2010. HAC's Haiti operations includes providing logistical solutions to NGO's, as well as working with individual volunteers. HAC has expanded its volunteer program and will continue operations in Haiti for the foreseeable future. This is a great opportunity for you and your friends to volunteer in Haiti in a safe and productive way. Volunteers have the option to stay at one HAC's two volunteer facilities in Croix Des Bouquets and Les Cayes. As a HAC volunteer, you will receive lodging, three meals per day, clean water, security, and transportation to and from the airport as well as to the volunteer site. The cost to volunteer is $25 US dollars a day and will consist of the items mentioned above. We also offer group rates for groups of 7 or more. You also have the opportunity to spend between one week to 3 months in Haiti. HAC volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in various projects including but not limited to: · Working with Children · Teaching · Health/Medical · Construction i.e. Temporary and long-term housing · Tent Camp Evaluations · Orphanage Assistance · and many more!
Community English Courses Haiti’s proximity to the United States and English’s growing prominence in global markets is making the English language an attractive quality to prospective employers in Haiti. After many in the Croix-des-Bouquets area displayed interest in learning English, HAC started three English courses in 2010: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. The classes are taught by two locals who went through the courses themselves and are supplemented with the help of English speaking volunteers that visit.
Primary School
Education is the foundation for the development of communities and nations. In Haiti, over 90% of primary schools are private and require their students to pay tuition, books, and uniform costs. The result is that families are often forced to choose between which children to send to school and many students miss out on months to years of education when their family is unable to pay. HAC is supporting Ecole Shalom in Michaud, a small community in Croix-des-Bouquets to provide a quality education for all children, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay. This school was established in 2003 and as of school year 2010-2011, 75 students were enrolled. HAC is only able to accept additional students through child education sponsorships and partnerships with other organizations. Students can be sponsored for $125 a year. M.A.D.E has joined HAC in providing 3 vegetarian meals a week for students.
Goat Husbandry In areas where resources such as animal feed and grazing fields are limited, smaller animals like goats are better suited to thrive. This is the case in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. In fact, a short walk through any dusty neighborhood would give you the opportunity to see these goats. Because they are already a familiar animal and provide such good nutrition, the Haitian American Caucus has begun a project to provide interested families that display need with a female goat. In an effort to sustain the project, exponentially expand its effects and give families the opportunity to become a donor themselves, HAC facilitates the "gifting" of a female goat. After the first offspring, the owner of the goat will pass on a kid back to HAC to sustain the project and one to another community family who will start the same process. A veterinarian will lead an educational seminar for all prospective goat owners to teach best practices to maintain animal health. This vet will also be available once a month to answer any questions and to provide a check-up on the goats. Parents will gain dignity as they are better able to provide for their families, children will be better nourished and the entire community will benefit as their neighbors increase their economic possibilities. There are already more than 50 interested families with the potential of more in the surrounding areas; however, HAC is currently only positioned to provide 10 goats. With your help, we can expand this program to quickly reach more people with nutrition and sustainable hope for a better future.
Micro Loans Haiti’s streets are filled with the evidence of the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives here. HAC is capitalizing on this already present interest in entrepreneurship and providing resources to take business owners into viable, sustainable businesses. Each loan is given to a group of people to ensure it is paid back. Once a group has paid their loan, they are eligible to borrow higher amounts. Individuals participating in the program are required to attend one of our education programs so they can gain better business practices. Community Garden, Tree Nursery and Seed bank Michuad, Haiti is an agrarian community and its economy depends largely on its agricultural output. In an effort to provide economic development, HAC is building the capacity of local farmers in a variety of ways. Farmers now have access to improved farming techniques that yield higher outputs on their crops. These hands on seminars are given through a partnership with PROViDE and local agronomists. We are also building a tree nursery and garden to provide subsidized plants to give them an edge on getting into the global market. We will later buy back their seeds to grow new plants and trees. This also ensures that trees are kept long term, reforesting Haiti and providing sustainable sources of nutrition and income for families.
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