The Haitian American Caucus - Haiti advances opportunity and improves the quality of life to build a better future for t
Country Of Origin
Haiti
Country of Operation
Haiti
Strenghts
The Haitian American Caucus - Haiti makes sure all programs are maintained by the community. This allows personal value to be instilled into local residents. It enables locals to make a difference and see changes from within to strengthen sustainability. The creation of programs that will one day be self-sufficient and not depend on the presence of HAC - Haiti allows the community to become independent.
Working alongside local communities and residents creates trust and partnerships. Furthermore, having an organization that is based in the country shows commitment to those we aim to help. The Haitian American Caucus - Haiti focuses on long term development and advancements in Haitian communities.
Long Term Plan
Haitian American Caucus - Haiti aims to establish sustainable development, education programs as well as micro-entrepreneurship initiatives. HAC - Haiti currently facilitates various programs designed to educate youth, equip adults and strengthen the community.
Ongoing Projects
Institution Mixte Shalom des Freres
Institution Mixte Shalom des Freres (IMSF) was founded in 2003 by school director Samuel Darguin for underprivileged youth which saves many from being trafficked to another country or being passed along as a restavek (which translates into a child slave or domestic servant).
Believing every child deserves the right to education, a key to success, is one of the primary reasons IMSF was established. Since opening, the school in Croix des Bouquets has grown immensely in student size, staff, and even buildings.
Agriculture Program
HAC-Haiti believes in not just giving a child a fish to eat, but teaching them how to catch it themselves. From that mindset grew the Agriculture Program at the Institution. Through a collaboration with the Haitian Agrarians, students are taught proper farming to not just understand self-sufficiency but also the business potential one day to provide for their future families.
With recently purchased land, students can learn on HAC-Haiti property where produce is grown and chicken and goats are raised not only for educational purposes but also to supply food for lunches and community needs. We purchase from local farmers as much as possible to support our local community.
Goat Gifting Program
HAC-Haiti provides selected families with an opportunity to receive business training and goat-care instructions. After finishing the course, they are gifted with a female goat. When their farming produces their first female goat, they return the baby to HAC to keep the program going.
Girls’ Empowerment Program
Every Saturday, girls ages 7-16 gather together for the Toya Program which began more as a book club with a reading focus but quickly grew into more! This program explores and encourages girls' talents, takes part in community service projects, and grooms them to become strong, self-sufficient women who value themselves. With the help of Foundation Toya, HAC-Haiti is proud to offer a program focused on empowering young women.
Teacher Institute
Through a U.S. Embassy grant and partnerships with U.S. and local universities,
HAC-Haiti provides a 2-week summer course to adults currently employed as a teacher or administrator and those desiring to enter the profession.
The Teacher Institute focuses on several areas, including how to creatively engage students, manage a classroom, manage staff and faculty, confidently teach new skills, address special needs, as well as organize and manage funds. Each month following the course, the group meets for refresher courses and to talk through any problems they may be having in their classroom.
Literacy Program
The Literacy Program for adults was one of the first adult programs HAC-Haiti started. Seeing women struggle to read their church hymnal and bible and to even sign their child's report card, the program was designed to provide them basic reading, writing, and mathematical skills.
Studies have shown that learning these important skills drastically improve lives not just mentally, but physically and emotionally as well which impacts families and communities. The Literacy Program has helped hundreds of women to increase their self-confidence and their ability to do business in Haiti thus providing a self-sustaining livelihood for their families. Men eventually joined the program and continue to participate in small numbers.
English Program
After the 2010 earthquake, an influx of people arrived in Haiti to rebuild the country.
HAC-Haiti recognized the urgent need for locals to learn English to become more marketable to find work. The program continues today after a decade of serving the community - from high school students to seasoned professionals who need to brush-up their English skills.
Micro-Enterprise Program
HAC-Haiti saw the need to provide opportunities for families to earn income and become self-sustainable. The solution resulted in offering business training and small loans and products to committed individuals who desire to start a business through the micro-enterprise program.
In 2010, HAC-Haiti partnered with Soles4Souls which provides new and used shoes donated from around the world. HAC-Haiti sells these shoes at a discounted bulk rate to our micro-enterprise participants. This is just one of many options in the program.
Safe Water Program
Access to clean, safe water is a health crisis that affects nearly 785 million people worldwide! Far away access results in extensive time fetching water thus lessening economic opportunities and time for children to attend school. Dirty water spreads disease and illnesses that prohibit people from taking care of their families. (water.org)
HAC-Haiti provides a FREE, clean water source directly outside the school in Croix-des-Bouquets for the community to use 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. We are committed to providing 2000 gallons daily and have increased that amount during the COVID pandemic to 6000 gallons. This ensures less travel time for families to keep them at school and work, safe water for better health, and peace of mind that this basic necessity is provided.
Description
January 12th, 2010 was a day written in history books when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake crippled Haiti. The Haitian American Caucus - Haiti was founded in Croix des Bouquets was founded by Samuel Darguin after he moved back to his country of birth to help with the rebuilding efforts. Not having lived in Haiti for over 20 years, he left his life in New York City to help a community and a country build back stronger.
Once relief efforts were permanently placed in the capital once it became accessible, HAC refocused its efforts on developing sustainable solutions to counteract the extreme poverty facing a large portion of the country. Conversations with local farmers, single parents, adolescent and unemployed men, matriarchs, and school children grew the obvious need for quality and affordable education, professional development, improved public health, and economic empowerment opportunities. HAC worked tirelessly to provide these programs for Croix des Bouquets and surrounding rural areas such as Petit Goave and Les Cayes.
All programs are maintained by the community to instill personal value, enable locals to make a difference, and see changes from within to strengthen sustainability.
Network of schools in Haiti:
Jeremie
Les Cayes
Port Salud
Croix des Bouquettes
Weaknesses
Lack of resources is one of the primary weaknesses of the Haitian American Caucus - Haiti. The facilitation of our programs and initiatives is often delayed because of this issue. Establishing partnerships with suppliers that can provide the necessary resources would be essential to the progression of our organizations. Furthermore, acquiring reliable and consistent funding would also aid in the process of maintaining adequate resources.
Needs
The Haitian American Caucus - Haiti needs to establish long term partnerships with professionals and organizations that can aid in our ongoing projects. Many of the current and future programs require expertise outside of the realm of HAC - Haiti employees. Creating a network of organizations and professionals that can contribute and support the HAC - Haiti initiatives would allow for our efforts to progress more efficiently and effectively.
Funding is also a constant need for the Haitian American Caucus - Haiti. Supporting disaster relief as well as the ongoing projects requires continuous funding and support. The establishment of constant funding will allow the organization to better plan and organize the various initiatives.