Grassroots Organizations and Initiatives at Work
We had a meeting with some staff of the Association of Peasants of Fondwa (APF)
Herault Beauvois: Assistant Coordinator of APF, who has worked for APF for 20 years. In the past he has been Director of Radio Station in Fondwa as well as other roles.
Carole A. Pierre: Auditor of APF in Fondwa. She helps with all economic activities in Fondwa.
Sister Claudette: A graduate of University of Fondwa (UNIF) who works as Administrator of many programs of APF in Fondwa. Her mission is to help in any way she can.
Sister Simone: Principal of School of St. Antoine and Director of Orphanage and member of APF
Ludsonde Lafontant (Loulou): He grew up in the Fondwa’s orphanage and went to the primary and secondary school at the St. Antoine School. He got his undergraduate degree in agronomy in Cuba and then got a masters degree in agronomy in Brazil. Now he teaches agronomy at UNIF.
Johane Marcellus: Works in economic activities at APF; she has worked for APF for 4 years
Eenel Beauliere: Director of the Radio Station in Fondwa; He is fostering a relationship between APF and UNIF. He uses the radio as a tool to disseminate information on APF and the 3 Legs Program to people listening to the radio. The radio has a range of over 50 kilometers.
Dr. Elizabeth Brea: She is Fondwa’s doctor for a year. She is from Venezuela and is running the clinic here. She speaks Creole, French, Spanish and English and has been our translator for the majority of my stay in Haiti.
Arron Ennis: He is from Ireland and is here to survey the accounting systems of the Local Development Committees. He will confer with associates in Dublin to help implement a more sophisticated accounting system for the LDC’s
David Hoffman: He is Executive Director of Raising Haiti (APF- USA) He introduced the 3 Leg motto: Haitians Uplifting Haiti 1 Community at a Time. If Haitians make the decisions and do the work, the country will be transformed. This is a national vision. Fondwa is an example for other communities to emulate. Raising Haiti will help by financing the program.
Sue Carlson: She has been working in Medor for 18 years and met Father Joseph when he visited her church, Our Lady Queen of Peace in VA. She learned about the 3 Leg Program from Father Joseph and is thrilled that Medor is part of the program. She now also works with Raising Haiti to aid other communities in participating in the 3 Leg Program.
Radio Station supports Father Joseph’s 3 Legs vision by educating the listeners about the program. The announcers volunteer their time. The station director says that he needs resources to train and pay the announcers to provide more support for the 3 Legs Program and other APF activities. Also the equipment should be updated along with an improved energy source. Currently the radio station is run on solar energy with a back up generator. The radio broadcasts from 3PM-9PM; sometimes there is not enough energy to complete the session. Soon the Radio station will be moved to UNIF. They need $2,700 US to make the move to UNIF. Perhaps UNIF students can volunteer at the radio station as part of their course work and their work-study obligation. APF will prepare a budget of what is needed to adequately run the radio station.
Guest House in Fondwa hosts multiple guests each month.
Multiple works of the Sisters of St. Antoine of Fondwa (which will be delineated in a meeting later today)
Economic Activities in Fondwa:
In 2012 a construction material store was opened. In 1999 a restaurant was opened which provides meals for UNIF students and professors. Hurricane Matthew destroyed the restaurant and the cultural center. APF will prepare a budget of the funds needed to complete the rebuilding of the restaurant and cultural center.
Peasant’s Grassroots Organizations in Fondwa
21 mixed groups (old, young, male and female)
4 are not in Fondwa but they collaborate with APF’s grassroots organizations so they can receive training to help their own communities
Each group chose a representative, and from these, they chose 9 members of the Board of Peasant Grassroots Organizations; members of the Board serve 2-year terms.
Each group manages itself; but the groups work together to resolve the problems of the community. APF provides guidance to the grassroots organizations on road building, clean water, literacy training, the school, clinic, etc.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the 3Legs Program
