My last few posts have focused on Haiti: the aftermath, recovery, & NGO presence. I am committed to continuing some discussion on this, but am having trouble finding good information on the good. What I mean is, there is a plethora of information on the organizations who are dumping money into a country that is already bloated with relief aid--but where is all the 24/7 media coverage of the follow-up? Where can we get info about the organizations making a difference, involving Haitians in their development work and starting to rebuild towns and neighborhoods?
Though you may think me a tad bit biased, I did find some encouraging info regarding the Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) commitment to long-term recovery initiatives in Haiti. With donations exceeding $13 million, MCC plans to use this money wisely over the next 3-5 years, investing first in Port-au-Prince and then moving the focus to the Artibonite Valley where other MCC programming is already established.
"From food security and education to economic development and housing, the plans are designed to empower Haitians to rebuild their communities better than they were before the Jan. 12 earthquake. The rebuilding plan is intentionally holistic, focusing on multiple areas of support,"
Here is a brief look at their priorities:
- Emergency assistance: Distribute food in the Port-au-Prince area until May when cash-for-work programs will be offered. Urban and rural distribution of relief kits, tarps and tents, first aid kits, water filters and sheets and comforters will continue through the summer.
- Economic development and food security: Support cash-for-work projects in areas damaged by the earthquake; develop income-generation projects and improve agriculture and irrigation systems in the Artibonite Valley.
- Housing: Hire one person to assess new housing arrangements for people in nine camps for internally displaced persons in Port-au-Prince, where MCC has been working from the beginning of its emergency response. This priority also includes assisting with temporary to permanent housing for displaced people in the Artibonite Valley.
- Education: Assist the Ecumenical Foundation for Peace and Justice (FOPJ) to buy land and build a primary school in Port-au-Prince; explore ways to expand educational infrastructure in the Artibonite Valley to accommodate those who have migrated there from the capital; consider adding university or vocational education opportunities there.
- Health: Address sanitation and water needs in camps for internally displaced persons in and near Port-au-Prince; explore collaboration with other organizations and the Haitian Ministry of Health to provide expanded health services in the Artibonite Valley.
The cornerstone of MCC's philosophy in Haiti (and in many other regions of the world) is partnership. MCC is cautious not to squander the Haitians' efforts, but instead works with local people and offers help where it is needed most. When many relief organizations stormed in with free food and no plan for distribution, MCC avoided violence and security issues by requiring a community council within the tent cities of 4,000 to 5,000 that they aided. These councils play a crucial role in organizing people and their needs as the distributions arrived.
Reducing the dependence on food distribution is MCC's main task for now...
Their plan is to continue with cash-for-work projects that help the local market while providing citizens a way to afford what they need. This type of project is a way to make the economy of the region more viable in the long run.
Their plan is to continue with cash-for-work projects that help the local market while providing citizens a way to afford what they need. This type of project is a way to make the economy of the region more viable in the long run.
The other crisis MCC is now focusing on is the migration out of Port-au-Prince to the more rural area of Haiti. With the densely populated center of the country devastated by the earthquake, many sought shelter in the country. However, the infrastructure outside of the capital has not been prepared for this influx of inhabitants. The abrupt move of hundreds of thousands of people has placed a lot of strain on resources around the country. The long-term goal has been to decentralize and help spread development beyond the urban hub. For these two reasons, MCC will continue working around Port-au-Prince but also focus on the Artibonite Valley, northeast of the capital.
Kathy Troyer, disaster management coordinator for Central America, says the needs in Haiti are still great--prayers and donations still go a long way in Haiti and in other areas of the world where MCC works. When a disaster strikes, there's often a "flurry" of help in the first six months, but "MCC is there for the long haul."
This is an encouragement to see where MCC is, and where their vision is heading for the future. It is my hope that other organizations working in Haiti are just as determined to articulate long-term goals. If you know of some others who are doing it well, working alongside MCC, post a comment and let us know.
sources for this post came from
MCC: MCC plans long-term recovery in Haiti
the Elkhart Truth: Mennonite panel expects 5 years of work in Haiti
I'm friends with the people I quoted in this post!! The Troyers are the best and working hard for MCC Honduras and MCC Haiti!