Comments on: Helping Haiti: Stop the handouts

By: dgw

dgw — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:56:40 +0000

As are, of course, the Haitian mico-lending programs of Fonkoze, Finca and ACME. To whom I would encourage a significant amount of aid funds to be channeled.

By: dgw

dgw — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:18:32 +0000

It has been so encouraging reading these comments. Many thank to all of you for weighing in here.

Scharpfie asked about loans for Haitians. As far was we have been able to find, none of the funds have been specifically earmarked for individual loans to Haitians. On the macro level: in July the IMF did cancel Haiti’s $268 million debt to them and approved a new three year loan worth $60 million (with zero interest until the end of 2011) to boost international reserves–which could help to create small-loan programs.

There are also smaller organizations (like Zafen) that provide loans to local Haitian entrepreneurs.

As far as the diaspora (more than 80% of Haitian professionals) is concerned: The Haitian Diaspora Federation is an umbrella organization–including: Association des Medecins Haitiens a l’Etranger (AMHE), Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida (HACCOF), Haitian-American Engineers and Scientists (HAES), National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH), The Haitian League (THL)–is the largest single group, whose mission is to create a stronger and more prosperous and equitable Haiti by mobilizing the Haitian Diaspora resources to address the Reconstruction, and Sustained Economic Growth and Development of Haiti.

Also, the work of Haitian anthropologist, performance artist and Wesleyan professor Gina Athena Ulysee is extremely important.

By: MCH98110

MCH98110 — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:53:06 +0000

Great editorial with a terrible headline that I’m sure Ms. Warren didn’t write–a headline that contradicts the gist of the piece. Ms. Warren NEVER says “Stop the handouts.” She does say, “We need to be investing in sustainable agricultural education and development projects…” She also suggests decentralizing aid away from Port-au-Prince and putting it into projects elsewhere in Haiti that will render long-term benefits. That’s refocusing “handouts,” not stopping them.

So that headline is worthy of, say, Fox News, but not Reuters. PLEASE, Reuters, don’t reach for a cheap headline just because it fits on one line.

By: doInVA

doInVA — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:17:56 +0000

Bravo Danielle!
Thanks for enlightening us on the current situation in Haiti. More importantly, thank you for offering viable solutions instead of solely pointing out inefficiencies, inadequacies and inappropriate use of funds. Refreshing and well written. Thanks again.

By: pereiraarvindin

pereiraarvindin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:40:04 +0000

Danielle,
I completely agree with you, this is making an antibiotic to Haiti, This has made Haitians lazy, to some extent the Africans who left Africa and settled in France depend on government money to make a living, they are not even applying for jobs and trying to get work, they no longer work hard, this is become a trend in Europe with regular citizens as well.

Arvind Pereira
http://www.ArvindLeoPereira.co.nr

By: dominickspez

dominickspez — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:51:57 +0000

in all this time we could have been putting our own citizens in towns like elkhart back to work building 1 room shelters for the Haitians. We then could have used some of the aid money hiring haitians to put them up,creating a new industry. With over a million people homeless this could last a very long time helping everyone. But it takes leadership and not promises or pledges, and that is sorely lacking.

By: J6J9

J6J9 — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:32:27 +0000

This is so enlightening and a unique and important perspective. What an excellent point that the health of the island’s ecology is tied to the health and condition of its people. Centralization is almost never the answer. As with healthy ecosystems, diversity and repetition make for stable systems. Mangrove reforestation – wonderful!

By: HowMatters

HowMatters — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:41:50 +0000

It is indeed time to get serious about the decentralization and democratization of aid. Unencumbered by the bureaucracy of larger international organizations, community-based groups responded immediately and organically to the emotional and physical needs of families following the earthquake. Yet the extent of their work is much too often under-recognized and always under-resourced.

These local organizations ensure the frayed network of care and support does not fall completely apart. If supported more widely, they would be better able to sustain Haiti’s families and communities in the long-term, as well as work toward effecting the social change that will make Haiti a more peaceful and democratic country.

To read more about the capacities of local, indigenous organizations, see:
http://www.how-matters.org/2010/11/08/mi ssing-from-diy-aid-debate/

By: scharpfie

scharpfie — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:52:41 +0000

Fantastic Op-Ed, Ms. Warren! I’m so glad you bring a sustainable approach to the table. I’m going to check out One Village Planet right now.

I’m curious as to what percentage of aid has been tagged for loans to the Haitians? Also, how has the diaspora played a role?