http://beta.razoo.com/blog/show/108 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:57:48 GMT Latest posts from Benjamin Seaward's community blog http://beta.razoo.com/blog_post/725/show <p>VWA AYITI, INCORPORATED MARCH 2007 SANITATION/WATER PURIFICATION/DIGNITY & PRIDE </p> <p>Bonjou zanmi mwen! We are happy to announce that thanks to your support, Vwa Ayiti’s sanitation, water purification, and health initiatives are working! Together we have stemmed the tide of disease and are helping to save lives in northern Haiti. By the end of January 2007, Vwa Ayiti distributed de-worming medication to over 8,000 residents in the villages of Labadi and Bod Mer Limbè. The repairs on Labadi’s existing water purification system created three additional water distribution points. Inspection of Vwa Ayiti’s work by hydro-geologist Pat McMahon, PhD, confirmed not only had our repairs dramatically improved the <br />purity of the water, but could also <br />be considered permanent. Artist <br />Ali Mènard returned to Labadi to add Vwa Ayiti’s trademark touches to our water distribution sites and public twàlets. </p> <p>VWA AYITI INAUGURATES ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PUBLIC TWÀLETS </p> <p>Before Vwa Ayiti’s sanitation initiatives began, the 5,000 residents of Labadi had no access to facilities of any kind. The areas that villagers once used to <br />defecate in have been cleaned <br />and became locations for Vwa Ayiti’s public twàlets. On Saturday, March 3, 2007, the twàlets were finally opened. Villagers got their first waft of the dry twàlets’ end by-product, an odorless <br />powder that makes a nutrient <br />rich mulch/fertilizer.</p> <p>Vwa Ayiti is also creating jobs. A sanitation manager is hired to provide education and maintain each twàlet. Applicants were selected from the village’s neediest families. Then Willie offered his “services” to inaugurate the twàlet and history was made...so to speak * Under the guidance of the SOL, the Vwa Ayiti team will soon be building twàlets themselves. This reduces the price of construction, creates even more <br />jobs, and instills a sense of pride and ownership. Vwa Ayiti will continue to rely on SOL’s expertise for consultation, education, and collaboration on future projects. Mèsi anpil to all our friends and mentors at SOL! (www.oursoil.org). <br />Vwa Ayiti envisions twenty public twàlets strategically placed <br />throughout Labadi by the close of 2007. If we realize this vision it proves Vwa Ayiti’s network of supporters can directly alleviate the suffering of thousands; restoring health and human dignity to an entire generation! We are thrilled to report there have been <br />long lines to use our twàlets since their inauguration! </p> <p>VWA AYITI TO EXPAND HEALTH INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS </p> <p>Vwa Ayiti Labadi’s Local Executive Board and The International Board met this March to secure new twálet construction sites, schedule sanitation education outreach programs, and expand the distribution of medications. Visiting doctor Tiffany Keenan, MD confirmed the profound impact Vwa Ayiti’s de-worming program has had on the health of the population, especially the young. <br />In partnerships with Hearts Together For Haiti and Project Healthy Children, Vwa Ayiti will immediately begin securing and facilitating the distribution of folic acid/micronutrients and women’s health education outreach programs in both Labadi and Bod Mer Limbè. </p> <p>SMALL VICTORIES IN THE LIFE OR DEATH STRUGGLE FOR HAITI </p> <p>While we celebrate the successes of Vwa Ayiti, our mission is also to bring awareness to the extreme nature of Haiti’s poverty. Our visit to one of the <br />poorest slums on the planet, Cap- Haïtien’s Chadeau district, was sobering evidence of the battle ahead. Raw sewage literally bubbles up from the ground. Vwa Ayiti’s National Executive Director, Fritz Clerveau Pierre, toured the slum to assess ways Vwa Ayiti can reach out to probably the most destitute <br />community in the western hemisphere. While Vwa Ayiti remains focused on projects in Labadi and Bod Mer Limbè, we must not lose sight of the battle <br />ahead. Vwa Ayiti’s founder and <br />indie-filmmaker James M. Felter’s <br />new documentary “Ayiti Cheri,” will focus attention on the myriad of issues and events that allow such extreme <br />poverty to perpetuate. Vwa Ayiti is committed to raising global media <br />awareness of Haiti’s struggle to survive. </p> <p>NATIONAL PRIDE AND SELF-DETERMINATION </p> <p>For years the few cruise lines that still visit Haiti have often told visitors they are on the island of Hispañola. Although Labadi and the Cap-Haïtien <br />area is dependent on income from these tourists, it has long served as a national insult. In order to send a clear message to everyone visiting the area, Vwa Ayiti sponsored the construction and dedication of a 60-foot flagpole at the dock of Labadi. Now the Haitian flag proudly flies, beaconing to all from above the horizon. Vwa Ayiti’s dedication ceremony included historical <br />presentations on Labadi and the Haitian flag. As the flag was being raised <br />you could feel the spirits and hopes of Labadi rising as well. Vwa Ayiti is <br />providing more than just twàlets and clean water—we are proving that with a little help the Haitian people are able organize and problem-solve as a community. One thing is certain: while Vwa Ayiti represents a wide cross section of Labadi, we have definitely <br />captured the energy of the youth. They, in turn, are reaching out to their elders and becoming community role models. <br />Vwa Ayiti’s initiatives are not only improving the health of Labadi, they are celebrations of Haiti’s rich history and culture. The end results are obvious. <br />All throughout Labadi self-initiated clean-up programs have begun. Our mission is far from over, but we are witnessing the beginnings of self-sufficiency and self-determination. <br />Behind each success is an untold story of courage that merits our respect and continued support. To overcome the cumulative effects of <br />poverty, malnutrition, political instability, and affect <br />change... you have be an extraordinary individual. These extraordinary <br />individuals are Vwa Ayiti! Our labor force is made up of young and <br />old, men and women—the majority are <br />volunteers. Our blessing/motivation is to be working with such amazing spirits to help facilitate community-based change. </p> <p>“MEN ANPIL CHAY PA LOU”...THE MORE HANDS THE LIGHTER THE LOAD! </p> <p>We need your help to lighten the load! Vwa Ayiti is still a young NGO but we <br />are proving that our grassroots, hands-on approach to community development <br />is working. We are also proving that even small donations can add up and go <br />a long way in Haiti. We thank all our sponsors and respectfully request your <br />continued financial support. We hope more of you will join us in our struggle <br />to help one of our closest and poorest neighbors...Haiti.</p> Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:57:48 GMT http://beta.razoo.com/blog/rss/213 Benjamin Seaward http://beta.razoo.com/blog_post/724/show <p> VWA AYITI, INCORPORATED DECEMBER 2006 SANITATION AND WATER PURIFICATION INTIATIVES <br /> </p> <p>Our help may have arrived just in <br />time. Since Vwa Ayiti’s last trip in September, the occurrence of death and disease in Labadi has exploded. Heavy rains in November have had a <br />devastating impact on the health of the village and its water supply. Parasites and water-born illnesses have reached epidemic proportions, hitting the young and elderly especially hard. But thanks to the support of our sponsors, SOL, and The United Nations, Vwa Ayiti is already helping to turn the tide, and saving lives. <br /> <br />PHASE ONE OF VWA AYITI’S SANITATION INITIATIVE <br /> <br />In mid-December of 2006, Vwa Ayiti partnered with Dr. Sasha Bryn Kramer of SOL (Sosyete Organize pou Lanati) to begin construction of ecologically-sound “dry toilets” and latrines in Labadi (visit www.oursoil.org for more information). <br /> <br />The United Nations transported all of the construction materials from Cap-Haitien to the port of Labadi. From there, Vwa Ayiti team members and <br />volunteers from the village moved the materials to our first construction site. <br />Everyone got involved! Once our materials and location were secured, the Vwa Ayiti team was joined by Fritz Clerveau Pierre. Fritz is a well- respected lawyer, community leader, <br />and powerful speaker from Port-au- <br />Prince. Fritz is providing legal counsel <br />and representation for all of Vwa <br />Ayiti’s community development <br />initiatives. <br /> <br />After educating and building community awareness, the construction began. With the support of the entire community and the expertise of SOL, Labadi’s first environmentally sound public latrine was built in just three days. But we weren’t finished yet! <br /> <br />Ménard Ali, a good friend to Vwa Ayiti and talented painter from Cap-Haitien, <br />came aboard to add his personal touches. <br /> <br />Vwa Ayiti’s first public latrine will serve as an educational site, a source of human dignity, and community pride. <br /> <br /> <br />PHASE ONE VWA AYITI’S WATER-PURIFICATION INTIATIVES <br /> <br />Next, a Vwa Ayiti delegation visited and received official permission from Magistrate Michel St. Croix (Mayor-elect of Cap-Haitien) to begin rebuilding Labadi’s water purification and distribution system. <br /> <br />After conducting extensive <br />testing, our results confirmed what our eyes had been seeing. Labadi’s <br />single source of water, an open-air reservoir, was crawling with E.coli bacteria. We needed to take <br />immediate action. Our testing had also <br />identified several cleaner sources of water from deep within Labadi’s <br />reservoir. Our next mission was to repair the existing infrastructure and <br />channel this cleaner water into the center of the village. <br /> <br />Vwa Ayiti members and volunteers accomplished the mission <br />in a single day. While this is not a permanant fix, it will have <br />a dramatic and immediate impact on <br />the overall purity of Labadi’s water. <br />Construction and repair of several <br />other water distribution sites <br />throughout Labadi have already <br />begun. <br /> <br />Vwa Ayiti’s next mission was to begin the immediate distribution of de-worming medication in both Labadi and the nearby village of Bod Mer Limbé. <br /> <br />After receiving official permission from the Minister of Health, Vwa Ayiti members began educating and distributing the medication throughout the village. The medication will not totally rid the body of intestinal <br />parasites, but it reduces them to tolerable levels. This means an immediate reduction in transmission and environmental contamination. <br /> <br /> <br />VWA AYITI’S MISSION CONTINUES <br /> <br />Begining January 4, 2007, Vwa Ayiti and SOL will launch an aggressive <br />education outreach program on healthy sanitation habits, and the maintainence of the dry toilets. <br /> <br />SOL engineers will return January 8th to <br />construct several other toilets and public latrines throughout Labadi. <br /> <br />Vwa Ayiti has also begun development of a solar-powered, multi-point water purification and distribution system for the village. <br /> <br />Fritz Pierre will be registering and incorporating Vwa Ayiti as an NGO in Haiti, Vwa Ayiti, Incorporated <br />Vwa Ayiti, Inc is a Federally Recognized 501(C)-3 Corporation and speaking on behalf of Vwa Ayiti at the inauguration of Mayor Michel St. Criox on January 20th in Cap-Hatien. <br /> <br />In conjunction with Black History Month, Vwa Ayiti will be sponsoring a <br />weeklong series of fundraisers and public awareness campaigns about both <br />the plight of Haiti, and her magnificent culture and history. <br /> </p> Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:43:15 GMT http://beta.razoo.com/blog/rss/213 Benjamin Seaward