Through the Women’s Group organized by HHH’s Community Director in Haiti, Golds Mithe Joseph, the women of Noyau were provided an opportunity to develop and grow their own small businesses. Golds taught the women how to set up a business for themselves and she implemented a micro-financing program to fund these businesses. She taught the women how to organize, run their businesses, pay back the loans and also set up a savings plan for themselves. Because the women were doing so well and paying back the loans, additional women were able to join this program and some were able to borrow larger amounts for growing their businesses.
In early 2020, Vivaldie W. Marseille accepted the challenge to continue this wonderful work as successor of Golds Mithe Joseph. Vivaldie actively participates in the social economic and cultural activities of the parish.
Sharing some early microloan success stories with you…
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- Magalie’s Story
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- Ephemir’s Story
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- St. Anne’s Story
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- Casimir’s Story
Latest updates
Ask and You Shall Receive
By Hilarie Rath
“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew 7:7
What beautiful words for all of us to trust! Yet sometimes doors close, and when that happens, it’s important to see the new door and give it a pull.
During the summer of 2020, the Community Development Manager of Hands and Hearts with Haiti, Vivaldie Marseille, informed the HHH Education Committee that the women we serve in Noyau missed the care packages we sent them in the past. When an inquiry was made, in order to help in this way again, we learned that the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas, PTPA, suspended shipments during the pandemic.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered a fellow lay missionary, Mary Jo Runnoe, tell me that the Salvatorians worked miracles when it comes to delivering goods to overseas missions. I looked them up, and sure enough, they were still in operation. Information was exchanged and a new door opened.
I can’t speak highly enough about the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse of New Holstein, Wisconsin. There are not words to describe the labor of love made possible by individuals and corporations who bring comfort to some of our most vulnerable populations throughout the world. Once the shipping container was secured, the requests to HHH started pouring in.
Can you send us chairs for the school?
We need roofing material due to hurricane damage.
It will be more budget friendly to send the oven for the women’s cooking program from the US.
Every time a request was made, a benefactor was found. Then we learned that the PTPA was receiving other shipping requests. One parish was in desperate need of solar panels and needed assistance in getting them to Haiti. Could we help? Of course, the good fortune needed to be shared. Then Friends of Haiti, another missionary organization, learned about the shipment. Tires for vehicles and medical supplies needed to get to their destination. All of these needs were met through the shipment.
It took a little while to get the goods out of customs and safely to their destinations, but on February 7, 2021, we learned that the goods we sent, all 28,750 pounds worth, had safely arrived.
Father Romel Eustache of Saint Louis Parish in Mirebalais wrote, “On behalf of the priests of the parish, on behalf of the parishioners and the student beneficiaries, for this beautiful gift of goods from the Salvatorian Mission and HHH, I want to thank all of you…” Over and over again, he thanked all who made this possible.
Moving forward, new doors are opening in Mirebalais. The local bishop has asked Father Romel to open three new chapels. He is working to secure the land. We also learned of the need for updated security in the elementary school that was recently built. The need for expanding and renovating Monsignor Remy High School was also made known to us.
With deep gratitude, we thank our benefactors, and share the joy experienced from our neighbors in Haiti.
August 2020 Community Development Report
Updates from Vivaldie W. Marseille
Girls’ Empowerment Group in Mirebalais: On August 5,2020, we had a training session with the Girls’ Empowerment on the topic of understanding friendliness. Indeed, we have defined the conviviality which is the existing relationship between the individuals of a community. We have seen the importance of conviviality in human development. We spoke about the development of man as a constructive agent of his future. The participants
understand that it is important to live in community. Some of them testified that often time they tear each other apart for personal causes, selfishness and so on. We helped them understand how important it is to care for another in order to foster community change. There is a saying that goes: Man is the agent of his future; we must work to build your future. We ended the session with some fun such as rope jumping, dancing, so everyone went home with a happy face.
In Noyau: We had several sessions with the children at Noyau. Indeed, these sessions were very practical. They learned how to make sandals out of card stock.
The Women’s Group in Noyau: On August 30,2020 we had a training session with the SOFADEM group. The subject discussed was: “Violence on women, cause and consequences”. Haiti is a country that often experiences socio-political upheavals; often times, these catastrophic situations lead to violence on minority groups especially in disadvantaged neighborhood. Women are the most vulnerable as they are victim of rape, and other
physical violence. Statistics show that approximately 273200 Women are victims of domestic and sexual violence between the ages 14 and 49 years old each year. This very delicate phenomenon should attract the attention of everyone in order to provide an adequate response to resolve the problem. But, very unfortunately, the Haitian government is not really doing much to cope with this alarming situation among the population.
This training session provided an opportunity for open discussion that participants eagerly took part in.
In Boyer we have activity sessions on making suitcases a diction game. The
children look forward to these sessions.