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Good News From Haiti

With so much sad news surrounding Haiti, we are happy to share some positive reports from our work in the South. With Quixote Center's support, our partners with the Haitian Christian Community Development (DCCH), part of the Caritas network, launched the Socioeconomic Recovery of the populations of 3rd municipal section of Les Cayes in January 2025 reaching 100 farming families.

Training on livestock management - Costa

The project's main programs are:
* Agricultural support through improved farming techniques, seed and livestock distribution.
* Waste management and environmental protection training.
* Solidarity-based microfinance via Mutual Solidarity Groups (MUSOs).

Direct beneficiaries include local community association members, mostly women, and the project aims to build local resilience, economic empowerment, and community solidarity.

In August, our independent local auditor visited with DCCH and the project participants to conduct a qualitative assessment of the two main programs through interviews and field observations. Our consultant sat down with 10 participants, 5 from each program, to assess the actual impact of the interventions, focusing on:
* Improved living conditions and livelihoods.
* Strengthened community capacities.
* Functionality of local MUSO structures.
* Adoption of sustainable farming and environmental practices.
* Changes in the lives of beneficiaries.

Quixote Center consultant interviewing a participant

One of the key findings of this study is that initially, beneficiaries were hesitant to participate due to past experiences with unfulfilled promises. Unlike previous projects, this intervention began without unrealistic commitments, starting instead with awareness sessions and practical training. This led to community buy-in and a sense of ownership over the project. Including participants in the decision-making process allows this partnership to yield promising results.

8 months into the program, all the interviewed participants report having participated in all the trainings on improved agriculture practices and how to join a MUSO. As a result of these activities, they all perceive positive changes in their lives, including an increase in their income and implementing new ways to farm and raise animals. One participant testified that "the new techniques allow us to spend less and earn more. We no longer need to buy food at the market - we eat what we grow."

In the agriculture and environmental protection activities, participants received quality seeds (beans, corn, millet, yam) and started farming. Many already harvested corn and prepared new plots. Our consultant observed better organized and more productive fields compared to past practices. One participant shared that as a result of this initiative "we are closer to each other, we protect our environment, and manage waste well. Organic waste is turned into fertilizer, and our children are healthier."

The MUSO component is highly appreciated, especially by women. It allows members to access small loans for micro-enterprises such as petty trade and food products like the popular breakfast snack, akasan, made with corn, sugar and milk. This helps improve family income and food security.

However, interviewed participants unanimously requested an increase in the MUSO fund to allow more members to access credit and support better business plans. In fact, this is one of many other suggestions they have for the future of this project as we are exploring the possibility of continuing and expanding these activities in the region.

Project participants receiving livestock

As one participant said, "we hope partners will not give up on us. We are just starting, and we want more training to build a stronger, united, environmentally friendly community."
Quixote Center welcomes the constructive feedback from all community members, and we are grateful for the incredible work the DCCH is doing with this project. As we enter the final quarter, we look forward to its potential expansion. With the help of our donors and local partners, we can transform many more lives.

We invite you to watch this short video highlighting some testimonials ([link removed]) from the participants in this qualitative assessment.

If you wish to leave a comment, please visit our blog post HERE ([link removed]).

 

Join us for a screening of
The Fight for Haiti

We invite everyone in the Washington, DC area to join us on Wednesday, October 15th at 3:30pm to watch the documentary by filmmaker Etant Dupain followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker. The movie documents the events leading up to the current crisis in Haiti, especially the infamous Petrocaribe scandal. We look forward to seeing you there and to a great discussion!

Seating is limited, and we are almost full, so we encourage you to reserve your spot now.

For more details about the event and for registration information, click HERE ([link removed]).

RSVP Here ([link removed])

 

Artist Corner

How much do you know about Central America? Check your knowledge HERE ([link removed]). For this week's Artist Corne, we would like to take a different approach and share with you a wonderful resource for learning more about Central America.

Teaching for Change ([link removed]) is non-profit celebrating its 7th annual Teach Central America Week, October 6-10. Teaching for Change provides lesson plans on Central America for teachers to incorporate Central American history, current events, art and more into their lesson plans.The resources provided in support of those lesson plans offer anyone a thoughtful list of books, films, news articles, podcasts and more- all focused on Central America past and present. You can search for resources by theme or by country on their dedicated website ([link removed]).

A few Highlights:

The Darien Gap- The Quixote Center has written many pieces on migration and the Darien Gap and we partner with the Franciscan Network on Migration in Panama and Colombia to work with migrants who are trying to find their way through or around the Gap. Here is a lesson plan that offers many resources to learn more about the History, Current Events and Migrant Stories of the Darien Gap ([link removed])

Your next read: Check out this extensive list of books on Central America, fiction, non-fiction, YA and adult- there is something for everyone here ([link removed]).

Mount Pleasant, DC: For those of you who live in (or have lived in) DC- the film La Manplesa ([link removed]) may be of particular interest. The film dives into May 5th, 1991- the day people took to the streets of Mount Pleasant, DCto protest the discrimination faced by the community.

Bananas: Watch Banana Land: Blood, Bullets & Poison ([link removed])- A film about Bananas and the conditions in which they are produced.

Or When Banana Ruled ([link removed]'s%20tech%20giants.)- a film about the history of the United Fruit Company and their devastating impact on Central America

When We Were Young There Was A War: a website featuring the stories of children who survived the Salvadoran civil war. Read their stories on this compelling website ([link removed]).

 

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