in Haiti: Day Four – Seven

LAJONES, Senatorial Candidate Danielle Saint Lot, Cite Soliel Mayoral Candidate & We Advance Co-Founder Barbara Guiliaumme & We Advance Co-Founder & Executive Director Aleda Frishman

DAY FOUR
Up early… 3:45am for my 4:30am pick-up. Five of us rode for three hours plus to Les Cayes to attend the women’s empowerment workshop hosted by Danielle Saint Lot, founder of Femme En Democratie. At least 50 engaged community women turned out ages ranged from 30 to 70 years old women. The woman represented their communities each sharing their issues of what they were willing to work together for change. Breaking into groups to discuss their issues – below are examples of what was shared:

* Gloves in hospitals are needed for birth deliveries – women have experienced several times when a
doctor would not deliver a baby because they had no gloves.

* Domestic Violence – an overarching issue … women shared their stories of sexual and physical abuse

* Marketing / Promotion – they recommended to use the network for recyclying their dollars among each
other. For example, when they need to purchase gifts for friends, special guests – that they buy
from someone in the network instead of the marketplace.

Also under this area, they wanted to identify someone who would be interested in supplying branding labels for their products. There are a lot of women who make products, but they don’t have nor have the time to do the branding labels – a great opportunity for someone to also help them market the products.

Today was one workshop out of 20 being conducted throughtout Haiti for their data collection and research findings presentation to the goverment later this month, FED welcomed the ladies in a beautiful outside covered pavillion with white table linen covered chairs and tables at one of the nicest hotels in the area. At each table setting a welcome packet was provided along with three meals for the day, and a personal space for intimate, confidental sharing and networking. Timed perfectly, the food breaks were short sweet and eagerly back to business within 30 minutes. Although, I don’t speak creole, when I did introduce myself and provide greetings from the US, Barbara translated to the women who were very receptive. It was so beautiful to meet these women far in the rural areas of Haiti be so ready and making change in their lives for their own dignity and self empowerment. Although I was not able to understand their presentations – Barbara did a great job in translating for me — but mostly I felt their drive and passion to get it done. The new mantra Danielle introduced to them today was nap vanse which means We Advance. With their partner organization, We Advance, co-founders Barbara Guiliamme and Adele Frishman in attendance it displayed the committment and importance of community collaboration … why reinvent the wheel when their is so much work to be done … it can be done with greater impact when the NGO’s bond together to engage the women. In addition to running for Mayor of Cite Soliel, Barbara is also a performing artist and opened the morning ceremonies with her song she wrote for We Advance which in creole stands for nap vanse. From a cultural standpoint, Danielle shared it was important to affirm positive messages to change deeply rooted mindsets of Haitian women’s sober feelings of just getting by day-by-day.

During the 3-hour+ ride to and from Port Au Prince to Les Cayes we passed through several towns. In the morning it was the most darling sight to see all the children on their way to school walking, on the back of tap taps, on the backs or fronts of their dads motorcycles or on the backs of donkeys. Interestingly, there were different groups of girls whose big green, yellow, rust, red, brown ribbons and barretts matched their uniforms. It was the cutest thing to see. UNICEF donated branded backpacks so you almost every child you see is wearing a backpack in the rural area.

DAY FIVE
reflecting on the past few days … the many sights that I will never forget include:

The girls walking in their uniforms with matching barretts
The Tap Taps coordinated transportation system w/ people jumping on & off – not sure if regulated???
On the way to and from Les Cayes, people burning their trash
People going to manholes, springs and pumps for their water
Separating their the trash into piles of orange peels, charcoal, clothes, etc.
So many people everywhere- there are thousands up early as 5am moving around getting set up for the day
United Nations vehicles all over the place
UNICEF backpacks
In Port Au Prince lots of tent cities – branded by USAID
Goats on ropes
No street lights
DIGICELL major wireless company
DIGICELL representatives walk the streets to transact business
Random police stops
Guards with rifles visible – I learned its mostly where money is being exchanged
Cementaries are above ground like in New Orleans

DAY SIX & SEVEN
I wanted to take more photos of the people and scenes in real time, but I am a bit too sensitive. But here are some I was able to take without enfringing on the privacy of others…