Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean, is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country is not only extremely impoverished but also politically unstable and vulnerable to natural disasters. On January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced the most severe earthquake in the past two centuries in the Caribbean nation. Shortly after Hurricane Matthew (2016) swept through Haiti, it became clear that this would have major consequences for the residents of the southwestern region of Haiti. Today, many Haitians still depend on external assistance and struggle to provide for their own income.
What does the project entail?
Today, many Haitians still depend on external assistance and struggle to provide for their own income. To enable them to grow enough food for themselves and generate sufficient income for their livelihoods, the project invests in local farmers. The goal is to establish self-sustaining farmer cooperatives, allowing 600 families to support themselves and send their children to school. Tear also helps the farmers become resilient to natural disasters. Training is provided on a specific application of the Gliricidia tree, which helps prevent soil erosion on slopes. The leaves of the Gliricidia tree are then used for animal feed, making it a highly sustainable approach.
What is Tear doing to improve the situation?
Tear dreams of a world where people fully flourish through good relationships with God, themselves, each other, and nature. Despite this dream, we live in a world where people live in poverty and injustice. We believe that change begins with a new perspective on ourselves and others. With this insight, Tear, together with local organizations and churches, helps people rise out of poverty and injustice on their own.
What does SamSam’s investment yield?
- 20 farming households (an average of 5 people per household) receive sustainable training;
- 100 farmers receive a starter kit of drought-resistant Pigeon Peas;
- 580 new avocado trees are planted;
- Planting Gliricidia seedlings helps protect slopes better against erosion;
- Using pruning material as ground cover improves soil structure and reduces the quick drying of crops in dry periods.
“Thanks to SamSam, 580 new avocado trees are planted, and farming households are supported.”