Press release
Supporting the empowerment of vulnerable rural communities in Haiti
To strengthen the agricultural and entrepreneurial skills of 30 families on Île-à-Vache, Haiti, through the implementation of training programmes.
Local communities were actively involved in the project, providing resources such as labour and locally sourced materials.
An agricultural trainer, a local resident with a good understanding of the local context, was recruited. He was then trained directly by the project’s lead consultant to ensure he fully grasped the technical and educational content of the various planned activities.
To facilitate the experimental sessions, an additional plot of land was leased for a period of three years. In total, three agricultural plots were demarcated and prepared for the farming activities planned as part of the project, thus providing dedicated spaces for putting the acquired knowledge into practice.
A 25,000-gallon water tank was built on Ile-à-Vache to meet the water needs of the crops in the project’s experimental gardens.
The training sessions took place over several days, combining:
– Theoretical sessions to introduce key concepts;
– Practical workshops to enable young people to handle ingredients, follow production steps and master technical skills. Among the products made were: perfume, liquid soap, cooking vinegar, etc.
The approach was participatory and focused on ‘learning by doing’, thereby strengthening the participants’ autonomy and confidence.
2023-2024
Ile-à-Vache, Haiti
Community of the Sisters of St Francis of Assisi
Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie
