In a way, I always knew that I would come to Haiti. With half my family being from Haiti, I grew up listening to stories – both good and bad – of Haiti, its people, culture and traditions. I grew up with colorful images of Haiti – with its green mountains, beautiful beaches and numerous rivers – even in the middle of Port-au-Prince. I would listen to stories of how my mother and her friends would go swimming in the ocean every Sunday after church or how Haitians, no matter they social status, took pride in their homes, and communities. How the beauty of the country and its people is what made the world name Haiti the ‘ Pearl of the Antille’. However, I also grew up learning about the hardships that my family, as well as the country, faced in the last 50 years – a hardship that forced my entire family to leave the island and restart their lives around the world. I also grew up seeing the decline of Haiti’s beauty and riches – losing its forests, rivers, beaches, and agricultural lands. Even its social riches and beauties have been taken through dictatorships and corrupt governments.

As I said, I always had a feeling that I would end-up coming to Haiti – and I always knew that when that day come I would have to tell my mother and my family….a country they no longer recognize, as it is no longer the country they grew up knowing… Both my mother and grand-mother were sad that I wouldn’t be able to see their country the way they remembered it, but instead that I would be seeing the country it had become – insecure and, in their eyes, a natural wasteland. I was very pleased to let my mother and grandmother know that the present-day Haiti they had described does not exist – that despite the massive devastation of the earthquake, and previous devastating events, there is still a sense of resilience and hope and that despite its turbulent history, Haiti was taking the steps to rebuild itself – that Haitians are committed to seeing their country rebuilt in a way that they will be proud to call Haiti the “Pearl of the Antilles” once again.

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I arrived in Haiti as the country was moving from a state of emergency to a state of development. An exciting time, as it meant that ILF was entering a new phase in its operations in Haiti. As I was introduced to the many communities where ILF had intervened through its distribution of charcoal-saving stoves, I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and appreciation expressed by ILF’s beneficiaries, notably on how much ILF has done for them, their enjoyment of their new charcoal-saving stoves, and most excitingly, their requests to purchase additional ILF stoves.

This new phase of intervention has allowed ILF to seek new opportunities to assist communities throughout Port-au-Prince in a new capacity –  such as building up a production and stove commercialization program. Since April, ILF has been working with 8 local tin-smiths to produce its ZPB stove (Zamni Pye Bwa – or friends of the trees). ILF and local tin-smiths have been working on creating a sustainable charcoal-saving stove, that is locally produced, user-friendly and liked by all communities in the Port-au-Prince region. Since beginning local production in April, the tin-smiths and ILF have produced just over 1500 ZPB stoves and counting…. The first 1000 were produced for a distribution-funded program in 9 communities, while the remaining stoves are being used to launch our micro-enterprise program in  Gressier district. In September, 5 vendors will open their shops, where they will sell the ZPB stoves. Each vendor has received training and will be supported by ILF and its partner Caritas-Austria through monitoring and the launch of a promotional campaign that will include, store-front sign posts, radio advertisements, demonstration days, flyers and street banners.  ILF Haiti, wants to build upon its already successful micro-enterprise program in Uganda by continuing to build local capacity through job creation for local skilled-laborers and independent female vendors.

Despite the ups and downs that come with working in Haiti, I am reminded daily of the people’s enthusiasm in wanting to better their lives, and working hard to achieve those changes. I look forward to seeing how this new phase at ILF will be ushered in by communities throughout Port-au-Prince.

Christine Roy
Program Director
Port-au-Prince, Haiti