On December 2nd 2017, Konbit Pou Potapiman Inc (KPP) hosted its Annual Fundraising Gala Event in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Numerous friends and supporters of KPP descended upon the Grand Palms Country Club for an evening of celebration and fundraising. This was KPP’s 7th Annual Gala Event and the occasion, once again, to celebrate our commitment to our homeland.
Carolle Paul, VP and Treasurer of KPP, opened the evening by welcoming the guests, thanking them for their participation and introducing the KPP Directors: Geto Dumesle, Claudel Moise, Serge Bellegarde, Gerald Sidney and the President of KPP Frantz J Jean.Carolle took the opportunity to recognize some KPP members for their contributions throughout the year: Jean Marie Florestal, Joseph and Shesly Anselme, Martine Camille, Vierthe Sidney, Yves and Rasheda Sidney.
It was then the turn of Frantz J Jean, President of KPP to greet the guests and give an overview of KPP’s activities during the year. In his speech, Frantz reaffirmed KPP’s prioritization of the areas of Education, Agriculture and Special Sustainable Projects. Frantz made a review of the recent KPP accomplishments. He also formulated special thanks to the Eric Belfort family, Dr Yolaine Sinady, Dr Dominique A Jean and, Dr Serge St Gerard, for their outstanding contributions to our cause. A short video from the KPP staff in Port-a-Piment, thanking all for their help, was also much appreciated.
Yves Sidney, a devoted KPP member, took to the podium to inform the audience about a Special Project that KPP is working on: Helping to Rebuild the School of Jabouin. Jabouin is a small and poor village of the commune of Port-a-Piment. Its school building was completely destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Matthew. Classes are now conducted in makeshift classrooms under tents made of tarps. School days are dependent on the weather, with classes having to be cancelled on rainy days. A special drive, which had been started on GivingTuesday on KPP’s Facebook page needed to be reinforced. In this context, a Pledge form was distributed to the guests to request additional contributions. We noted with delight the diligence of so many friends to contribute to the cause. KPP thanks them and will keep them informed on the progress of the project.
The remaining hours were filled with a delicious dinner, great music and dancing.
KPP takes this opportunity to again thank the Board of Directors, the members and all the friends who helped make the evening a great success.
Reviving the KPP Breeding of Small Ruminants Project
Thanks to a $1500.00 donation from the One World Group Oxted of London, the KPP-Haiti’s Breeding of Small Ruminants Project, which had been decimated by Hurricane Matthew, is being revived, this time in the village of Nanma.
Nanma is a small, poor village of the commune, about 2 hours walking distance from the town of Port-a-Piment. The KPP team in Haiti brought awareness of the desperate conditions that the residents of Nanma were lfacing after Matthew.
As done in the past, 10 families were chosen to become the beneficiaries of the project as owners of 2 female goats each. The project will follow the same principle of “Receive and Give” used previously in the villages of Dupin and Pinette. It is expected that these beneficiaries will in turn become the donors to other families in the village as the program extends its reach.
Konbit Pou Potapiman Inc expresses its gratitude to One World GroupOxted for allowing its sister organization, KPP-Haiti, the opportunity to continue this project.
Agricultural project update
The farmers in the villages of Jabouin and Pinette reported that despite the heavy rains of the last few months, their harvest of corn was relatively good. The farmers were able to sell their products and reserve enough seeds for replanting.them.
In Jabouin, the farmers are grateful for the recent rains and milder temperatures. The fields of Pigeon Peas (Pwa Kongo) visited by the KPP monitor look promising. If the present weather pattern holds, the farmers expect to rake in a very good harvest by the end of January.
Again KPP thanks all contributors who responded to our call in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Please continue to support KPP. Your contributions are making a difference in the lives of so many.