Konbit Pou Potapiman

By Yves Sidney

Agriculture is one of the fundamental activities in a society to grow crops and raise animals. It forms the basis for food security. Being able to grow the right crops and keep the right livestock ensures that human beings are able to eat healthy diets and form strong immune systems to fight against diseases and infections.

In an area like the commune of Port-a-Piment, Agriculture, as its main activity creates job opportunities, can help build a strong and sustainable economy. Agriculture also will help avoid disasters like famines and reduce import dependency.

Konbit Pou Potapiman, understanding the importance of Agriculture, has initiated different projects in that sphere. Our latest project is in the cultivation of Coffee.

The place selected for this project is Dupin, a small village of the commune located at approximately 2 hours walking distance from the town of Port-a-Piment. With its elevation, its cool temperature, its forestation, and on the advice of the agronomist, Dupin appears to be the ideal area to implement the project.

The participants were selected on the basis of their knowledge, the space available to plant the coffee and a good understanding that it’s a long-term project. Many meetings were held to ensure a successful outcome.

The distribution of the plants started on Sunday October 30^th. 2022, during the wet season to ensure the soil stays moist while the roots are developing. The plants were donated to KPP by Agronomist Junior Albert.  4000 Blue Mountain Coffee plants were indeed distributed to 14 planters of Dupin.

Cultivation of coffee is a long-term project. From seedling to a mature tree and depending on the variety, it takes 3 to five years to bear fruits. Throughout this entire period, the plants demand meticulous care and attention at all times to ensure they grow strong, healthy and disease free. KPP will accompany the planters with technical assistance to care for the trees and for the preparation of new seedlings. Once the trees start bearing fruit, they can continue to produce coffee for at least 30 years.

“Many hands make light work.” Our donors, our friends, and members of our organization in the US and on the ground in Haiti are the hands making a difference in Port-a-Piment. Special thanks to Agronomist Junior Albert for donating the coffee plants and also his expertise. Kudos to Jean Robert Isidor for his leadership in organizing the transport of the seedlings, their distribution, the selection of the planters and the area suitable to grow coffee.

Although our starting cost was minimal, the funds available to realize the project came from previous donations. As the project takes shape, our costs will increase because of the technical support KPP will be providing to ensure success. A donation to help us will be greatly appreciated.

In the words of Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” This project is another ripple.

    Continue reading “Agriculture – Coffee Project in Dupin.” →

 Haiti is now faced with extraordinary economic hardship with inflation reaching well over 30 percent. This situation coupled with the socio-political unrest has caused much misery for all.  Despite the unrest, our members on the ground continue to work as hard as they can to provide us with facts on what is happening in our Port-a-Piment and make sure most of the KPP programs are on track. Here are some of the latest:

Dairy Cow Project

The KPP Dairy Cow project is moving forward. We are glad to report that the KPP cow family has increased by one.  3 more cows are expecting to give birth in the next 7 months.  Slowly milk production has started, and we expect many families in the region to benefit of its availability.

Goat Project

 KPP’s latest Goat project which started in February 2022 is also expanding its population. Goats are one of the primary sources of income for many residents of the villages. Although we had a few minor setbacks, The number of goats in the project now totals 49, up from 40. More births are expected in the next 6 months. Any increase in the goat population will impact positively the beneficiary communities in their struggle against hunger and malnutrition.

Scarcity of Basic Foods

With the scarcity of certain basic foods in the marketplace, our members are encouraged to promote the value and benefits of agriculture. Based on what has been reported to us, foods such as plantains, yucca, yam, breadfruit etc. are very much available at the market in Port-a-Piment. However, many people are unable to buy those products as they do not have enough money to shop for them.  Food Prices have increased tremendously in the marketplace of Port-a-Piment. Please click on this link to view the latest prices: 

Prix des produits-2022 – Konbit Pou Potapiman (portapiment.com)

The state of Port-a-Piment and to a certain extent, the country as a whole is best described by what one resident from the area related to us:

“We cannot make any money because of the general state of the country. We are unable to travel and export our products toward Port-au-Prince or Cayes. Hopefully we will have enough to feed our family.”

With your assistance we continue to make a difference.

    Continue reading “KPP: an update on our activities” →

After a 2 year hiatus due to the pandemic and security concerns, the KPP Annual Summer Camp resumed its usual activities.

The 2022 Summer Camp ran from July 4^th through July 15^th.

As in the previous years, the camp counted 80 students, age 6 to 12, selected by eight school administrators, on the basis of academic excellence.

Sports, Arts and Crafts, talent contests, songs and dance, breakfast and lunch, lectures by monitors and guest speakers, as well as preparation for the graduation ceremonies filled the 7:30 am to 2:00 pm time slot.

Graduation was held on July 15^th, when parents were invited to witness their kids’ performance and participate in a modest reception. Each child received a gift of a new book bag in preparation for the upcoming school year.

The 2022 Summer Camp evolved in an atmosphere of fun, learning, and safety.

The KPP Board of Directors salutes the leadership of Mrs. Paule Edline Orcel. Mrs. Orcel proved once again to be an independent high achiever, who sets lofty goals and leads her team to success.

We also thank the camp monitors, kitchen personnel, security personnel, the photographers, the cleaning crew, for their dedication and hard work.

Special thanks to the guest speakers, Mr. Abraham Gentil, Mr. Phedeau Lubin, Nurse Aude-Laure Pierre for motivating the kids to be better and healthier citizens.

KPP also thanks the Director of the College Stella Maris for the use of the facilities.

Thank you to the parents for their trust and also to the participants for exhibiting exemplary behavior.

This 2022 KPP Summer Camp represents a cornerstone for us!! As the team from abroad was unable to travel due to security concerns, the KPP members in Haiti did all the planning, coordination, execution of the day to day activities. This meant months of meetings, purchasing, rehearsals to bring the camp to fruition.

We are so extremely proud of the KPP Haiti team !!

Mostly, the Board of directors of KPP is so grateful to YOU who have contributed to make the 2022 Summer Camp a reality! Thank you for the support, Thank you for the trust!!

We are looking forward to many more years of Summer Camps!

    Continue reading “The KPP Annual Summer Camp- 2022” →

As stated in our article of April 26th, the goal for the KPP Dairy Cow Project was to allocate 10 cows to 10 families of the village of Chariole, in the year 2022. On April 12th, the project got on the way when four (4) cows were delivered to the first beneficiaries. On Sunday, May 29th, four (4) more families became our most recent members.

Based on feedback from the beneficiaries and our members on the ground, KPP acquired a bull to be a component of the project. This will make it easier for the participating families to mate their cows and will substantially decrease the traveling distance to a mating station. In addition, participants will have more time to devote to other productive work. As one of the participants stated,” Thanks to KPP, this is the first time the area has a bull. Now we won’t have to go far away to find a mating station.

Two (2) more to go to get to 10/10. With your help we will make it.

Thanks to those who already contributed to this project. Your donations are making an enormous difference in the lives of the residents of Chariole and the surrounding vicinities in Port-a-Piment.  As one of the participants succinctly put it, “KPP’s projects are providing us hope”.

Remember, every donation makes a difference. For each one thousand dollars ($1,000) we collect through individual or multiple donations, a family will have access to a cow and cost to cover miscellaneous needs: ropes, milk cans, buckets, veterinarian services, vaccination….

The KPP Dairy Cow Project is close to the 2022’s goal but with your generous donations we can surpass it.

With your assistance, we continue to make a difference.

    Continue reading “Update on The KPP Dairy Cow Project” →