An Agricultural Event!

On: By: potapiman

An extraordinary event happened on Sunday October 17th 2021: Konbit Pou Potapiman (KPP) delivered on its promise to assist the farmers in the various villages of the commune of Port-a-Piment in their quest to recover from the economic downturn caused by the devastating earthquake of last August 14th 2021

Our project was to provide the farmers with the seeds needed to cultivate their land, and also to accompany them with technical assistance for a successful harvest of beans in the next 3-4 months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early on that Sunday, farmers from 13 villages of the countryside started to converge on Grandpas, one of the neighborhoods of the town of Port-a- Piment.

 

They were 300 who had registered to receive 5 “buckets“ of beans seeds each for planting.

The identification of the recipients was carefully reviewed. Each of the farmers was the holder of an ID card provided by KPP. These cards were created to facilitate the process of distribution.

  A roll call by villages was made to verify the presence of the beneficiaries.  Mr. Jean Robert Isidor, the KPP representative, took to the podium to welcome the farmers. In his speech, he reminded them of the meaning of October 17th in Haitian history: date of the death of Jean Jacques Dessalines, Father of the Haitian Revolution.  Jean Robert stated that the distribution of the seeds was a great way to honor his memory. He also reiterated the objectives of the program: to help the farmers improve their family’s finances, while helping others do the same. Upon harvest, each farmer is to return 1 “bucket” of beans to KPP to help further the program to other villages. Four other members of KPP also spoke to the crowd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The farmers, armed with their registration cards, were then called by villages. The operation went on smoothly for 4 hours. Our reports indicate that all farmers did receive what was promised to them. And they expressed their gratitude to the organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We thank our members in Port-a-Piment for their leadership in planning, and executing the operation. Thank you Jean Jules, Paule Edline, Murielle, Phebe, Jonel, Rosie, Gayoni, Brian.  Kudos to Jean Robert Isidor for his leadership in the preparation and realization of this phase of the project!

We also thank everyone who contributed to our fundraising efforts. Mesi, Mesi anpil!

Photos: Jonel Musac
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Update #3- Getting ready for School!

On: By: potapiman

By Yves Sidney

Since our previous update of August 30, 2021, our members on the ground (KPP-Haiti) have continued working relentlessly. They are coordinating various activities to prepare the schools and the children to be ready for the current school year which starts on October 4th. In addition, they are putting in place what is needed to implement Konbit Pou Potapiman (KPP) new long-term focus: the revival of Agriculture in the farmland of the commune.

 

Schools

We are currently working with 3 schools: Lycée de Port-a-Piment, College Rwood Claudy Damas and EFA de Port-a-Piment. There are other schools which contacted us for help but have not yet specified what their needs are.

Lycée de Port-a-Piment:  The Earthquake of last month had impacted mostly every building in Port-a-Piment and the schools were not spared. Fortunately this school has not sustained structural damages, However all classrooms showed visible cracks that needed repairs .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A request for assistance from the School Director, M. Aguilnaire Seide was  received and approved by KPP. .As of last Friday,  all repairs have been completed and the school has been painted. Another phase of the project which has already started, is repairs to the road leading to the school.

 

College Rwood Claudy Damas: This school was completely demolished. The principal, Mr. François Frasil, took the initiative to construct a hangar (tentative structure) to receive the children for the start of school. He reached out to KPP, and we helped finance part of the project. Work has started and the principal is confident that the structure will be ready to welcome its students

 EFA de Port-a-Piment: This school which serves approximately 600 hundred children was fortunate not to sustain structural damages. As of this writing, the repairs have started, and we will be reporting on their progress in our subsequent update.

Agriculture

 Farming: Execution of this project has generated tremendous interest from the planters in the commune. As a result, we are expanding the number of participants from 80 to 300. Mr. Jean Robert Isidor (member of KPP-Haiti) and the local agronomist, Mr., Gayoni Elie Germeil continue to identify more farmers to achieve the new goal..

In the meantime, the farmers are preparing their fields for the new crops, and the agronomist is aiding them where needed by providing technical help. We are now purchasing and bagging the seeds for distributions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thank you for your support. The need is great and we always appreciate your generosity. As mother Theresa said “together we can do great things”,

More to follow….

Photos: Jonel Musac
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or this link to our GOFUNDME:  https://gofund.me/c974b54d

 

Our work continues in Port-a-Piment

On: By: potapiman

On Sunday August 29th, 2021, Konbit Pou Potapiman made its second delivery of medical supplies to the Hôpital de Port-a-Piment. A stock of 36 boxes of medicines and first aid supplies, as well as 6 crutches were delivered. Mr. Evens Pierre, Hospital Administrator, Dr Astaly Cadet ,Medical Director, and Miss Jeuny Allien, Head Nurse  acknowledged receipt of the shipment. KPP ensured the safe transport of the supplies which will help our brothers and sisters recover from the physical trauma of the recent earthquake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On another front:

Konbit Pou Potapiman has selected as one of its long-term goals the revival of Agriculture in the farmland of the commune. The countryside is now in a state of total devastation. Crops and livestock have been lost to the one-two punch of the August 14th Earthquake as well as Tropical Storm Grace which followed 2 days later. Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy, and its revival will ensure increasing wealth, improved health, nutrition and housing for the affected population.

On Sunday August 29th, 2021, Mr. Jean Robert Isidor (KPP representative in Haiti) held an initial meeting in the village of  Dolian with about 80 local farmers.  They all lost their crops and need help to resume farming. At the meeting, the farmers expressed their needs and concerns. Mr. Isidor profiled the KPP program, which would offer the appropriate seeds to the farmers, which they would cultivate under the professional guidance of the local agronomist. Mr. Isidor is setting up a formal registration of the participants, distribution of the seeds and monitoring of the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will keep you abreast of our progress. Thank you again to all who support our work in Port-a-Piment. Your help is making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Mèsi. Mèsi anpil !! .

 
To donate ,please use our  PayPal button:

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or this link to our GOFUNDME:  https://gofund.me/c974b54d

 

Update on the Earthquake in Port-a-Piment.

On: By: potapiman

 

During the week following the earthquake, Konbit Pou Potapiman  elected to assess the urgent and long term needs of the population, by conducting a town survey.

KPP-Haiti deployed a team of 12 workers to all neighborhoods of the town to conduct a count of the  damages. Their report indicates :

  • 425 homes destroyed
  • 775 homes with various levels of damages
  • The main structures of the town, including the hospital, the city hall, the churches, most schools, are all visibly damaged.

As for human casualties, there are no deaths in the town but 22 are wounded. As for the surrounding villages, the situation is altogether different. Based on anecdotal reporting, those areas experienced many deaths. Some sources have reported a toll of about 30.  We are however trying to get a handle on the count. They’ve also reported many wounded with some incapable to reach the hospital.

This survey will serve as a basis for allotting aid in the coming months.

What else are we doing ?

Hospital supplies to attend to the wounded were identified as a priority by the hospital administrator. We swiftly acted and supplies of bandages, antibiotics, pain killers, wound cleansers, IV solutions, gloves, alcohol, syringes  among others were delivered to the hospital on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Also included in the delivery is a supply of 500 X-Ray films to be used in the Radiology Unit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our thanks to Dr. Ernst Joseph who did the purchasing for KPP and Dr. Robert Daniel for volunteering to transport the supplies from Port-au-Prince to Port-a-Piment.

More medical supplies have been procured. We are working on making arrangements for transportation from Port-au-Prince to Port-a-Piment.

More to come…

Thank you all for your support. The need is great but as you have always shown, you’ve been very generous. And with your help, we will make a difference.

 
To donate ,please use our  PayPal button:

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or this link to our GOFUNDME:  https://gofund.me/c974b54d