Magalie L. with some of the goods from her small store

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Magalie L., a resident of Haiti, used to live in a dilapidated hut with one of her daughters and two grandchildren. They had little to call their own, no income, no jobs. That was, at least, until the people of Boca Grande stepped forward to help those in her small village, and now Magalie is making money and her family lives in a decent house. Hers is just one of the stories of hope that have come from the two villages that Boca Grande residents have helped to create.

Food for the Poor/Hope for Haitians is an island charitable cause like no other. When one can see the extreme changes in people’s lives from just a few dollars donated, it makes the whole thing worthwhile. In an area that was poverty-stricken beyond most Americans scope of thought, help was desperately needed. Where there were once tent cities and ramshackle buildings, there are now clean, pretty homes, community centers and, best of all, people with income to sustain their families.

On February 21 at the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club, Ben Scott, the Boca Grande Hope for Haitians chairman, will be giving more information on the plans for the Boca Grande Friendship Village III in Manneville, Haiti.

Manneville is near Thomazeau in the community of Croix-des-Bouquets, and is near two lakes: Etang Saumatre and Lac Azuei. It has an estimated population of 52,000. People of Manneville primarily make a living from farming, although it is seasonal. The most common crops cultivated in this area are millet, sugar cane, and onions. However, many do not have the proper farming tools or methods to establish a successful farm. There is a local market and a few small boutiques, but not enough to create employment opportunities for the masses.

Boca Grande Friendship Village III will have 35 two-room houses with sanitation. Each house will be connected to a water cistern, which will provide families with immediate access to rain water.

Approximately 2,000 trees will be planted around the community to reforest the land and also to increase fruit-bearing trees, 100 goats will be distributed to residents in the community. The residents will be properly trained on how to care for the animals, and 50 residents will receive agricultural tools to help them become more productive farmers.

The inauguration for Boca Grande Friendship Village II will be held on January 14 through 17. Scott and others from the Boca Grande organization will be getting on a plane this Sunday to visit a third building site in Haiti, to help even more people and change more lives. They will also be attending the inauguration.

Meaningful change in Haiti will come through self-sustaining programs, allowing Haitians to take the reins of their own future by providing jobs that will help support the country’s people and local economy,” said Scott.

( 0 Votes )