heks

Haiti is currently one of the poorest countries in the world. According to estimates, eighty per cent of the population live below the poverty line. The state does not guarantee basic supplies for its people nor does it provide for their medical care. This situation affects around three quarters of the population. They live in a world of unimaginable violence and legal uncertainty.

Political instability, poor governance, economic regression and lack of government investment have created this desolate state of affairs. Another factor to take into account is the occurrence of natural disasters like hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne in September 2004 whose effects are still noticeable. Haiti’s economy is in a sorry state, the land is unable to yield sufficient produce to meet the food requirements, and half of the population is out of work.

Against this backdrop, the main aim of HEKS in Haiti is to encourage rural development and to improve the quality of education and schooling. It is important for the various key players to work together towards this aim.

Aims, points of focus, initiatives:

Guaranteed provision of food supplies:
HEKS works with various NGOs to encourage the formation of cooperatives for small-scale producers and the development of agricultural distribution chains. Specialists are trained in cattle breeding and project management.

Primary schooling for children in rural areas:
HEKS gives financially to help fund teacher training, both in terms of support and educational aspects, and it supports the Centres ruraux d’éducation participative (CREP) and the school of the Eglise Unie d’Haïti, which is attended by the poorest children.

Strengthening of partner organisations:
The programme supports the partner organisations in their institutional and organisational development, most notably in the areas of administration and financial management with a view to their being recognised by the local authorities. The encouragement of collaboration with government services is conducive to the formulation of local development plans.

Humanitarian aid in natural disasters