Organisation for the Regeneration of the Environment, Haiti, election 2008

www.oreworld.org

ORE is a relatively small development organisation based in the south of the country. I came across them through a old colleague who had spent over 6 months between 2003-2005 working with them. She always sang there praises - one of those really well run organisations that did a huge amount on a shoestring budget.

I'll be honest - I have had very little direct contact with them so far, though what I have had has been very efficient and professional. I do have complete respect of my friends judgment - she has spent the last 7 years working with organisations such as this and is now setting up her own. Their proposal sounds very worthwhile and full of potential. I really think it would be great to learn more about them, learn more about Haiti and its people and some of the problems they face.

John Arnold, Jan 2008

The following is a cut down version of there proposal, the full text can be found through the link at the bottom of the page.

ORE is a grassroots organization, a Haitian NGO created in 1985 and based in the south of the county near Les Cayes. The organization was founded “to improve environmental, agricultural and economic conditions in rural Haiti by promoting high revenue tree crops, seeds and marketing programs”.

ORE works with local farmers to teach sustainable farming practices, mainly by improving staple food crops and promoting the production of quality fruits, moving farmers from subsistence to profitable farming. It is also engaged in many community projects including coordinating efforts to relocate families living in areas at risk of flooding, and promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in schools. It is a social community project that ORE is proposing our money would go toward should they be successfully elected.

Project Proposal
This project is intended to subsidize a rural community school based near Camp-Perrin called “Le Canaan”. Due to a recent drop in local income many classes are in danger of being dropped for this academic year. OPS funds would be used to cover expenses for 7 months of computer classes and the acquisition of equipment to upgrade the computer class.

Background
Due to lack of resources most primary schools in Haiti are privately funded. In rural areas many schools have been forced to close due to relatively low numbers of students - the private system favouring the schools in towns with large student numbers. This has meant that many primary school kids are forced to travel large distances to go to school or miss out altogether.

“Le Canaan” a rural primary school, started in 2000, has persevered and become a success story in the sense that the school has earned official status form the Ministry of Education and has had very good results with the students reaching the first  official exam level (6th grade). This is achieved through the help and dedication of young local teachers, some still high school students, providing their best skills to ensure success to those very poor in their community.

Problem: Increasing Poverty
For the past decade however the area around Le Canaan has become much worse off. Due in part to government failings, this has hit the poorest of the community the hardest. Further to that, last October the area recieved the heaviest rains in 14 years, decimating bean crops. This has mean that many poor families have been forced to stop paying their childrens fees.

The school is currently looking to find funds from elsewhere otherwise it will be forced to stop those children attending and cut back on lessons.

Challenges
The problem is a recurrent problem to solve every year until such a time when parents can afford the school’s tuition fees, a recurrent and long-term expense. The immediate need is for the students not to loose the academic year started in September 2007. The urgency is in ensuring the teachers salary, so they can continue to provide their services so the Sixth graders can meet the required credits for the official exams.

Proposed use of funds:
A total estimated budget of $2,500.00 is required to help cover expenses for the 10 months period of the academic year of Le Canaan school: 7 months of computer classes and the acquisition of equipment to upgrade the computer class.

Budget

ORE funding proposal 2008