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Fondwa: A Model of Rural Community Development
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The Peasant Association of Fondwa (APF) is offering a unique travel experience for those interested in learning firsthand about sustainable economic development in the countryside of Haiti. Fondwa: A Model of Rural Community Development is a program designed to give people a chance to visit the community of Fondwa, see what the results of development are in this community and their prospects for the future, and actively participate in seminars and activities with the people of Fondwa. The program will give the participants the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what community and sustainable development mean in the hands of the people and to experience the struggle of the rural poor against poverty.
Why Fondwa?
Fondwa is a small community village in the western province of Haiti. |
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Before 1988, there was no basic infrastructure in the area: the people had no access to roads, drinkable water, health care, education, telephones, electricity or technical assistance for agricultural activities.
Although the people of Fondwa paid taxes, they did not receive any services from the government. In response to the isolation and lack of assistance, the people of Fondwa and their neighbors took action and created a project of integrated rural development. In April 1988 the peasants organized themselves and founded the Peasant Association of Fondwa (APF).
Since its emergence in 1988, APF has succeeded in providing the community of Fondwa and its six surrounding communities with the following: accessible water, a health clinic, a primary and secondary school, adult literacy classes, a road, reforestation and soil conservation projects, a community store, a community radio, a credit union, a guest center and recently in 2004 a University for all of the |
565 rural communities of Haiti in order to train specialists in agronomy, veterinarian medicine and management so that they can go back home and work in sustainable development of their villages. APF's primary goal is to empower the people to assume responsibility for their own lives. As Fondwa moves forward, APF is looking towards the future by shifting its focus on building a sustainable economy in the area.
Through a partnership between APF, the government of Cuba, and Fonkoze, Haiti's alternative bank for the organized poor, a number of small businesses are being launched: a poultry farm, a cooperative pig venture and meat processing plant, a bakery, a carpentry center, a welding center and a restaurant.
Program in Haiti (5 days)
Day 1 - Visit Port-au-Prince In Port-au-Prince you will have the opportunity to explore different facets of the capital city of what was once the richest colony in the world. Overview of the struggle of the organized poor for democracy.
Day 2 - Arrive In Fondwa Welcome and orientation at the community center and tour of Fondwa. Overview of the history of Fondwa and the achievements of APF. Evening cultural activity with the Fondwa Contredance Group, a traditional folkloric dance group.
Days 3 to 5 - Program activities Each day will have a topic of focus, and the work activities, visits and seminars will be planned according to the day's topic.
Day 6 - Return to Port-au-Prince Transport to airport and flight home.
Activities Available with FONDWA
SEMINARS will focus on these various topics: strategies for sustainable economic development; land use and environmental renewal; rural community health care (food and nutrition, the uses of medicinal plants & tropical medicine); empowering children economically to finance their education; women in rural Haiti; education for liberation, sustainable development.
WORK ACTIVITIES may include: work in a kitchen garden, plant trees or work in a nursery; work with the cooks and learn to prepare a Haitian meal; work in the clinic preparing doses of medicines; help to feed and care for the pigs and chickens; work alongside a peasant family in their fields, learn Creole and play soccer with the youth of Fondwa.
VISITS Fondwa will give you the opportunity to see the various projects, accomplishments and struggles of APF: the captured water source; radio station; clinic and pharmacy; credit union; grain storage silo; the reforestation nurseries; model forest and model farms, the hen house; the school students' pig project; Fatima House Orphanage; Commercial Center for Ti Machann (women street vendors).
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: The group will be able to select further activities from among the following, depending on length of stay, interest and time of year: local nature hikes, observe a literacy class, visit a cock fight, visit the local market of Tombe Gateau, meet with the students and the staff of the University of Fondwa 2004, meet the international volunteers working in Fondwa, a local coffee factory, play soccer or other sports with the students, a day at the beach in Jacmel; spend a night in the home of a Haitian peasant family. Opportunity to travel to Cuba also after visiting Fondwa
Come Visit!
For groups who are interested in visiting Fondwa, please tell us about your plans!
Cost of the Program
The per-person cost of the all-inclusive program* is $520 for a 5-day program, which includes:
· accommodations in Fondwa and Port-au-Prince
· three meals per day
· transportation within Haiti
· airport transfer
· program activities
· seminars/classes
· informational materials
* The price does not include airfare.
PLEASE SEND ALL INQUIRIES TO: Apf222@aol.com
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