What we do and why

WOMEN … gender equality and women’s empowerment is the CORNERSTONE of HAPI.

Ending discrimination in all it’s forms is the RIGHT thing to do! Gender equality ends discrimination and gives women and girls a VOICE and a CHOICE in their own affairs. It opens the doors to opportunity to achieve their God-given potential in education, jobs, health, and society.

Empowered girls and women are key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families around the world. Empowered, educated girls / women have healthier, better educated children and higher wages – helping to break the cycle of generational poverty.

Higher education in girls results in fewer teen pregnancies which improves health and economics.

Economic empowerment reduces violence against women. Women receive more respect at home. They can say “no” to entering into or staying in harmful, abusive relationships.

Gender equality increases the productivity and economy of a country! How can a country prosper with only 50% of its citizens contributing in industry, policy creation, and more?

Gender equality is a HUMAN RIGHT; why wouldn’t you?!

Women’s empowerment is Social, Educational, Economic, Political and Psychological. Each is intertwined and reinforces the other.

HAPI began with fair trade artisans, emphasizing economic and also psychological empowerment.

Psychological empowerment builds self-confidence, help women recognize their self-worth, and gives them the chance to take control of their income and body. It permits them to go beyond the social obligations and taboos of their culture.

HAPI continues psychological empowerment in every aspect of our programming. We have 1. integrated reproductive health / maternal care
2. modeled women’s leadership in our hiring practices of professionals and administration and in also more traditional ‘male’ roles, such as on a construction site
3. have introduced locally available skilled and technical training to which we actively recruit young women
4. Incorporate a ’50 / 50′ ratio into our youth goat raising initiative
5. celebrate International Women’s Day with a seminar featuring presenters who encourage equality of women and reduction of violence against women

HAPI proudly stands for gender equality and women’s empowerment to lead positive change!

Women and girls, everywhere, must have equal rights and opportunity, and be able to live free of violence and discrimination.

Girls and women in Mizak will

1. Be free of discrimination and violence (domestic abuse, rape, etc)

2. Have the opportunity to complete K-12 education and continue to vocational or university courses.

3. Receive adequate health care especially reproductive health care / maternal care

4. Have equal access to decent work at a fair and equal wage to men.

5. Have CHOICE and VOICE in every aspect of their lives!

Children’s economic and social outcomes largely depend on the circumstances into which they are born and raised. In Haiti, 95% of the population lives in poverty and only 45% of children will grow up to be as productive as they could be if he / she had enjoyed full health and education (World Bank). This is the legacy children are born into. We are fighting to change that trajectory. Join us!

 Coming 2021! ‘Pass-the-Gift’ goat-raising program for youth ages 15-18 years. At age 15, most Mizak youth are expected to ‘fend for themselves’ for tuition and other needs. This contributes to the school dropout rate during the highschool years. This program will teach the youth practical skills in animal husbandry, discipline, responsibility and to prepare for their future. Proceeds of ‘kid’ sales will help them pay tuition and contribute to food security.

We offer children a safe space to play in our enclosed and monitored playground equipped with a basketball court. We also host a local Scout group.

We host an annual nutrition day for children. Their parents learn about a healthy diet based on locally available produce; the children receive a well-child check up and a substantial food kit to take home. Children who are moderately or severely malnourished are offered a follow up malnutrition program.

We protect the health and well-being of pregnant adolescents, including providing education on pregnancy and infant care and contraception. NEW: we will be adding an educational seminar on prevention of STDs and pregnancy for adolescents in 2021.

Break the cycle of generational poverty!

Decrease child morbidity and mortality.

Increase education status through initiatives that increase the ability to pay for tuition–whether programs directed to youth or increasing the economic opportunity of the parents.

More children prepared for university or vocational training leads to upward socioeconomic mobility for themselves and their children = generational change!

2. Increase education status through initiatives that increase the ability to pay for tuition–whether programs directed to youth or increasing the economic opportunity of the parents.

3. Generational change and greater prosperity for Mizak. More children prepared for university or vocational training leads to upward socioeconomic mobility for themselves and their children = generational change!

Good health and well-being is critical to sustaining economic development and ending generational poverty. One illness can wipe out a family’s fragile economic security.

Women and infants die at alarming rates during pregnancy and childbirth; children under age 5 have high mortality and morbidity rates due malnutrition, contaminated water and are plagued with worms, scabies and other preventable illnesses. Accidents with farming implements and vehicles, especially motorcycles, contribute to disabilities and death due to a lack of urgent care.

Haiti has an acute lack of trained health professionals, medicine and equipped facilities.

All of this contributes to an unbroken cycle of poverty as households lose the ‘bread winners’ and spend their meager income on illnesses and funerals. Children, unable to pay tuition, are forced to drop out of school– or worse–become household servants called ‘restaveks.’

.HAPI’s Felisane Health Center provides LOCAL access to community health services including urgent care, dental and lab services. Services are delivered by qualified, licensed health professionals in a sanitary, equipped facility.

HAPI’s ‘Start Right’ maternal and infant care initiative keeps moms healthy and saves the lives of the smallest. Women have access to reproductive counseling and contraception.

Disabled persons benefit from HAPI’s mobile nurse visits.

*When we have teams, we transport in and distribute hollow-membrane water filters for clean water to pregnant women and at-risk populations (elderly, young children). Currently, this program is on hold.

Families save money on transportation and locally appropriate fees. Individuals also prevent worse health outcomes and greater savings as they benefit from earlier intervention vs waiting too long to go to a city hospital.

All persons to have access to quality and affordable comprehensive health services to reduce morbidity and mortality from preventable disease and treatable conditions.

Haiti is overly dependent on governmental and non-governmental aid. They have little manufacturing or value-added industry. Civil unrest, inflation of 20% and COVID-19 are all contributing to a greater than 3% decrease in GNP for 2020.

Donors become ‘fatigued’, faith-based organizations cannot send teams due to civil unrest and COVID. Businesses shutter, and NGOs pull out as grants expire and there is no local economy to continue goods and services.

Progress cannot be achieved nor sustained in any sector without economic stimulus, infrastructure and industrialization.

Impacting the broader economy is a goal that requires cooperation across government, civil society, academia and business / non-profit entities. 

It also requires an adjustment in the APPROACH from one of dependency and charity to one of intentionality in building greater capacity for Haitian self-sustainability in every aspect of activity. 

HAPI prepares youth and adults for the jobs of tomorrow in our computer literacy and computer repair. We incorporate solar energy to power our facilities and train staff to maintain it. We do practical development with staff on project planning, budgeting, analysis and evaluation.  

Since 2007, HAPI has contributed to the local economy of Mizak through various initiatives: fair trade for artisans, microloans, home and facility construction and repairs, hiring drivers, translators and housing for international visitors, and hiring full and part time staff. This pushes cash into the local economy which our employees and contractors use for tuition, microbusiness, home repairs and health care. 

In 2020 / 2021, we continue to explore new avenues of revenue that utilize local materials, local market such as ‘HAPICafe’ frozen snacks and goat-raising. We have also  added to our healthcare staff. We have several facility ‘jobs’ that need attention. 

HAPI will continue to build staff capacity to manage all aspects of the facilities and day-to-day operations to reduce dependency on international persons to manage and lead.

HAPI will continue to introduce skills to young adults that prepare them to perform, manage and lead in jobs.