As the sun rose over the mountains of Pignon, two groggy young adults awoke in comfortable beds they didn’t buy, in a room that was bigger than some houses, in a house they didn’t deserve. These two men were from America, meaning that their host felt the need to make them comfortable and secure, like most Americans are.
It is difficult to be wealthy in a place that has nothing. But that is precisely why we are here. There is a tension in this country amongst the leaders and foreign-aid about the best way to serve its needs. Recent news headlines have highlighted young Haitian men sailing off to Chile or Brazil in pursuit of something, anything better than the situation they have endured for all their lives. Those poor young men are finding it extremely difficult to survive with no identification or money, and so they are being forced to live in the jungles where many of them starve or are attacked by animals.
But we’ve all heard that, the desperate cry of a country in need, and it is human nature to want to help. So, we go on short-term work trips and send money, which is great, there definitely is an immediate need. However, in most areas of Haiti the immediate relief is rapidly coming in. Cement floors are being poured, houses are being built, and children are being sponsored for school. As I said, all of these are necessary steps towards ending poverty, but there must also be an approach taken with long-term sustainability in mind. There must be groups working to reduce the need for short-term trips because Haitians will be able to do it themselves.
That seems to be the case in Pignon, Haiti. For more than a decade, relief workers and mission groups have traveled all the way to this city in the middle of Haiti to help in the best ways they know how. Because they have done a great job, the quality of life here is starting to rise, but the whole system is relying upon those groups maintaining their service. Most of these programs are run and operated by foreigners, and when they leave the whole program will fall, many already have. Students that are sponsored through school and end up being successful often end up moving to the states, which is great for them and their family, but we need successful Haitians who want to help their country. Jean Robert is just that, a Haitian who sees the big picture. He realizes that we need more leaders who are willing to stay in the country and bring their community up with them.
That is why Mission Kite String is all about finding strong Haitian leaders and partnering with them to create a self-sustaining business, organization, or mission that can be fully led by Haitians for Haitians. John and I are here in the business of sustainability. We don’t tell the Haitian leaders what will work, we work alongside them to catalyze their vision and make it self-sustainable.
It is difficult to be wealthy in a place that has nothing. But that is precisely why we are here. There is a tension in this country amongst the leaders and foreign-aid about the best way to serve its needs. Recent news headlines have highlighted young Haitian men sailing off to Chile or Brazil in pursuit of something, anything better than the situation they have endured for all their lives. Those poor young men are finding it extremely difficult to survive with no identification or money, and so they are being forced to live in the jungles where many of them starve or are attacked by animals.
But we’ve all heard that, the desperate cry of a country in need, and it is human nature to want to help. So, we go on short-term work trips and send money, which is great, there definitely is an immediate need. However, in most areas of Haiti the immediate relief is rapidly coming in. Cement floors are being poured, houses are being built, and children are being sponsored for school. As I said, all of these are necessary steps towards ending poverty, but there must also be an approach taken with long-term sustainability in mind. There must be groups working to reduce the need for short-term trips because Haitians will be able to do it themselves.
That seems to be the case in Pignon, Haiti. For more than a decade, relief workers and mission groups have traveled all the way to this city in the middle of Haiti to help in the best ways they know how. Because they have done a great job, the quality of life here is starting to rise, but the whole system is relying upon those groups maintaining their service. Most of these programs are run and operated by foreigners, and when they leave the whole program will fall, many already have. Students that are sponsored through school and end up being successful often end up moving to the states, which is great for them and their family, but we need successful Haitians who want to help their country. Jean Robert is just that, a Haitian who sees the big picture. He realizes that we need more leaders who are willing to stay in the country and bring their community up with them.
That is why Mission Kite String is all about finding strong Haitian leaders and partnering with them to create a self-sustaining business, organization, or mission that can be fully led by Haitians for Haitians. John and I are here in the business of sustainability. We don’t tell the Haitian leaders what will work, we work alongside them to catalyze their vision and make it self-sustainable.
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