A New Approach to Reviving Haiti's Economy

Check out this story from Frontline about Lionel Pressoir and his unique approach for reviving Haiti's economy.

Building a Foundation

Every sturdy structure must start with a solid foundation. Before the first nail is driven into a piece of plywood and before the first drop of concrete is poured, there must be a well-built foundation below. If a perfectly designed house is built upon sand, it will eventually fall down after the rain washes away its base. Though this is a literal interpretation, it’s easy to see the parallels in the world around us.

This same idea applies to charitable work. Successful, life-changing projects come after building a solid foundation. They don’t happen overnight and definitely don’t happen without hard-work and preparation. Trusting relationships must be developed and a effective action plan must be developed. It's vital that your vision matches up wth the hopes and dreams of your target population. Charity work isn't a money-making business; it's an empowering force aimed at changing the world through the generosity of donors. Success requires patience and determination; two values that are getting harder to find in our modern world. There are no short-cuts or fast-track routes to success. 

Our entire organizational philosophy comes from this thought process. Our board members spent weeks brain-storming names that would adequately depict our organizational goals and mission. We tried fancy and creative names, but nothing seemed to feel right. Once we focused on our true goals and vision for our work in Haiti, it all fell together. It was so simple. Our goal was to focus on the basic problems and needs that Haiti faces on a daily basis. We wanted to help build a foundation for a better Haiti.

We envision “the foundation” in several ways. First of all, we believe it’s important to focus on sustainable projects that will impact Haiti for years to come. We also believe it’s vital to work hand-in-hand with Haitians who want to see their country changed. The people of Haiti are the greatest asset to developing projects and we want to support their visions and ideas. In the simplest form, we also see “the foundation” as the basics in life; food, water, education, and opportunity to name a few.

Our goal is to help provide the basic needs that allow for adequate living. Currently, we have a well project at an orphanage in Thomazeau and we are providing food for children at a school in Cité Soleil. Both projects are managed by Haitians and we are simply filling in the gaps to help create a healthier environment. A healthy community becomes a wealthy community. Without the most basic needs being met, every other societal structure will fail.

We believe that Haiti has a beautiful future. Haiti will rise from the rubble and we want to be a part of this process. We are committed to Haiti for the long-term. We want to develop deep relationships and form trusting partnerships with the Haitian people. Our mission is to create foundations that we can build on for lifetimes to come. As a grassroots organization, we hope that you will believe in our vision and support our mission for years to come. We promise this is only the beginning of something incredible. Please join us on our journey as we help build the foundation for a better Haiti.

Ak Renmen (With Love),

Shawn Wedlund

Co-founder and President

The Foundation for Haiti, Inc.