DAY 2: JOSETTE, PAUL, AND FERRY: PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
"A lambi is a conch shell. It is a symbol of organizing here in Haiti that stretches back to the slave rebellions 200 years ago. We blow it to call people together. To communicate with people from all over a region that it is time to gather. To discuss. To organize. To work."
Sitting in the Lambi Fund's simple office, a dusty overhead fan only served to circulate the hot air. My eyes were focused on Josette Perard, Lambi Fund's director in Haiti, who spoke with a voice that was strong, forceful, and spirited. As we sat in her Port-au-Prince office, she explained the significance of Haiti's peasant communities who are the Lambi Fund's collaborating partners in building a new Haiti. "The peasants are the source of democratic development. All of the groups that we support have already created a functioning democratic foundation, understanding what is required to improve their lives."
Josette continued, "We are a democracy-building organization. And we do it from the ground up. If you look at all the unrest that happens in Haiti, you realize that real change must come from beneath the surface. It must come from the majority poor, from the peasants. Not from the politicians. Not from the elite. And not from foreign governments. Sustainability happens when we open our hands, drop seeds into good soil, and provide what it needs to take root and grow."
As I listened, I learned that over a million Haitian peasants have benefited from the nurturing actions of the Lambi Fund.
Paul and Ferry described their roles as agronomists and their hands-on approach with the peasant farmers. "By the time a peasant community comes to us with a proposal for funding," said Paul, "they have already organized their communities and identified a need that will improve their quality of life."
"But the process doesn't end there. Once the proposal is reviewed by the staff, we go out to visit the community and assess whether or not they are truly organized democratically and whether or not it is the best season to 'plant seeds.' Some groups are ready for Lambi to step in, while some are not. Either way, Lambi stays in close contact. For the groups that are ready, we recommend their project to our Advisory Board here in Haiti for approval, and then to our U.S. Board for funding. For those who aren't ready, we continue to work with them, advising them, until they are able to apply again.
"In this way we work as partners with communities, not as grant makers who fund and walk away. We help them with management, with disagreements, and of course with problems they may face with the projects themselves. That way, when disruption hits our beleaguered nation—uprisings or political unrest or natural disasters—the communities know what they need to do to protect their projects. Because they developed their projects independently, they have a sense of ownership and responsibility that no one can take away."
They explained that this unique development model, which they call "bottom-up development," places the power of each project into the hands of the communities. "They come to us seeking funds for a project that best fits the specific needs of their community. And we give them much more," adds Ferry. "Whether it is a tool bank, rainwater cisterns, or seedlings for a banana plantation, we provide the training and organizing skills to make their project successful. Through this methodology, Lambi is actively creating the foundation for a new, democratic society."
Observing and listening to Josette, Paul, and Ferry, I could see that they lead by example. The three of them weren't just co-workers, they were good friends and partners in their work. Their decisions were made together and equitably. Each participated with their own voice. This is the culture that they bring into the field.
"We are a democracy-building organization. and we do it from the ground up. if you look at all the unrest that happens in haiti, you realize that real change must come from beneath the surface. It must come from the majority poor, from the peasants. Not from the politicians. Not from the elite. And not from foreign governments. Sustainability happens when we open our hands, drop seeds into good soil, and provide what it needs to take root and grow."
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