The Lambi Fund of Haiti

Spring 2006 Newsletter — Contents

In the News

Lambi Fund Welcomes Two New Board Members

M. Netlyn Bernard, the newest member of the Lambi USA Board of Directors, was born in Haiti and came to the US to go to college. She has a BA from Hofstra University and an MA from St. Johns University with specializations in International Law and Diplomacy and in Public Administration. She has years of experience working with several non-profit organizations in New York. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Grants at the American Friends Service Committee, a peace and social justice organization with various programs in the US and abroad. Netlyn said of her interest in joining the Lambi Fund Board, I wanted to know about and fund peasant-led visionary projects in Haiti.

Netlyn brings intelligence, humor and energy and we are happy she has joined the Lambi Fund Board of Directors. France Buteau joined the Lambi Fund Advisory Board in Haiti this year. Born in Haiti and educated in Spain and the U.K., France retired to Haiti after a successful 31 year career with a major international financial institution. She has been volunteering at the Lambi Fund office in Port au Prince and is especially interested in women's projects.

Lambi Fund Hires New Deputy Director

As a BFA, MS, and a PhD candidate in International Development Education, Victoria Szatkowski has experience in photojournalism, community outreach, program management, literacy, bi-lingual education, and research. She has been a social activist for Haitian issues for the past 15 years. While living and working in Haiti, she got married, helped build their house and had a baby who is now 4 years old. She is fluent in Kreyl.

My first trip to Haiti was with a Witness For Peace delegation led by Marie Racine, who is now the current Board Chair of Lambi Fund. She is the one who gave me the idea to enter a PhD program so I could continue to learn about Haiti as much as possible. Since then, I have been a passionate advocate for Lambi Fund, especially as I studied just what international development means for other countries. I always hold Lambi Fund up as a shining example of truly sustainable development, the only kind worth doing, said Victoria.

New Book About Haiti

Haitian-American author Hyppolite Pierre has written a new book about Haiti that was released last month. Entitled Haiti, Rising Flames from Burning Ashes: Haiti the Phoenix, the book offers a brutally honest and precise historical analysis of Haiti and how the political system can be reformed to promote democracy, a vibrant economy, and cultural integration.

The book begins with the assassination of the independence leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1806, and continues through the three subsequent leaders, dubbed The Three Musketeers by the author, and their role in Haiti's current philosophical and structural makeup. In contrast to traditional theory, Haiti, Rising Flames from Burning Ashes explores the distribution of powers rather than the separation of powers as a solution to Haiti's political and cultural chaos.

Josette Perard Receives Two Honors

Josette Perard, Haiti Director of the Lambi Fund, was named one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women's eNews (www. womensnews.org) Out of a pool of hundreds of impressive candidates nominated, 21 determined and passionate trailblazers stood out for their extraordinary visions and commitment to working on behalf of women. Josette will be honored for her work on behalf of women and the Lambi Fund at a gala dinner in New York City in May.

In addition to being named a Leader for the 21st Century, Josette Perard was one of 30 women leaders selected to participate in the Grassroots Women Environmental Leaders Strategy Meeting in Mexico City in March of this year. The women developed a plan for working cooperatively on solving global environmental issues.

Farewell to Kati

Several years ago Lambi Fund Founding Executive Director Catherine (Kati) Maternowska accepted a position with the faculty of the University of California- San Francisco. With that career move, she transitioned from Lambi Fund staff to Lambi Fund board member. She has served for the past several years on the Lambi Fund Board of Directors, while increasing her academic load with research projects in several countries in Africa. These public health research projects have required extensive travel to Africa, consuming more and more of Kati's valuable time. In an effort to balance her work and family responsibilities, Kati recently resigned from the Board of Directors. The Lambi Fund owes much of its reputation as an organization with integrity, purpose and drive to Kati. Thank you, Kati, for your years of dedication and commitment to the Lambi Fund of Haiti. You will always have a special place in our hearts!

New Improved Website

You can see new projects in Haiti, sign up for our email newsletter, read a blog from Haiti, buy books and music about Haiti, make an online donation, download the most recent annual report and access information about staff, board members and case studies.

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