The Lambi Fund of Haiti

Spring 2008 Newsletter — Contents

Member Profile: Senterez Villefranc

Member Famn Tet Kole -NW (United Women of the North West)

How long have you been a member of FTK-NW?

I joined because the name of the organization was very powerful to me. It was about women putting their heads together to make things happen. What I loved about the organization was that it offered me the opportunity for action and reflection. As members of FTK-NW we were challenged to be active and engaged, but we were also encouraged to think about our conditions, to talk about the root causes of our problems and to discuss strategies to improve our lives.

What is your involvement with the Lambi Fund?

I have been involved with the Lambi Fund for many years as a member of FTK-NW and as a member of AWOZAM, a women's musical group. In addition to partnering with FTK-NW on many projects, Lambi Fund has been a great supporter of AWOZAM. Lambi Fund has helped spread the word about us, sold our CD of empowering music and has invited us to perform at different functions.

AWOZAM's Musical Performance

Can you talk about FTK-NW projects with the Lambi Fund?

FTK-NW was able to acquire hand held mills in the past, which helped us tremendously to prepare our crops for market. We are currently implementing a very important water cistern project which will bring drinking water to our community. We are from Jean Rabel, which is very dry and parched. Having access to water from a source within our community is tremendous.

What have you learned from working on these projects?

Working on these projects has forced us to deal differently with each other. As members of a women's organization, we have collaborated on many activities, protests, marches and meetings. As private citizens we run our own businesses, cultivate our fields and take care of our families. As Lambi Fund partners we have to work together to manage, build and sustain our projects. The work is collective and it takes special efforts to make it work. We are now working on water cisterns and the work is very demanding. As an organization, we had to contribute construction materials found locally. My job was to carry gravel to the spots where the water cisterns were going to be built. I worked really hard, and it was a great feeling that my labor was going to benefit the community in a very concrete and significant manner.

You have been a member for 20 years — what does the future hold for FTK-NW?

Things are really difficult here. We do not have the financial resources to take care of our needs. So it is hard sometimes to get the younger generation of women involved in our activities. We are aware of that and try different strategies to get them to join. Two of my own daughters have joined and although we don't always agree on strategies and approaches, I am very proud of the fact that they are also involved in action and reflection. We work together to make a difference!