The Lambi Fund of Haiti

Supporting economic justice, democracy and sustainable development in Haiti

March 21, 2010

Annual Report 2008

Mission

The Lambi Fund's mission is to assist the popular democratic movement in Haiti. The Lambi Fund provides financial resources, training and technical assistance to peasant-led community organizations that promote the social and economic empowerment of the Haitian people.

Organizational Principles

The Lambi Fund supports projects from peasant-led organizations that are non-violent, non-partisan and community based, promote the advancement of women, use education and training for empowerment, and promote the overall democratic movement. Integrated into all Lambi Fund projects is the opportunity to reinforce indigenous democratic practices. The Lambi Fund focuses on the grassroots level through four mechanisms: community organizing, organizational development, civic participation, and promoting leadership by women.

History

The Lambi Fund of Haiti was founded in 1994 by Haitians, Haitian-Americans, and North Americans. The Lambi Fund draws its name from the lambi (pronounced lahm-bee), the Haitian Creole word for conch shell, which was blown as a horn and used during the slave rebellion against the French colonialists in 1791, to alert the slaves to impending danger and the need to assemble. The symbol of the lambi was chosen to represent the Haitian people's hope, strength, resistance, and struggle for self-determination.

Current Activities

The Lambi Fund of Haiti is supporting projects based on the following program initiatives of the Sustainable Development Program:

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agricultural projects help increase food security and income for peasant families. Many of these projects benefit women, who bear more of the burden in the agricultural economy.

Community Micro-credit

Members of a community organization band together to form collective micro-enterprise funds to provide one another with much needed capital to start self-sustaining community projects.

Animal Husbandry

In rural Haiti, wealth is measured in pigs and goats. For years, as conditions worsened in Haiti, the number of pigs and goats dwindled. Thanks to the self-sufficient projects run by grassroots groups, pig and goat breeding is again on the rise and contributing to the economic development of rural communities.

Environment

The conservation of Haiti's waning natural resources is central to all Lambi Fund projects. Rainwater cisterns and irrigation systems help communities secure safe and efficient water supplies while community reforestation projects curb deforestation – the most rapid in the Western Hemisphere. Reforestation leads to a decrease in flooding and erosion, and an increase in soil retention and crop yields.

Organizational and Leadership Training

Alongside our routine technical and management training programs, Lambi Fund provides organizational and leadership development training programs for peasant organizations and women's associations.

Why Lambi Fund Works

The Lambi Fund's original, bottom-up development model succeeds because it relies on Haitians themselves to determine the needs and the most effective solutions in each community. The Lambi Fund's emphasis on democracy, a community's actual needs, and peasant-led solutions ensures more successful outcomes.

Major Accomplishments of 2008

Accomplishments

In 2008, Lambi Fund partnered on 20 new and continuing peasant-led projects that focus on sustainable ways to increase food security and income for peasant families in the rural areas of Haiti including potable water, reforestation, grain mill, pig and goat breeding, organic farms, and micro lending projects, among others.

2008 Statistics

Hurricane Relief

In August 2008, a series of hurricanes and floods devastated many of the communities supported by the Lambi Fund of Haiti in the Artibonite, the South, and in the West. The Lambi Fund committed significant resources to the recovery effort among its partner organizations, providing funding and logistical support. Although many Lambi Fund partner organizations sustained losses, they are organizationally strong thanks to previous Lambi Fund organizational development and capacity building activities.

 

New Projects in 2008

Reforestation

Million Tree Campaign

Lambi Fund has helped build a grassroots reforestation movement that:

  1. Has raised awareness about root causes of deforestation
  2. Educated communities about ways to address the problem
  3. Mobilized and supported local communities by collectively planning and implementing proven reforestation techniques

Platform for Environmental Defense and for the Defense of the Socio-Economic Interest of Gwomon (PEDISEG) is a federation of 56 grassroots organizations with over 4,200 members near Gwomon. They are planting 180,000 fruit and forest trees to reforest the badly eroded area. Lambi Fund purchased the seeds and the materials to construct the tree nurseries, and provided reforestation and organizational development training. The members constructed the tree nurseries, planted the seedlings, and educated the residents about the needs for reforestation.

Center for Plantain Propagation

This has been a groundbreaking project not only in size but also in quality. The Center is a training space for community organizations who want to learn more about plantain cultivation using the cutting edge PIF method. The Center is also a source where healthy plantain trees can be purchased by local community groups. Lambi Fund supplied the plantains, seed germinator, tree nursery, training and meeting space.

Sustainable Development

The 125 active members of the Small Farmers Association of Desdunes (GPTD) are rice planters. They significantly increased their production of rice with the use of motorized tillers, resulting in increased sustainability. Lambi Fund purchased two motorized tillers and provided training on tiller operation and maintenance, project management and organizational development. The members also planted 20,000 trees to aid in reforestation efforts.

The 76 members of the God is All Powerful Organization of Gilgo (ODTPG) increased their sustainability with a community-run rice mill. Lambi Fund purchased the materials needed to build the mill and provided training on mill operation and business management. Members provided the labor to build the mill. The members also planted 20,000 trees to aid in reforestation efforts.

The 500 members of the Association of Young Peasants from Belfonten (AJPB) improved pea, corn, millet, and peanut crop output and food security with the establishment of a seed bank. This provides farmers access to inexpensive seeds of high quality around the planting season. Lambi Fund provided the seeds, tools and training. AJPB sells these seeds at an affordable cost to all of Belfonten's farmers. The members also planted 20,000 trees to aid in reforestation efforts.

The 36 members of the Federation of Organizations of Young Technicians of Taivant (ROJETAT) raise corn, peas, millet, peppers, and spinach. They worked to implement an ox plowing service to cultivate the land more efficiently and to generate income by renting out the services to other members of the community. Lambi Fund purchased three plows, six oxen, tools and provided veterinary care. Lambi Fund also provided training on project management techniques, ox plow use and maintenance, and sustainable agriculture. Non-members rent the service at full price and ROJETAT members are able to rent the service at a 20% discount. The members also planted 20,000 trees to aid in reforestation efforts.

The 75 members of the Ti Komite Legliz, Oscar Romero (TKL/Oscar Romero) farming organization previously had to raise beans, corn, cabbage and tomatoes on plots of land cultivated exclusively by hand plows. Members established an ox plow service which has greatly improved crop productivity. Lambi Fund purchased six oxen and plows, trained the operators and trained the members on project management and organizational development. The members also planted 20,000 trees to aid in reforestation efforts.

Animal Husbandry

The members of the Peasant Organization of Pereni (OPP), a community of 1,225 residents, raise goats and sheep. Lambi Fund helped expand this enterprise by purchasing 22 goats and 11 sheep, provided food for the livestock and training for the members. The members also planted 20,000 trees to aid in reforestation efforts.

The 220 members of the Association of Grassroots Microcredit Funds of Peasants of Veney (AGKPV) improved socio-economic conditions with a goat raising project. Lambi Fund funded the purchase of 64 goats, a veterinary pharmacy, food supply for the animals and training for the goat breeders. Members also planted 20,000 trees.

Leadership Training

In addition to organizational development, technical and project management training, Lambi Fund organizes regional training for women.

Roseme, is a newly elected officer of ODEPERIB, a peasant organization managing rainwater cistern and reforestation projects. She attended a Lambi Fund women's leadership conference and was inspired to run for office. She said: "The women from ODEPERIB have benefited a lot. We attended Lambi Fund's women's seminar and learned a lot about our need to be heard and to be leaders in our organizations. Some of the men felt threatened by the progress we made, but we are not going back to the way we were. We are proud to be women leaders of ODEPERIB!"

Because of the gender equity issues brought up by ODEPERIB, we discovered that several organizations were grappling with gender equity. In a bold new move, Lambi Fund convened two Gender Equity Conferences in 2008.

The conferences offered LFH partner organizations, both women and men, the opportunity to explore issues of gender equity within their families, their organizations and their communities. Equal numbers of men and women from 14 LFH partner organizations participated for a total of 400 individuals. Women understood the reasons for gender equity, but an unintended consequence was the fact that many men did not understand why gender equity is important.

In this format, both men and women were able to discuss honestly the importance of gender equity in creating successful, democratic organizations. LFH staff is following up with each participant organization to discuss ongoing gender equity strategies and will convene more conferences in the following years.

Financial Report 2008

Balance Sheet (Audited)

Dec. 31,2008

ASSETS

Current Assets

Cash

Funds held in U.S. $620,405

Funds held in Haiti 119,251

Total cash 739,656

Loans receivable 4,550

Grants receivable 2,000

Other receivables 93,105

Prepaid expenses 4,790

Deposits 2,000

Property and equipment, net 32,185

Total Assets $878,286

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued expenses $21,720

Net Assets

Unrestricted 856,556

Temporarily restricted -

Total net assets 856,556

Total Liabilities & net assets $878,286

Major Donors & Board

Thanks to our major supporters in 2008!

And the hundred of individuals like you who supported the Lambi Fund in solidarity with the people of Haiti.

U.S. Board of Directors

Haiti Board

Key Staff

USA

Haiti

Honorary Council

Programs

Program Overview
New Projects
Continuing Projects
Green Belt Movement
Technology
Training
Women
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