Posts Tagged ‘haiti’

Mobile Banking Reaches Ravaged Port-au-Prince

Friday, January 14th, 2011

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credit: newbeatphoto

Effective humanitarian aid isn’t always about food and shelter. Find out how the Gates Foundation is pursuing some long-term solutions to Haiti’s problems…

  • Mobile technology is changing the world – especially in places where wireless technology can sidestep problems with a nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Now this technology is going to help Haiti in a different way, by making cell phone banking widely available.
  • After a natural disaster, local banks may be destroyed and Internet access nowhere to be found. Plus, mobile banking is safer. In the security crisis of post-earthquake Haiti, carrying cash has become a hazard.

Facts & Figures

  • Over $30 million was raised for humanitarian relief after the quake
  • Many of those donations came in via text message, $10 at a time
  • The Gates Foundation and USAID are donating a total of $10 million to companies that can bring mobile banking to Haiti
  • Fewer than 10% of Hatian citizens have ever used a commercial bank, but nearly every family has access to a cell phone

What Do You Think?

Would you donate to an organization that focused solely on bringing technology to people in need? Would you choose that over a traditional food-and-shelter humanitarian aid organization?

Pop Star Turns President In Haiti?

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Some speculate that the political influence of singer Wyclef Jean could encourage charitable giving to Haiti.

  • Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean recently declared his candidacy for president of Haiti, a move which will undoubtedly draw attention to his charity, Yele Haiti.
  • Yele Haiti has had a mixed impact on Haiti and its people, and many criticize its poor management and uneven distribution of resources.
  • Mr. Jean, with a bad record of handling his personal finances, has faced scrutiny over his political intentions.

Facts & Figures

  • After the earthquake, Yéle Haiti’s 2006 tax filing revealed $350,000 in questionable payments to two companies that Mr. Jean and his cousin control, including $250,000 to a Haitian television station they had just acquired.

Best Quote

“It is problematic if he [Wyclef Jean] uses this money, which historically has not been well spent, for political purposes,” – Mario Joseph, Human Rights Lawyer, Haiti.

Haiti: Six months later

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Sean Penn joins the continued humanitarian efforts.

Six months later, how are things in Haiti? The truth is, I hardly hear about it in the media anymore. I recently saw my friend Anthony Lappe, who just got back from working on a film in Haiti for PBS. He said nothing has gotten better there, and in fact the level of devastation is mind blowing. 1.5 million people are still homeless. And with hurricane season right around the corner, sustainable relief efforts are more important than ever. Sean Penn is one of the heroic public figures who is changing people’s lives through a relief organization he co-founded after he was first struck by the disaster’s scale.

“In our case, we came down with the idea of spending two weeks and trying to help out,” Penn said in an interview on CBS’s The Early Show. “There’s something that takes over and it’s really an obligation because you see the strength of the people who have never experienced comfort, and the gifts that that can give to people like myself and to our country and culture. You see the enormous gaps.”

You can watch a great video about Sean’s involvement here:  http://bit.ly/bBxDg3

Activist movie stars aside, what can YOU do to help?

Several of TILE’s nonprofit partners are still out there on the front lines of this epic humanitarian crisis… here are some details:
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Global Fund for Children
In the aftermath of the massive earthquake that shook Haiti, GFC responded by immediately assessing the needs of their partners on the ground and sending emergency grants to these grassroots organizations for rebuilding. We are now in the process of assessing long-term recovery and renewal needs.
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charity: water
Charity: water has been on the ground in Haiti since the earthquake hit – they are currently working to to ensure 14 villages have clean water. Their work in Haiti is with Partners in Health in Haiti. PIH just published a 6 month report that you can view here:  standwithhaiti.org/six-months

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ACCION
With the help of ACCION, the micro-finance arm of Haiti’s largest bank (“SOGESOL”) was able to raise $700,000 for grants for 2,000 of their poorest clients. With these funds, Haitians have been better able to repair damages to their businesses and homes.

Rebuilding in Haiti?

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Six months after the disastrous earthquake, the rebuilding effort in Haiti is slow.

  • U.S. relief organizations have received $1.3 billion since the earthquake, but experts fear that it’s not enough to fund rebuilding.
  • Nonprofits have provided a lot of food and water, but may not be focused enough on providing shelter.
  • Hurricane season is imminent and aid experts emphasize the need for stable structures and shelters, especially in under-served rural areas.

Facts and Figures

  • An estimated 230,000 people were killed in the January 2010 earthquake.
  • Clearing rubble and establishing land rights are the two main obstacles to construction.
  • 3,722 transitional shelters have been built – each houses a family of 5.
  • Nonprofits aim to build 125,000 transitional shelters by mid-2011.

Best Quote

“I feel really good about what the donor community did in this first six months. I would feel even better if I knew that the donor community was poised to stay active over the long haul.” – Regine A. Webster, Senior Associate for Disaster Philanthropy at Arabella Advisors