Mission
Statement: ORE is working to improve environmental,
agricultural and economic conditions in rural Haiti.
In the wake of the recent national disaster, the catastrophic earthquake, ORE is focused on efforts to stabilize the population and offer all available assistance to reduce suffering. Our development projects involve high revenue tree crops, improved seeds, cash crops
and marketing programs - designed to increase yields and income, produce nutritionally rich foods, and to protect the environment. As Haiti emerges from its current disaster, these programs will play an important role in long-term recovery.
please excuse the audio quality
this was recorded from Skype calls from Haiti
Haiti has received a tremendous blow from the recent earthquake, from which it will take years to recover. Our immediate concern is to provide relief and support for as many as possible of the victims of the earthquake - many of whom are homeless without food, shelter or access to medical supplies. Your help will enable us to immediately offer practical assistance and reduce the suffering. Our immediate concern is to do everything we can to help the thousands of Haitians from the Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas who will be seeking refuge outside of the stricken capital. Shelter, food and access to medical supplies are the first necessities.
We are placing our organization's long experience in development activities at the service of the community and would appreciate everyone's support at this time. The immediate impact will be to feed and house as many families as possible suffering today from the terrible events of the recent earthquake. If you would like to help please donate now, or contact us by email. Thank you. God Bless.
MORE NEWS: from Mousson about help for the refugees who tell their stories With your help we have been able to evacuate 726 people from Port-au-Prince and provide shelter for the homeless, together with medical attention and food for those in need. The situation of people in Port-au-Prince is still critical for many - who are not receiving the help they need. We are supplying food to three camps in the badly hit neighborhood of Turgeau.
There is a real urgency to help people in Port-au-Prince find food. Food is still available in Camp-Perrin although prices have increased dramatically. But it is available fairly abundantly, specially the local staple foods. So we have begun sending trucks filled with corn grits, corn flour, rice, locally grown beans, yams and avocadoes - which are delivered to the camps who are isolated and desperate in Port-au-Prince.
Mousson says about the evacuees, 'Their gratitude was incredible. I have never seen Haitians so exuberant, hugging and hugging me. All day long the next day, people, school kids, are stopping by to thank us'...
ORE's
CORE PROJECTS The key goals of
our development projects in Haiti are to increase farmer income, produce
nutritionally enhanced food, and to improve the environment with commercial
fruit trees. Practical agricultural training and hands-on technical
assistance are essential means to achieve these goals. The three core
development projects we have developed to achieve these goals are improved seeds, high value tree crops, and vegetable
and tuber crops.
Biofortification of staple food crop: Since 2004, our crop breeding program has been focusing on enhancing the nutritional content of Haiti's major staple crops: breeding crops for better nutrition. By improving the nutrient content of staple foods it is possible to help resolve several factors that contribute to malnutrition in Haiti. This is a highly sustainable approach. Nutritionally improved varieties will continue to be grown and consumed year after year, even if government attention and international funding for micronutrient issues fade.
ORE
is also involved in variety of activities designed to improve the
quality of life in rural Haiti. These include protection of drinking
water systems, promoting schools and low cost housing projects in
areas threatened by environmental degradation.
Dr Mousson Pierre Finnigan, CEO of ORE, was among 15 women selected
for the national first award of 'Femmes de Mérite' en 2009.
SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY'S HAITI
In a country where acute poverty, outmoded agriculture and widespread
deforestation go hand in hand, solutions have to offer both economic
and environmental benefits.
By promoting fruit trees, such as mango, avocado and citrus, and bamboo,
experience shows that in time communities start to protect their trees
because of the attractive revenue they generate. The grafting program
helps to boost Haiti's mango export industry and extend the avocado
season. Bamboo are a renewable source of material for construction
and handicrafts.
By providing improved nutrient-rich seeds and offering production and marketing
assistance, we are able to help the farmers replace subsistence farming
with commercially successful agriculture - and also provide the nutrients through improved staple foods and help resolve malnutrition.
PROGRAM
GOALS The
Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment is a small grassroots
organization established in Haiti in 1985 to protect the environment and
increase local farmers' income. In the design of our development projects,
we recognize that all four aspects of Haiti's rural predicament - economic,
ecological, nutritional and technical - are inter-linked. By working closely
with farmer groups, over the years, we have been able to offer practical
help to the rural population in the south of Haiti, the majority of whom
depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Economic gains and improved
nutrition result from high value tree crops (grafted fruit trees, such as
mango, avocado, citrus - and bamboo), improved seeds (including QPM maize,
iron-rich beans) and other high-yield staple crops. The challenge is to
expand on the experience and technical capabilities developed and achieve
a widespread impact.
Economic Gains
through higher yield crops, intensifying and stabilizing production,
and energetic marketing strategies
Biofortified Foods for Improved Nutrition
through research and production of quality-protein maize (QPM), vitamin A rich sweet potatoes,
iron-rich beans and extended fruit seasons by grafting selected
varieties.
Agricultural Education
through propagation, production and post-harvest training sessions,
and hands-on technical assistance in the field.
Environmental Protection
through promotion of commercial tree crops, soil conservation measures
and the use of cover crops to combat deforestation.
Since 1985, the
Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment
has developed and operated fruit tree grafting and crop improvement programs
in rural Haiti.
During those years several international agencies have generously provided
the funding that made it possible to maintain continuity of our development
projects. These include USAID, the European Union, the Canadian Embassy,
Inter-American Development Bank and other contributors.
