Accomplishment: Working Toward a Better Life

Small loans and business training are helping families work their way out of poverty. In partnership with Canadian sponsors, poor entrepreneurs are starting to launch small businesses, boost their income and better provide for their children.

One of the biggest economic successes involved local people helping get a grain mill to the operational stage. The community now has a thriving milling operation through which they can earn income.

Thanks to our sponsors, here are some accomplishments achieved last year:

• 1,600 families were able to produce their own flour close to home, saving them the time and money to transport millet for grinding in another town;
• New harness units enabled  farmers to plow their land more efficiently;
• The irrigation system in one community was repaired, boosting agricultural production; 
• 63,000 fruit and forest tree saplings were distributed to farmers to diversify production, improve diets, boost income and reduce the effects of erosion;
• 540 families participated in 24 savings/credit mutual groups where they received training as well as small loans to start or support income-generating activities; and
• Farmers involved in the market gardening initiative experienced a major increase in household income.

With our sponsors’ support, we established and strengthened community associations to manage infrastructure projects as well as key economic development activities. This will ensure that community leadership is empowered to manage the development journey when World Vision finishes working in the area.

Accomplishment: Healthier Children, Happier Future

More children are being vaccinated in Cobocol, and access to health-care check-ups has been improved. These things are vital as we work together to improve overall health in this community. Last year, sponsors’ generosity helped us to:

• Provide medical check-ups for 3,552 children with the help of the Ministry of Health; 
• Support 1,489 pregnant and lactating women with medical check-ups and supplementary food supplies; 
• Build a community water fountain to provide 500 families with access to clean water;
• Respond to the threat of HIV by teaching 4,372 students, youth, community and religious leaders about HIV and AIDS; and
• Train selected youth as peer educators, and support parents to take an active role in raising HIV awareness in children.

After the massive Haiti earthquake on January 12, 2010, sponsors’ support helped establish five local emergency committees in collaboration with local authorities for risk and disaster management, and trained 850 people on emergency preparedness. This work played  a key role in helping this community respond to the needs of displaced people coming into the villages after the earthquake.

Accomplishment: Education Opens Doors

Without a proper education, Haitian children have less opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty. That’s why this community’s focus on schooling is so critical. Last year, the compassion of Canadian sponsors helped us to:

• Provide access to primary and secondary school for more than 3,500 children by subsidizing school fees and the cost of uniforms and supplies;
• Train 94 teachers and school directors in new teaching methodologies and school administration to improve the quality of education;
• Train 70 youth in sewing, tailoring and woodwork;
• Provide 30 sewing machines at subsidized cost to graduates from the sewing and tailoring program to help them start a business from their new trade;
• Support physical education, sport and music activities for 316 children, which were designed to promote healthy physical, mental and emotional development;
• Form Cobocol’s first music band to give children a formal outlet to display their talent; and
• Provide 1,576 students with access to book banks established in eight schools.

Building on Sponsorship: Haiti Earthquake

Thankfully, none of our sponsored children from Cobocol were in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit on January 12, 2010.  Although the quake zone was limited to a small area, the resulting crisis has affected and will continue to affect the entire country.

The earthquake displaced an estimated 500,000 people from hard-hit areas including Port-au-Prince. Many went back to their home villages and are now living with host families or in camps.

Most have returned with only the clothes on their backs. As a result, the resources of rural families and communities like Cobocol are strained to the point where many can no longer access basic services.    

Communities are experiencing shortages of basic amenities like shelter, water, sanitation facilities and health services. Schools are unable to absorb the influx of displaced children and youth.  Many parents are unable to afford school fees, supplies and uniforms in order to send their children to school. This leaves children and teenagers more vulnerable, and with nothing to do.

Early estimates suggest there are an additional 2,000 displaced people in the communities of Cobocol. We are working to respond to the needs of affected families, including host families.