Sonje Ayiti

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Sonje Ayiti Projects are dedicated to enhancing the lives of those in our community who are in greatest need.

ADULT LITERACY Program Summary: The Adult Literacy Project is an education movement in the Limonade community to help in the fight against illiteracy. SAO launched the three month program in six centers in January 2009 to assist adult students to learn reading and writing fundamentals. In May 24, 2009, the first graduating class achieved mastery up at the 2^nd grade level for 66 students ranging in age from 16-74. Francois Aurel, the oldest graduating member said, "this is the best gift Sonje Ayiti could ever offer". This program is encouraging and empower to the graduating students leaving many students hoping for the opportunity to continue building program beyond their 2nd grade education-level. Eventually the hope is this increased support for supplies, classroom equipment, and funding for two 6th grade level teachers in order for SAO can continue empowering these students with expanding education.

CHILDREN LITERACY

Program Summary: The Educational Aide/Teacher Sponsorship program is aimed to increase the quality of education for student at the SAO sponsored community school. For $1,200-$2,000 annually, a sponsor funds the salary of an educational aide in an otherwise underfunded school, meaning that many teachers often do so with no guarantee of receiving compensation for their efforts. This security of position and funding allows teaching to be provided approximately 30-45 children per session at primary schooling level. SAO believes in educational aide sponsorship versus individual child aide because through this gift the lives of multiple children are bettered.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT SPONSORSHIP

Program Summary: Sonje Ayiti is working to provide excelling students of the Limonade community a scholarship program to continue education at the university level. Without financial support, many intelligent students are unable to continue pursuing their education. For $3,000-$4,500 annually, a student will be able to attend college for one year. Students sponsored through SAO are encouraged to pursue a career that allows them to remain in Haiti and utilize their education to help their home community. For example, the careers in nursing, medicine, agricultural or teaching allow the knowledge gained to benefit the future of the community.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Program Summary: Currently, Haitian communities rely largely on imports to feed the nation’s citizens. Surprisingly, many of the imports of food products come from the neighboring country, the Dominican Republic, which shares similar agricultural and climate conditions. The Limonade community has very fertile agricultural land and resources, thus Sonje Ayiti seeks to utilize these natural gifts to allow the community to have a sustainable, local, and more cost effective way of accessing nutritional food. Further, the ability to buy food locally in Haiti helps stimulate is fledging economy and empowers the people with agricultural knowledge and skills.

OPERATION GOATS-PASS THE GIFTS

Program Summary: Goats provide essential protein, manure for greater crop yield and a livelihood to pay for education, healthcare, and other necessities. Sonje Ayiti works with local community leaders to see that the goats are given to the families in greatest need. Each family can freely rebreed their goats at anytime and receive training on food supply and immunizations. The Pass the Gift Project-Operation Goat follows the SAO value that they believe in empowerment and skills building not just simple charity. The project allows each family the resources of 3 pregnant goats and one year to return three goats to the SAO organization in order to continue this self sustaining program. With a donation of $85, you are able to help purchase one pregnant Goat and the essential medicines to care for the goat for one family participating in the Pass the Gift project.

KOUD-A-KOUD MICRO CREDIT

Program Summary: The Koud-A-Koud (translated means shoulder-to-shoulder, or helping each other stand) Micro Loan project was initiated in response to the inability of small businesses in the Limonade Community to be able to secure loans from other sources with reasonable interest rates and loan conditions. The program is a revolving fund that helps men and women reinforce or start a small business. Loans typically range from $100-$250 per individuals, and since the launch of the projects all 41 beneficiaries involved in the program have succeeded in a 100% repayment rate. This program has helped created a sustainable living for business such as farming and goods sold. Additionally, this program provides education training on business and individual screening of applicants to increase the likelihood success for investments.

HOT COCOA D'HAITI PROJECT

Program Summary: Sonje Ayiti is currently working with the women empowerment group, RAFAVAL to develop and distribute cocoa for national and international production. According to Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (Dec. 3, 2003 ) "Hot cocoa has more disease-fighting antioxidants than tea or red wine. And the heat may help propel them into the bloodstream." Additional, the marketing and distribution of this Haitian made product is working to be Fair Trade certified and provides these women the ability to be economically empowered.

HEALTH PROMOTION

Program Summary: Sonje Ayiti aids in providing mobile health clinics to the residents of Limonade. In partnership with visiting healthcare providers, medical students, and university student teams, SAO provides this mobile more accessible form of health care to the citizens of Limonade. Currently, the city of 45,000 people is served by only 2 physicians and 4 health workers. The clinics are able to see about 160 patients per day, which allows for increased treatment and prevention of health concerns in this underserved community. The cost to sponsor the needed medicines to provide this service is $600 per mobile clinic.

Sonje Ayiti advocates for positive, safe, and healthy practices within the Limonade community. The astounding rates of HIV infection and AIDS prevalence in Haiti make prevention and education a key issue to be addressed in all communities. SAO provides programming focused to provide Limonade citizens with the knowledge and skills to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Risk aversion efforts include guest presentations, soccer tournament awareness campaigns, and educational youth geared activities at the annual festival and soccer tournament. Additionally, SAO works with the Ministry of Health and the United Nations to provide contraceptive resources and educational materials to the community.

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