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The Region of Grand Colline
Grande Colline is a mountainous region in southern Haiti, situated between the towns of Leogane and Grand-Goave. Population is an estimated 35,000. Villagers face numerous difficulties, among them simply raising enough food to eat. The principal activities of stock farming and agriculture are severely jeopardized by lack of rainfall, a byproduct of deforestation. With nothing to bring to the common market, there is no income.
The rich, blue sky only momentarily distracts you from seeing the devastating deforested slopes of Haiti’s rocky hills and mountains.
Deforestation
Many factors have contributed to the extensive deforestation of Haiti; some political, some environmental, some the result of desperate people in need of farmland and cooking fuel. A Haitian family might get two decent years (rains permitting) out of a newly cleared rocky slope of land, with its meager topsoil. After that, erosion completely takes hold. The land ceases to be an asset, instead becoming a life-threatening liability during torrential rains and mudslides.
Deforestation is a particularly severe problem in the Grande Colline region. Floresta is dedicated to healing the land and its people. For a decade, Floresta has worked side-by-side with Haitians in the region, educating on erosion control, cooperative farming techniques and planting methods. The results so far are impressive, but there’s still a long way to go.
Unemployment
Employment outside of subsistence farming is still the exception in the Grande Colline region. But there are bright sparks of hope. Thanks to the Haiti Education Foundation, about a thousand students graduate from high school each year. A few are fortunate enough to attract American donors willing to pay for college education, an important step toward good employment. Others attend the vocational school in Cherident to learn marketable trade skills.
The HEF school system itself employs a number of young adults as teachers and administrators. Floresta offers microcredit loans to its co-op members, with impressive results. Now, Haiti Healthcare Partners is funding the medical staff, who in turn are helping all area residents improve their health.
We believe that working together to provide medical care, education, and loan opportunities to the region can only lead to a stronger economy and better employment year after year. Haiti Healthcare Partners would be delighted to work with other organizations interested in bringing employment opportunities to this promising region.
Poor Sanitation & Contaminated Water
Few residents of Grande Colline have access to clean drinking water. Most of the water from the few springs in the area is contaminated from people washing clothes and themselves, a necessity because water is so scarce. Poor or absent sanitation practices contribute to the problem. However, there have been many positive developments in Grande Colline the past twenty years. The visionary leadership of Pere Jean-Wilfrid Albert has done much in the areas of education, farming, and Christian discipleship. Haiti Healthcare Partners now enables us to tackle the need for improved, lasting healthcare!
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