Women's movement building and creating community in Haiti - 0 views
www.blacklooks.org/...nd-creating-community-in-haiti
haiti earthquake 2010 history haitian news blacklooks
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One of the stories least reported has been the one about Haitians organising for themselves, particularly stories presented within a framework of feminist organising and movement building.
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Once it was established Rea’s family were all safe – a house just five minutes walk from Rea’s own home collapsed – she set about caring for the many in her community and where ever she was needed. Everyone was in shock but there was no time to think about what had happened as people were injured. Many people – students, families knowing about her community work, flocked to Rea’s home and at one point there were some 60 people in her home.
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I was surprised when I heard Rea had started a Micro-Credit scheme as there were so many negative reports on schemes which rather than enhance and empower women, ended up impoverishing them even more. So I was interested to find out more about the SOPUDEP scheme, whether it was working and why it worked and I will write about this later after meeting with the various women’s group.
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The elections are a distraction. Leaders have the power to bring change but no one believes any leader will do anything for the poor. Everyone I asked about Aristide wanted him back because they believed he was one leader who could change their lives for the better. Right now the only way is for communities to reach out to each other and create alliances which is what SOPUDEP is beginning to do. Rea’s vision is one I share. We cannot fix Haiti, but we can fix our community and help others fix theirs. Eventually as all these communities build alliances amongst themselves, they will become strong and then maybe begin to fix Haiti.
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I have spent two days at the school with the freedom to roam. I came across a class whose teacher was absent and I ended up teaching English for 45 minutes followed by the students giving me a lesson in Kreyol. Now I have been asked by them to teach the same class for the next couple of weeks till they break uap for holidays. The school is truly like family. Since the Micro-credit scheme, parents and school staff have all been encouraged to open savings account.