In 2022, PLH is focusing on sustainability and self-sufficiency, both for the organization and the community of Camp Marie. To do this, we have several small businesses in the works which will create jobs for individuals in the community, provide a local place to purchase some basic staples, and create income for the organization. Here are the businesses PLH is already working on.
1. U-Pick Fruit Orchard: In 2021, PLH planted over 300 fruit trees throughout the property. Local vendors will be able to purchase and resell oranges, grapefruit, limes, cherries, and keneps.
2. Kitchen: The PLH kitchen will provide daily lunches for our staff and offer meals and snacks for sale to students, players, and other locals. Construction will be completed by the end of January. The next step is to purchase appliances, countertops and equipment to outfit the kitchen
3. Solar Fruit Dehydrator: In our area, thousands of mangos go to waste each year as there is very little drying or preserving of food in Haiti. The solar dehydrator will allow for mangoes to be dried and preserved and for breadfruit to be dried and ground into a nutritious flour. PLH plans to purchase fruit in bulk locally as well as provide drying services for vendors to have their fruit dried and then resell it in the markets. The dehydrator will be placed on the kitchen roof and a special room for the fruit preparation and packaging is in the kitchen building. We are purchasing the dehydrator from an organization that builds them here in Haiti. We hope to have it installed in the next couple months.
Water Purification Center: Currently, PLH purchases all of its drinking water, traveling 10 to 15 minutes to refill 30 plus water jugs several times per week. This was nearly impossible to do with the fuel shortage last fall. The PLH Water Purification Center will provide drinking water for our own use, offer the community a local place to refill their gallons at a low price, and create jobs for locals. The building will be completed by the end of January, and we hope to have the filtration system installed and operational by March.
Chicken coop: Chicken is the largest source of protein in Haiti, and yet the majority of chickens and eggs are imported. PLH plans to create a chicken coop for egg-laying hens and meat chickens to be sold to local families and vendors. This will create jobs and allow families to purchase meat and eggs without having to travel 15 minutes to the nearest public market. Construction is planned for this spring.
Sustainability and small business creation is just one of our goals for 2022. In 2022, we plan to strengthen our pre-existing programs, continuing to develop the youth athletics program as well as the English Institute. Both of these have been running for four years, and have seen significant growth and development. This year, it is our goal to continue to invest in our teachers and coaches to develop their skills and to advance the institute and soccer academy with further development of curriculum, discipleship strategies, and added tournaments and workshops. Please pray for the teachers, coaches, students and players that God will continue to touch their lives and that they may carry out the plans He has for them.
As the PLH programs continue to grow and as small businesses launch, the PLH staff will continue to grow. We are excited to add to our number and have the opportunity to invest in more individuals on a daily basis. Employment is hard to find in Haiti and is life changing. An employer that treats their employees fairly and seeks to help them grow and develop can set individuals and their families up for success. And a positive work environment, focused on Christ and discipling its members can have eternal implications. Please pray with us that PLH will find the right employees to add to its number and that these jobs will be not only a financial blessing but cultivate personal, professional, and spiritual growth.
The final focus for PLH’s work in Haiti in 2022 is to continue to invest in the community through special events and activities. Currently, Haiti has little to offer in the way of entertainment and positive environments for people to enjoy a day or night out. We hope to see PLH become the hub of the community - where people can come to enjoy time with their family and friends, relax, learn, grow, and experience new things. Please pray for the community of Camp Marie - for the leaders, schools, churches, families, and youth. Families face daily challenges that many of us can’t imagine. Youth struggle to see a hope or future and face temptations to live a life of gangs, alcohol, greed, and pleasure. Pray that PLH and the schools and churches in Camp Marie can be lights to the community and help to foster unity, love, joy, opportunity, and hope.
Thank you for your continued partnership with Project Living Hope! God has great plans for this community.
As our Haitian brothers and sisters would do, we would like to leave you with a little new year’s blessing: May God grant you good health and watch over you and protect you. May you and your loved ones be blessed, and may this year be better than the last.