Haiti's roads are awful. When I was a volunteer, a peacekeeper told me that the only worse roads he had ever seen were in Nepal.  The lack of infrastucture has affected people's ability to do business, seek health care, visit relatives, and to travel in general.  But there is good news - For the first time in a long while progress is being made on Haiti's road system. 

So I've been thinking about joining Rotary Club.  Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders interested in humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards, and promoting peace and goodwill around the world.  There are about 1.2 million Rotarians belonging to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries.  There are plenty of programs financed by Rotary International, but are there Haitian Rotary Clubs?  Turns out that there are.

Thanks to Frontline World for sending us a link to a well done piece on Belo, a young Haitian musician with a message of peace and unity.  Belo wants the world to judge Haiti by its good qualities as well.  We wholeheartedly agree. Haiti is unique and its music and art reflect this. Without music and art, Haiti would not be Haiti.

When someone says 'philanthropy', I am concerned that it conjures up images of celebrities and investors. All who support social causes are philanthropists.  Some prefer to support established organizations with a global reach.  Others like to support smaller organizations with the potential to grow.   Haiti Micah Project (HMP), serving vulnerable children in Mirebalais, is an organization poised to expand significantly in 2008.

Haiti made the USA Today. The article begins by noting Preval's annual sppech before a joint session of parliament where he said the country loses badly needed revenue by allowing contraband in while charging exorbitant fees to businesses that import merchandise legally. 

Haitians say that what the eyes do not see, the heart cannot feel.  There is much to that.  Considering how numb many of us have become to violence, it is difficult to convey the enormity of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur without images.  Without photos, it is also hard to show the beauty of a long maligned country like Haiti.  Below are some more sites (and a link to a book) that convey the beauty of Haiti and Haitians in a way that writing cannot.  Enjoy!

I was reading an article on Carribean 360 concerning the International Development Bank's $760 million plan to renovate the Peligre Dam, in order to increase its capacity to provide electricity to the portion of Haiti south of the dam.   Hydropower can be an asset to countries, but not at any cost.  The Peligre Dam is a cautionary tale about the horrible things sometimes done by governmental and international organizations in the name of development.  Development for whom?  At what cost?  

Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish, or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry. — Bill Drayton

I attended an interesting presentation today by Ashoka, an organization that supports individuals who apply their entrepeneurial skills to solve urgent social problems.  Since 1981, the organization has supported over 1800 entrepeneurs by providing them with stipends so they can focus on their social endeavor full time, receive professional support, and access to a wide network of mentors from sixty different countries who can provide guidance and feedback.