NEW YORK. – The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) became a member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in April 2011 and is excited to present its Commitment to Action (CTA) at the CGI 2011 Annual Meeting to take place September 20-22 in New York City.

CGI is a collaboration between the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other global leaders to effectively confront the world’s most pressing issues. “BRA is delighted and proud to receive an invitation to this important meeting, which is recognition of its achievements in the area of social development in Haiti and the Dominican Republic,” said Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO.

“Our mission is to address the socio-economic and health needs of children and their families severely affected by extreme poverty, disease and hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are honored to join the CGI, and the commitment we are presenting will further contribute to advancing that mission,” added Gaillard

Since 1997, BRA served more than 1 million vulnerable and impoverished people living inside Dominican’s sugarcane plantations rural communities known as “bateyes” and Haiti’s border regions through health and HIV/AIDS prevention and (ARV) treatment, food security and agricultural development, women economic empowerment and microcredit, preventive health education, water and sanitation and child’s care and deworming programs.

BRA announces the following Commitment to Action:

Workforce Development Training for 150 Haitian Women: The Batey Relief Association (BRA) commits to expanding its women’s empowerment activities to an additional 150 Haitian women in three communes of Haiti’s Southeast Department (Anse-a-Pitres, Thiotte and Grand Gozier). BRA will focus on three major areas of capacity development: trainings on leadership, gender-based violence and organizational strengthening; workforce development through small-scale agriculture, trainings on marketing and retail, and cooperative sales practices; and microcredit. Over a one-year period, the 150 women will engage in sustainable economic and agricultural development initiatives that will lead to improvements in household income, better employment opportunities and access to trade markets – thus improving the quality of their lives.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion.

This year, CGI also convened CGI America, a meeting focused on developing ideas for driving economic growth in the United States. The CGI community also includes CGI U, which hosts an annual meeting for undergraduate and graduate students, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

The story of Marceline Limane, founder of FAVAT (Famn Vanyan Nan Tichal)

Marceline Limane is no stranger to poverty and hunger. As a single mother of five children, she knows the pain of not having enough to provide for her own family. She now heads an organization called FAVAT (Famn Vanyan Nan Tichal) in Bony, a tiny town on the outskirts of the small impoverished and dirt-filled commune of Anse-a-Pitres in southeast border regions of Haiti. “I started FAVAT over a year ago, after noting the many of us that were going hungry in our town after the devastating earthquake that almost destroyed everything,” said Marceline. Recognizing the need to band together and pull funds and resources to care for the hungry, the 20 members of FAVAT gather once a week to discuss the present needs in their community and formulate plans on how to meet those needs. But food was high on their list.

In the past several months, since (BRA) Batey Relief Alliance’s food distribution program funded by USAID’s Food for Peace/IFRP initiative began in December, Marceline has been able to share the food donations she received with many people (anywhere from 50 to 80 in a given month). She and the other members of FAVAT focus on distributing to those who are most vulnerable and food insecure in her community—primarily to pregnant and nursing women, and then to the elderly, the anemic, and those suffering from tuberculosis and other severe illnesses. “The food has been well-received by the recipients; not only does it subside hunger, but they have also found it to be quite delicious and nutritious,” added Marceline. With the assistance of BRA, FAVAT has also been able to conduct food demonstrations, to inform recipients on how best to cook the food, while teaching fundamental sanitation practices, to promote health and minimize the spread of dangerous disease (such as cholera).

Although the food distributions have greatly helped Marceline and her neighbors, but she and the other members of FAVAT recognize that it is not the ultimate solution to the chronic hunger problem in her town. With the aid of such projects like BRA’s Jaden Lakou—a food security activity conducted under a USAID/DGP-funded Women Economic Empowerment project, they too hope to develop their own vegetable gardens in time, to be able to have a sustainable source of food and nourishment for their town. As BRA helps meet the current hunger needs in Bony and other such impoverished communities in border regions of Haiti, women like Marceline are empowered and able to plan for the future and focus on findings and developing long-term solutions.

Support BRA’s Women Empowerment Program in border regions of Haiti. Women like Marceline deserve another chance to better themselves. You can make that happen. Please Donate to BRA.

ANSE-A-PITRES, Haiti, August 3, 2011. – As tropical storm Emily is heading for Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) is prepared for possible heavy rains and flash floods that could be severely damaging to both countries. In collaboration with US-based NGO, Direct Relief International (DRI) and USAID/Food for Peace/IFRP, BRA has stockpiled medical, food and first-aid supplies in its main warehouse in the province of Monte Plata, as well as other locations in the southeast border regions of Haiti. More than 630,000 people in Haiti are still without shelter after last year’s devastating earthquake.

We are now seeking donated container supplies and funding in preparation for the storm. Our proactive strategy allows us to respond swiftly to the needs of victims in distress. There will be many critical moments in the next month where your gift could make the difference between life and death for families that will likely lose their homes and will need our help desperately to rebuild their lives.

Your assistance will allow us to stockpile the most critical supplies so we can ship and ground-transport them to affected locations.

I challenge you to partner with us financially today. Click HERE and make your secure online donation.

I urge you to please give whatever you can. No amount is too small. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,
Ulrick Gaillard, J.D.
Founder and CEO