ANSE-A-PITRES, Haiti. – As part of a new Development Grant Program (DGP) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Republic of Haiti, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) received more than $400,000 to develop a Women’s Empowerment Program in the South-East Department, Capital of Jacmel, and District of Belle Anse, covering the communes of Grand Gosier, Thiotte and Anse-a-Pitres.

Launched in January 2010, the three-year program is designed to increase capacity of women’s community organizations to address issues of gender equity, skills training for durable employment and/or support for asset formation among women, and improve credit access to women to support economic growth of women-owned businesses. “The goal is to create an environment where women have the skills, assets and social capital to advance their own interests,” said Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO.

Thousands of women in Haiti’s Southeast Department struggle disproportionately with a combination of economic, health and domestic issues. These challenges translate into an environment where women lack the power to take actions to improve their own quality of life. “Taking into account its remote geographic location and the lack of available government resources, the solutions to the socio-economic challenges faced by women in Haiti’s border region will have to be generated within their own communities,” added Gaillard.

At the end of the program, it is expected that at least 30 women’s organizations formally established, 60 women trained as organizational leaders, 600 women trained through vocational skills development programs, 150 women trained as Community Health Promoters, 300 women eligible for credit, one district wide Network of Women’s Organizations established, improved financial stability for 600 women headed households (including 2400 indirect beneficiaries), reduced vulnerability to HIV among participating women, and 300 microloans distributed to women entrepreneurs through sustainable lending program.

The DGP grant also provides for technical assistance to BRA, through the Capable Partners Program, designed to increase the organization’s capacity to respond timely and effectively to the requirements and objectives of the program. BRA’s local program partners include microcredit-based FONKOZE, Partners In Health and Catholic Medical Mission Board.

BRA’s DGP program activities directly contribute to accomplishing goals established under USAID Haiti’s ‘Investing in People’, by directing technical assistance and resources to vulnerable women in the underserved border region of Haiti. “BRA’s activities invest in women and equip them to participate in community decision making, strengthen household incomes, and engage in preventive health maintenance,” concluded Gaillard.

MONTE PLATA, D.R. – As part of its Blindness Prevention program in the Dominican Republic, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) is partnering with the Student Volunteer Optometrists for Service of Humanity (SVOSH) of the New England College of Optometry to bring 22 students and faculty to deliver critical eye care and fee eye glasses to 1500 children and adults with eye problems, in need of a pair of glasses, and who are living in extreme poverty.

The seven-day mission activities, co-sponsored by the Lions Club Arroyo Hondo Santo Domingo, will take place from April March 10th through the 18th inside impoverished sugarcane plantations communities of YAMASA, province of Monte Plata. “Hundreds are expected to travel far away and beyond the bateyes take advantage of this once-in-a-life-time opportunity to check and treat their vision,” said Nicole Ross, SVOSH-NECO President.

Ross also added that patients who need follow-up or specialized care will be referred to BRA’s medical center in Monte Plata where complete optometric and ophthalmological care is provided to thousands in each year.

The SVOSH-NECO team, a long-time partner to BRA, is fully-equipped and self-sufficient, and will travel with sophisticated equipment, thousands of dollars in medicines, eye drops, eyeglasses and supplies.

ANSE-A-PITRES, Haiti. – The offices of the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) announced yesterday the launching of a new program of collaboration with its regional partner, Population Services International, in the Southeast border region of the Republic of Haiti.

This program of health crisis promotion and prevention carries out educational activities that promote healthy habits among the Haitian population which, became victim of a powerful earthquake on January 12th that killed more than 300,000 people.

Residents of Anse-a-Pitres, Belle Anse and Jacmel receive orientation in topics such as hygiene, proper handling of water, sexual and reproductive health, and prevention of sexually-transmitted infections, accompanied by the distribution of free lubricant condoms “Panté”. The program also received the support of Academy for Educational Development (AED) with the donation of 900 hygiene kits and Americares which donated 2 million PuR tablets to purify water.

BRA is already developing several other projects in the region, including a Women’s Economic Empowerment funded by USAID, multivitamins and deworming, and health services. On January 11th 2010, BRA signed an important agreement with Haiti’s Ministry of Health handing over to the organization the full management and control of the Southeast’s only medical center located in the commune of Anse-Pitres.