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

ANSE-A-PITRES, Haiti. July 11, 2011. – Following the mega earthquake that destroyed many parts of Haiti on January 12, 2010, a deadly cholera epidemic followed and the number of cases and deaths continue to rise uncontrollably. A recent report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) suggests that there have been 324,299 cases of cholera since the outbreak began back in October 2010. Haiti’s Ministère de Santé Public et de la Population has confirmed there have been 5342 deaths from cholera.

In the Dominican Republic, a total of 71 people have died from cholera-related diseases since last November, including nine deaths last week, the country’s Public Health Ministry said on Friday. The number of suspected cases had risen to 10,760 after 1,014 new cases were registered alone during last week. With the arrival of the rainy season, health authorities in both countries have tightened measures to prevent the spread of cholera and other diseases.

The Batey Relief Alliance, in partnerships with local NGOs and Ministries of Health, too has taken swift measures by installing Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs) inside the Dominican Republic’s batey in the province of Monte Plata and in Haiti’s Southeastern border commune of Anse-a-Pitres where hundreds of cases have been evaluated and treated.

But more needs to be done immediately to control the outbreak form spreading in more vulnerable and poverty-stricken communities of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Thousands of lives are at stake. Click on our DONATE NOW button today and make an urgent gift of $35, $50, $75, $100 or more, and save lives.