DWS Country Programs
Caribbean/Haiti
 Local celebration. Batey El Mamey (2000) © LWF/DWS Dominican Republic |
Poverty in Haiti is promoted and perpetuated by dysfunctional state institutions. Social transformation is therefore a critical goal for Haiti, in order to allow the majority of the population, which historically has been excluded, to integrate into Haitian society and to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Since 2003, the LWF/DWS Caribbean/Haiti Program has emphasized a human rights based program in Haiti focusing on community organization, particularly in rural areas, to promote greater participation in local decision making processes. Creating jobs, particularly in rural areas, is the complementary emphasis in fighting persistent poverty. Some hope and potential for improving living conditions is found in the consistent support to small coffee planters for the growing and export of quality coffee at a fair price.
The LWF/DWS Program strategy is based on the following priority themes: institutional strengthening of community based organizations, professional associations and women's groups; integrated community development to increase levels of participation and exchange, equity and social justice; concerted action and networking among LWF/DWS Haiti partner organizations to increase their institutional capacity in decision making processes; and advocacy around issues of human rights and the core values of justice, equity and dignity.
Web site of the LWF/DWS Caribbean/Haiti program.
Democracy and Civil Society Program
The LWF/DWS Program actively seeks partnerships with local non-governmental organizations to work in developing democracy and civil society. Collaborative activities include: training human rights monitors; promoting participation and leadership of women; empowerment of vulnerable groups; and breaking the silence about HIV/AIDS.
The Institute for Advanced Social and Political Studies (ISPOS), founded in 1998, contributes to the training of political leaders and supports dialogue and reconciliation within the fragmented Haitian society. In 2001, the LWF handed over local autonomy to ISPOS.
Integrated Rural Development Program
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Manual coffee peeling in Thiotte. The LWF supports the Haitian Fair Trade Coffee Initiative. © LWF/DWS Haiti/ L. Gustavsson |
The goal of community development is to tackle the root causes of poverty through effective participation of the population in decision making processes and appropriate management of available resources. The strategy is to structure and organize the community around economic and social issues of interest to the members, for example, agricultural production, education, health.
Dominican Republic
PROCARIBE functions in the Dominican Republic since 1998 with the goal to alleviate poverty and the ill treatment of exiled Haitian workers and poor Dominicans in the batayes (sugar-cane settlements). The program aims to: strengthen social community groups; build capacity of local leadership; empower people and communities through education in democracy and democratic participation; and improve communication and information exchange. Activities include: small business training; income generating projects; housing repair and construction; adult literacy programs; and distribution and planting of seedlings.
For further information please contact:
Ms Elsa Moreno, Program Officer
Local representative
Ms Sylvia Raulo, Regional Representative
