Earth Day, Help Haiti Reforest

International Earth Day, April 22, 2015

Hello there, I am Frantz Michel, author of the book: CAN GOD SAVE HAITI? and founder of the Enfant Utile (Useful Child) Foundation based in Haiti but I currently reside in Miami, FL. I am seeking support to help fight the deforestation of Haiti which causes many problem for a land that has been ravaged by political instability, famine, poverty and to add fuel to the fire, a devastating earth of January 12, 2010 which maimed infrastructures of the country and claimed the lives of over 300,000 and left 1 million homeless.




Project

Haiti faces many challenges, many of which are linked to deforestation. In 1960, the country still had a forest coverage of 60%. This percentage, unfortunately, was reduced to 1.4% in 2007. Today, it does not even account for 1%. All over the country, specifically the watersheds of the Northern Department have always been the object of studies aiming to address this scourge. This is not necessarily due to the cutting of trees. Wood is used for heating and to produce charcoal, which covers over 70% of the country's energy needs. Preferably, it is due to a real policy of reforestation and the presence of goodwill organizations intervening in the cause.

It is estimated that more than 20 million trees are cut down each year in the country. Meanwhile reforestation is not done at a proportional rate to the destroyed trees. Therefore, soil erosion continues to accelerate. Thus, more than 36 million tons of earth will go into the sea every year causing a loss of more than 10,000 hectares of arable land (Source FAO). The result is nothing other than we formerly lived in the city of Cap-Haitian (capital of the Northern Department) high flood causing extensive loss of life, animal and vegetable, and much more. Also, this sparked a significant decrease in the yield of agricultural production which causes famine, in other words, the increase of poverty. Considering these problems, it is imperative to establish a system of solutions that can address the problem. The nursery preparation containing forest and fruit species and then planting by students, would be one of the best strategies for citizen's involvement in the reforestation program run by the Haitian state?



Reforestation is in the context of sustainable development of any country process. It helps to conserve the biodiversity of plant and animal species to finally ensure the survival of human beings. Lately, we've been witnessing the extinction of a large number of birds due to increased deforestation in certain areas. A reforested area offers an unlimited amount of assets; however, the finding clearly shows that monitoring this is not done quite enough in the field. Planting should be the most coveted strategy to be adopted in order to reduce disaster risks but also to develop an environmental citizen culture. However, planting requires one to know what a plant is, and what the soil is like for planting? A plant is a living organism that promotes the functioning of the entire biosphere and it has endless benefits. It enables the protection of the hills while reducing erosion, further promoting the emission of oxygen that is useful in the respiration of animals as well as humans, increasing the storage capacity of aquifers and to protect them. Planting also has a great economic importance whether it is trees (fruit and forest), shrubs and herbaceous plants.




Considering this amount of vital needs of the plant and due to its intensive logging, it is inevitable to create an effective and efficient management system that can ensure its sustainability. Indeed, from the generally recognized growing seasons, the nursery is the basis for the reforestation process. Undertaking an initiative that calls the children to plant is part of a civic culture of education and environmental Vis a Vis the children, as education is the essence through which all knowledge is formally conveyed on an institutional basis or informally, liberally or empirically. Education is considered an important element in the development of people, hence the development of a right to education. The right to education is general, but by priority, we look to the environment to establish the duty of children to honor the earth. To this end, Enfant Utile (Useful Child) Foundation feels obligated to participate in the ecological recovery of the country by establishing a civic education program titled, CHILDREN OF THE EARTH/SONS OF HAITI. It is an initiative that will give a theoretical feeling in talk shows and conferences and a real aspect in the practical implementation of the operations of planted seedlings. Such an approach not only deserves the initiative of a group but especially the appreciation and support of the social and educational sectors of Child Affairs and the environment in order to establish and support large projections by the government as part of their environmental policy.

PROBLEMATIC

Human intervention in nature leads to a transformation of the biosphere whose scale begins to worry. We all know full well that the vegetative world is the basis of human survival. Yet we are motivated to act in the direction of satisfying power requirements, accommodations and other trivial pursuits to improve the quality of life. Man is driven to destroy his own environment without even realizing it at first. Thus, at the level of the Northern Department, a dizzying destruction of trees is observed. Faced with this phenomenon of putting at risk the life of the human race and animal population of the area, the need arises to develop a quick resolution to alleviate or eradicate this phenomenon. For this purpose, it is essential to propose sustainable intentions capable of supporting large projects of ongoing reforestation campaigns to secure the future of seed starting with the Northern part of Haiti.

General Objective
 
To commemorate the International Day (April 22, 2015) of the earth by planting, draw and present clay artwork produced by the children of Cap-Haitian.

Specific Objectives

Organize a day of exposure by Art products made by artisan’s children from the North:

1. To organize a drawing competition through the various schools in the Northern Department

2. Building the child’s mentality to lean toward being an environmentalist in order to help launch a firm culture for the future of society

3. Introduce a civic culture related to the environment in children 8-14 years of age.

4. Educate certain sectors such as Orphanages, foundations, clubs, school, etc.) to participate in the reforestation campaign.

5. Mobilize 5000 children of diverse status in the context of participation in this program.


*Historical Sites Built with fruit trees and ornamental trees, Fort Magny and Leclerc, Vertières, Breda in order to:

• Educate schools around the issue of environmental consciousness to form an environmentalist mentality.

• Distribute 3000 seedlings (Benzolive) to the participants’ targeted communities through the OCB.

• Involve residents of targeted areas for the implementation of operations in promoting "healthy ecosystems/Eco tourist" to a socio-economic impact of attitudes and behaviors towards the environment through the earth.

Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of this program are children of both sexes aged 8 to 14 years, without any discrimination. The Northern Department and its capital in particular through targeted communities, is the second beneficiary.

Your Benefits as Donor:

·         Donate $20 or more and you'll get an autographed copy of my book, "CAN GOD SAVE HAITI?" (available only for 100 people)

·         Donate $50 or more receive the autographed book plus, an ebook on communication (50 available)

·         Donate $100 or more receive the book, the ebook plus a personalized thank you letter signed by at least ten children from the Enfant Utile Foundation (25 available)

·         Donate $200 or more receive everything in the hundred dollar plus an additional ebook about working from home (20 available)

·         $500 or more get everything in two hundred dollars plus a custom made T-Shirt with the Enfant Utile logo and an inspirational quote (12 available)

·         $2000 or more get everything in the five hundred dollars plus one hoodie (5 available)

·         $5000 or more, I will buy a round trip ticket for you to go to Haiti with me to take part of this milestone event, plus receive everything from the $2000 perks (2 available)

·         $23,000 sponsor the whole event, I will pay your round trip ticket to Haiti, your hotel and your meal for the entire stay, plus receive everything in the five thousand dollar perk (1 available).

 



 Use of the Money

All the funds raised will be used toward the entire project. We will use a portion for advertisement (T-shirt, Radio, TV, website, logo, flyer, logo, etc.) in order to bring awarness to the cause. The larger portion will be used to buy the plants, prepare meals for the kids and other workers who will help us plant those trees in the mountains and the valleys. We will also distribute divers prizes to the winners of the Art competition for children.

Thank you in advance for your support towards making the country of Haiti a sustainable land starting with this immense REFORESTATION project on the International Earth Day (April 22, 2015).