CaribPR Wire

PADF-OAS-HUFH urge continued financial support

 WASHINGTON, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — During the six months since the Western Hemisphere’s worst natural disaster, the Pan American Development Foundation and its partners assisted more than 1.3 million Haitians, as well as strengthened vital community organizations and coordinated with the government to ensure long-term success of on-the-ground recovery efforts. (www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org)

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 ”We are proud of our achievements but we are reminded that more than a million Haitians are still homeless and urgently need help,” says Jimmy Jean-Louis, the actor and spokesperson for PADF’s recovery efforts in Haiti. “Please visit www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org to learn what we have been doing to improve their lives.”

 PADF and its partners Hollywood Unites for Haiti (HUFH) and the Organization of American States (OAS) immediately responded to the survivors’ needs by providing food, water, shelter, medicine and other supplies. Thanks to individual, corporate and multilateral cash and in-kind donations, they distributed more than 200 tons of supplies worth over $3 million since the Jan. 12 earthquake.

 In addition to relief supplies, PADF employed thousands of Haitians to clear rubble from streets and alleys, clean drainage canals and remove other debris choking neighborhoods.

 To learn more about specific relief efforts, please visit www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org for stories and videos.

 ”We are focusing our efforts on implementing a strategic recovery plan, which is one of PADF’s specialties,” says John Sanbrailo, PADF’s Executive Director. “This means moving people out of camps into safe homes, creating sustainable employment and ensuring that Haitians play a major role in the rebuilding of their country.”

 “Tagging” & repairing homes

PADF is helping Haitians to return home by certifying that their houses are safe. It has trained 100 Haitian structural engineers to evaluate homes, schools and other buildings to determine how safe they are. Since May, the engineers have “tagged” 35,000 buildings in three categories: A “green” tag means a structure is perfectly safe; a “yellow” tag indicates it is useable but requires some repair; and a “red” tag states the building must be repaired or demolished before it can be used.

 By the end of July, the engineers will tag 50,000 buildings in Port-au-Prince, which will benefit more than 125,000 Haitians. The six-month program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

 ”Moving Haitians out of camps and overcrowded dwellings into safe homes is one of our highest priorities, particularly since we are in the hurricane season,” says Sanbrailo. “Haitians are understandable afraid to return to buildings that may collapse. These inspections will give them the certainty they need.”

 Repairing the yellow-tagged buildings is a major challenge for Haiti, particularly since both homeowners and the people they hire are probably unaware of building standards in an earthquake zone.

 Working closely with Haiti’s Public Works Department and under the supervision of U.S. structural engineer and post-earthquake expert Kit Miyamoto, PADF’s tagging project includes hands-on training of construction workers and architects prior to working on the yellow- and red-tagged homes. In addition to brochures and manuals, four model homes have been set up to demonstrate the common repairs they will undertake.

 ”This puts into action the ‘build-better’ concept that we all desire,” says Sanbrailo.

 PADF’s project has a small amount of money that will be used to repair a limited number of homes.

 ”We appreciate USAID’s foresight and generous support,” says Sanbrailo. “Only with its support could PADF undertake this massive and much-needed project.”

 However, Sanbrailo notes that this funding needs to be supplemented by donations from individuals and companies.

 To learn more about earthquake-damaged buildings in Haiti and how PADF is tagging them, please visit www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org to see a video with Kit Miyamoto.

 Protecting the most vulnerable

PADF’s successful, three-year-old Protecting Human Rights (PHR) program has expanded its scope to focus on the needs of the most-vulnerable Haitians, particularly those in the camps.

 PADF brought together its grassroots partners and provided them with training and additional resources to meet the post-earthquake challenges. Together, they are providing psychological support, medical care, safe housing and legal aid to the victims of violence and exploitation. It is funded by USAID.

 Trafficking of women and children, which has been a serious problem in Haiti, was exacerbated after the earthquake. PADF has expanded its anti-trafficking program to cover more communities, including rural areas and the border.

 One Haitian NGO in Petit-Goave praised PADF for its anti-trafficking work and the need to expand the program.

 ”Following the January 12th quake, several families gave their children to the ‘highest bidder,’ fearing the worst for their sons and daughters,” said Jocelyn Jean, the secretary general of ASIDEP, on July 2. “However, in the rural areas where [PADF] trained the communities on [anti-trafficking in persons], the children are still living with their families.”

 To learn more about PADF’s PHR program, please visit www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org for stories and videos.

 Communities deciding their future

Involving Haitians – especially the poorest – in the post-earthquake economic redevelopment process is a key element in PADF’s reconstruction strategy.

 One of PADF’s largest and most-successful programs teaches communities to prioritize, selected and monitor projects that directly affect their quality of life. Called Community Driven Development, it provides grants to start the selected projects.

 Today, PADF is working with more than 360 community-based organizations in 14 Haitian districts — all located in some of the poorest areas — that have identified or are operating in excess of 700 sustainable projects. Now in its third year, PADF implements the program on behalf of the Haitian government. It is funded by the World Bank.

 How-to help

Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, who is originally from Haiti, returned to the island on July 9 to survey the situation and encourage continued donations from individuals and companies to support the rebuilding process.

 ”The suffering of my fellow countrymen is no longer front-page news, but it is still very much a reality,” he says. “It’s unimaginable that Haitians have to live under tarps, bed sheets and even pieces of cardboard. With your help, they can have a dignified life in a safe home.”

 Individual and corporate donations to PADF-OAS-HUFH’s Haiti recovery efforts are encouraged by visiting www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org.

 In the United States, people may call (877) 572-4484 to donate with a Visa or MasterCard. They may also text HEAL to 50555 to donate $5.

 About HUFH

Hollywood Unites for Haiti is a non-profit charitable aid organization based in Los Angeles that that is lead by Jimmy Jean-Louis. www.hufh.org. 

Jimmy Jean-Louis, who plays the “Haitian” on NBC’s hit series “Heroes,” has returned to Haiti several times since the powerful quake. Immediately after Jan. 12, he spent a week in Haiti distributing relief supplies and assisting families. Jimmy returned at the two-month anniversary to continue his work.

 About the OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization and today is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. www.oas.org

 About PADF

PADF is a non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, more than 5.6 million people in 18 countries benefited from PADF’s programs.

PADF is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Haiti. With nearly three decades of work on the ground, PADF now manages a large portfolio of activities ranging from community-driven development to protecting human rights. It works closely with all stakeholders to create sustainable solutions.

 Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and has field offices in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. www.padf.org

Donations in the United States: (877) 572-4484

Text HEAL to 50555

www.ImUnitedforHaiti.org

Non-Profit assigned part of downtown Port-au-Prince, Southeast Province

 WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A heavily damaged area of downtown Port-au-Prince and communities in the Southeast province have been assigned to the Pan American Development Foundation and its partners for immediate relief, the non-profit organization announced. www.PanAmericanRelief.org

 Haitian civil defense authorities designated these areas because of PADF’s long development experience in these communities and the urgent need for the organization’s extensive background in disaster management.

 PADF’s assigned zones are: Port-au-Prince’s downtown section of Bel Air, a heavily residential area known for its beautiful cathedral; and the Southeast province, which includes the seaside cities of Jacmel, Cayes-Jacmel and Marigot.

 ”The Southeast province was hit as hard as Port-au-Prince but has yet to receive attention by the international media,” says John Sanbrailo, PADF’s Executive Director. “With such a large mandate, PADF is urging individuals and companies to support our earthquake relief efforts by calling (877) 572-4484 or visiting www.PanAmericanRelief.org. It’s vital to people’s survival.”

 Prior to the devastating 7.0 earthquake, these Southeast province communities (which are about a three-hour drive from Port-au-Prince) were severely damaged by hurricanes and tropical storms 18 months ago. PADF will provide relief supplies to these affected communities via the border city of Pedernales in the Dominican Republic.

 Relief to Bel Air will come through PADF’s office in the capital, which receives its supplies from a land route that connects with the border city of Jimani in the Dominican Republic.

 PADF – which is collaborating with the Organization of American States (OAS), the non-profit Hollywood Unites for Haiti (HUFH) and other groups – has eight offices in Haiti, with its country headquarters in Port-au-Prince. PADF has worked in the country for nearly 30 years on economic development, protecting human rights and responding to natural disasters.

 Meanwhile, actor and President of Hollywood Unites for Haiti, Jimmy Jean-Louis (”The Haitian” on NBC’s “Heroes”) arrived in Port-au-Prince late Saturday to reconnect with his family and to raise awareness of the crisis. What he found stunned him.

 ”It looked like a war had happened,” says Jean-Louis, who was shocked by the magnitude of destruction and the desperate need of the people.

 Jean-Louis is a spokesperson for the PADF-OAS-HUFH campaign to raise money for relief and reconstruction of Haiti. They may do so by calling (877) 572-4484 or visiting www.PanAmericanRelief.org to make a donation.

 About HUFH

Hollywood Unites For Haiti is a non-profit charitable aid organization based in Los Angeles that puts 100 percent of its donations directly into the cause of helping Haitian citizens and raising global awareness of ways in which people can help.

www.hufh.org and www.HaitianHero.com

 About the OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, which was held in Washington, D.C. from October 1889 to April 1890. Today, it is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. www.oas.org

 About PADF

 PADF is a non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, it had more than 5.6 million beneficiaries in 18 countries.

PADF is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Haiti. With nearly three decades of work on the ground, PADF now manages a large portfolio of activities ranging from community-driven development to protecting human rights.

 Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and has field offices in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. www.padf.org

Urges donors to call (877) 572-4484 to support relief effort

 WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Jimmy Jean-Louis, who plays the “Haitian” on NBC’s hit series “Heroes,” is leading a public awareness campaign to raise money for the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Pan American Development Foundation and the Organization of American States announced.

 ”Haitians are desperate for help, and I am glad to collaborate with PADF on its national campaign to raise relief money,” says Jimmy Jean-Louis, who will appear in television public service announcements, print ads and online.

 He is asking people to donate to PADF’s secure website: www.PanAmericanRelief.org Donations are also accepted by a toll-free number: (877) 572-4484. PADF responds to natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Fortunately, Jimmy Jean-Louis found out today that his parents in the Haitian capital are safe but their home was destroyed by the earthquake. Unfortunately, other family members died in the collapse.

 Jimmy is making plans to return to Haiti. PADF will provide him with a satellite telephone so he can maintain contact and provide first-hand reports on the situation on the ground.

 ”Jimmy’s kind heart and dedication to his countrymen are outstanding and we are proud to work with him on this national campaign,” says John Sanbrailo, PADF’s Executive Director.

 PADF – the natural disaster relief arm of the OAS – has more than 150 people in Haiti working on economic development, human rights and disaster relief. PADF’s office in the Dominican Republic will be the staging area for all its shipments to the island. It is sending emergency relief supplies including food, tools, telecommunications equipment and other immediate relief supplies.

 ”PADF is working with civil protection authorities, the private sector and community organizations to provide immediate and long-term assistance,” Sanbrailo says.

 As part of its response effort, PADF is coordinating with other Inter-American partners including the OAS, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

 At the same time, the non-profit organization is also working with major corporations to coordinate their response. In other recent natural disasters, PADF worked with DIAGEO, Chevron, Royal Caribbean International Ltd., Citi and Federal Express.

 About PADF

PADF has more than 150 people throughout Haiti working on a number of projects, including community driven development, disaster mitigation and protecting human rights.

 PADF is an independent, non-profit organization that creates public-private partnerships to assist the least advantaged people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Through these partnerships and as a unique affiliate of the Organization of American States, PADF creates economic opportunities, strengthens communities and prepares for and responds to natural disasters.

 Having worked in every country in the region, PADF engages community-based groups, governments and the private sector in the process of implementing appropriate solutions for sustainable development.

 In the past year, more than 5 million people in 18 countries benefited from PADF and its programs. www.padf.org