MODEL VILLAGE - BON DOS (BONDEAU), HAITI
Outskirts of Miragoane, Department of Nippes, Haiti

ReThinkHaiti’s goal is to effect change using elements of the U.N. MODEL VILLAGE incorporating the requirements of local context.

THE ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES OF THE MODEL VILLAGE CONCEPT ARE :
Community Based
Culturally Sensitive
Environmentally Sound
Education Driven
Economically Sustainable
COMPREHENSIVE - SELF SUSTAINING - PRODUCTIVE

THE PROJECT WILL BE EVALUATED RELATIVE TO GOALS THAT ARE:
S     Specific
M     Measurable
A      Achievable
R      Results oriented and Replicable
T       Time bound

Pillar I   Education

Early childhood programs - Primary and secondary school, relevant curriculum - Structured & regimented boarding school - Teacher training - Technical and Vocational training (youth, adults) - Technology

Early childhood programs, relevant primary and secondary school programs, vocational training, teacher quality and technology.  A boarding facility will also be constructed to allow disenfranchised children who to be provided a structured and regimented learning environment to foster maturation.  

Adult education, literacy, computer skills, business skills, financial management, and other technical, vocational training.

50% of the population of Haiti is below 20 years of age.  Consequently, the most important aspect for Haiti’s development is education and will be the primary focus of ReThinkHaiti.  Education standards in Haiti are extremely low.  The rural population, such as that of Bon Dos, remains vastly underrepresented in Haiti classrooms.  Instead of providing minimum standards of education, ReThinkHaiti will provide quality, community based education with emphasis on certified teaching staff, relevant updated curriculum, technology, and modern facilities.  A substantial  part of the curriculum will focus on the importance of self reliance and personal responsibility as well as leadership and entrepreneurship.  

      

Pillar II  Agriculture

For subsistence farming and agri-businesses –  will include, but are not limited to organic farming, fruit trees, animal husbandry, irrigation systems, re-forestation, and aquaculture.  62% of the population of Haiti derives its living from agriculture.  But lack of irrigation water, seeds, fertilizer and proper storage facilities impede the growth of a more substantial economic return from agricultural lands.  Through Partnership with the state of Haiti and local Government, ReThinkHaiti.org will acquire a large communal farm (200+ acres ) in order to move the community toward sustainability, by establishing several ecologically sound agri-business projects. Profit from those projects will be reinvested throughout the community.  Labor for the farm and its projects will come from residents of the community.  All will benefit. 
                        

Pillar III Economic Development
Microcredit Programs
Empowerment of Women

Economic development is the increase in the amount of people in a nation's population with sustained growth from a simple, low-income to a modern, higher-income economy.Its scope includes the process and policies by which a nation improves the economic, political, and social well-being of its people.("In the River They Swim", Steven M. Sheffrin (2003).

a. Transformation of lives from abject poverty to self-sufficiency and growth.

Small business development - Aquaculture - Fishery - Energy - Training, construction trades - Transportation - Tourism - Arts and Crafts - Cyber café - Retail markets - building materials/contruction - vehicle repairs - arts & crafts production/sales - moto - waste management/recycling - security services - emergency medical services - small scale manufacturing

b. Micro-credit initiatives

Microcredit is the extension of very small (microloans) to those in poverty, designed to spur entrepreneurship. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment, and verifiable credit and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional loans. Microcredit is a part of a wider range of financial services to the very poor.

c. Empowerment of Women

Haiti’s largest untapped resource. Our emphasis will be on empowering women to own small businesses.  Access to capital and micro-financing will be provided to village residents and business owners through a partnership with FONKOZE Financial  Services “in order to reach the poorest people in the poorest country in the hemisphere successfully”. Additionally,  ReThinkHaiti.org will provide girls and women in the village with information about maturation, wellness, and will also make available sanitary facilities for women. When Haitian women are able to drive economic change in their own communities all of Haiti will benefit.  RTH is committed to the education of every woman in Bon Dos and in the next ten years RTH will see that the Department of Nippes becomes the first Department in Haiti where every woman will be educated.

          

 

OTHER REQUIRED COMPONENTS FOR SUPPORT

Community Infrastructure

Utilities - Communications - Roads - Transportation - Schools - Community Center - Health care facility - Sports Arena

Bon Dos infrastructure will be developed to include:

School buildings
Sports & Cultural Complex
Community Center - public activities, celebrations
Municipal Offices
Transportation - trolley system to Miragoane, airfield, water taxi to PAP
Utilities - solar, wind, water, sanitation
Internet/broadband/wireless
Health and medical care
EMT/ambulances
Security and Fire Protection
Agriculture Center
Aquaculture Center
Marine Complex

In Bon Dos,  more than anywhere else in Haiti perhaps, WATER is the key to Life and the basis for all other pursuits.
Today 84% of rural residents of Haiti do not have access to sanitation; more than 70% do not have access to potable water. The ajority of illnesses in Haiti are water borne illnesses.   Providing water for consumption and irrigation and organizing the healthy disposal of waste, will be a major priority of ReThinkHaiti.

                  

Housing

Single family units, extended families
- Comfort, safe, secure - Low maintenance - Affordable - Sanitary - Potable water - Energy
Repairs - New Home Construction - Relocation of the 60 families in Bideau.

               
  

Health Care - Wellness

Health care, preventive and emergency - Dental care - Parenting skills - Diet, nutrition
ReThinkHaiti will also organize delivery of routine prevention and basic emergency care, through a community clinic.  In addition, immunizations, screening for endemic illnesses (HIV/AID, malaria, TB), health education, and nutrition classes will be provided.  Prenatal care and routine dental examinations will also be conducted. Basic medical training for local staff will ensure continuity of health services in the absence of physicians or other trained medical personnel.  Parenting skills, wellness, diet and nutrition will also be included.

                  

Community Development