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Shifting the Mind!
The early focus of CHAMPs was to provide direct health care services and medicines in rural villages that see little/NO health care access. Eight years after the earthquake, Haiti continues the struggle to “rise above” socio-economic disparity. The documentary “Poverty Inc” describes the good intentions of nonprofits worldwide. Yet these charitable efforts often run counter-productive to improving day to day life. In January 2016, the value of the (monetary) gourde was at a 40-year low. $1/45 Gourdes (HTG). Only 2 years later (3-2018) that value has dropped to $1/64 HTG.
Example: Native translators joining us on daily clinics receive a “fare wage” that is between $15-17.00/day. (Over 90% of natives will not secure a fair wage for their work. Now think of buying 1 banana for $2.00. This is what $1/64 HTG (Haitian Gourdes “feels” like.
One shift CHAMPs made is in rice purchase. For 4 years we purchased over $8000 in rice; >15 TONS.) Without questioning the process, what we got was a product grown and shipped from the U.S. Native farmers attempting to gain a profit with their small 2 acre rice field will never compete with (our) easy access to American-subsidized rice. Since Feb 2017 CHAMPs purchases only native-grown rice products. Yes, it is a little more expensive, similar to supporting a local farmer’s markets here in Minnesota. Our goal is to positively impact the socio-economic welfare of Haitians. It’s the right thing to do!
Example: Native translators joining us on daily clinics receive a “fare wage” that is between $15-17.00/day. (Over 90% of natives will not secure a fair wage for their work. Now think of buying 1 banana for $2.00. This is what $1/64 HTG (Haitian Gourdes “feels” like.
One shift CHAMPs made is in rice purchase. For 4 years we purchased over $8000 in rice; >15 TONS.) Without questioning the process, what we got was a product grown and shipped from the U.S. Native farmers attempting to gain a profit with their small 2 acre rice field will never compete with (our) easy access to American-subsidized rice. Since Feb 2017 CHAMPs purchases only native-grown rice products. Yes, it is a little more expensive, similar to supporting a local farmer’s markets here in Minnesota. Our goal is to positively impact the socio-economic welfare of Haitians. It’s the right thing to do!
"When you know better you will do better" Maya Angelou
