South America
Haiti: Food Security
Why MI Americas is Here:
Food security is one of Haiti’s main concerns. Lack of sustainable infrastructure, political turmoil, a deteriorating security situation, and a historic vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events all work against sustainable progress in the country.
To address Haiti’s food security problem, MI Americas uses education and training campaigns to teach residents of Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil – the northern hemisphere’s most populous slum – about planting and harvesting effectively. With our local partners NGOs, and in close coordination with community leaders, pastors, and members, we are also building individual household gardens, larger community gardens. Building individual citizens’ capacity to feed themselves is key to creating resilient, stronger communities.
Because of our close relationship with the communities, MI Americas is one of the few actors able to effectively carry out its programs within Cite Soleil.
How We Help:
- Distributed 645 goats; 150 chickens
- Build/helped build 1000 household gardens; 20 community gardens
- Total reach 4000 beneficiaries to date
Quick facts about Cité Soleil:
- Largest slum in the northern hemisphere
- 250,000 residents, 66% of whom are in a situation of food insecurity
- Average resident income: $2/day
- Main concerns: gang violence/security; food insecurity; climate change; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)