I am so excited about the New Year -  I can't wait! 

2012 has been a tough one, with challenges to our work and to our spirits. We lost one of our closest friends and a real champion for Haiti when Elise left us in February. In August, the first of several storms destroyed crops and ripped the roof of our office and training center in Cyvadier. Not long after, Hurricane Sandy brought more destruction to the Jacmel region, and drenched tens of thousands of families still living in makeshift shelter in Port-au-Prince's tent camps.

Despite all these struggles, we will still remember 2012 as a year of success for Let Haiti Live. Thank you for being one of the people who made it happen! Today is the last day for you to make a donation to Let Haiti Live and have it count in 2012, so please don't wait! 

Before the year ends, let me share with you some of the things we accomplished with your help in 2012:

In Cyvadier, southeastern Jacmel, our Youth in Action for Development and the Protection of the Environment, or JADPE, spent almost every Saturday morning nurturing seedlings of fruit trees, vegetables and the moringa miracle tree. Our team - Cheler, Guerlyne and Elie - offered a variety of training workshops to the youth including farming and composting techniques, health and hygiene, history and culture.

Upcoming Trip: December 28, 2012 - January 5, 2013

The January 12, 2010 earthquake shook the already frail country of Haiti mercilessly. Over 200,000 deaths resulted as well as the displacement and destruction of thousands of families and lives. More than two years later, human resilience prevails as Haitians move to pick up the pieces, making a new life out of less than the little most people once had. The emergency stage is over, and now the long-term rebuilding begins. The future of Haitians, like for all of us, lies in their children. Ensuring they have the resources for education is one of the critical tenants of long-term rebuilding.

This journey takes you just outside of Jacmel, a beautiful seaside town with great initiatives in sustainable development. Stand by Haitians as they start anew. This journey is for those of you who are moved into solidarity and action by the events of January 12, 2010.

As plantain trees were heavy with nearly ripe plantains, and fruit trees were similarly weighed-down with the money making produce, Isaac’s heavy winds destroyed the impending harvest. Roofs were torn off homes and flooding and mudslides ruined personal items and left many people without a dry place to lay their heads down at night.

Let Haiti Live Director in Haiti, Guerlyne Jean Louis, gave us this report:

Tropical Storm Isaac had no mercy; it did as much damage as possible, making the population even more vulnerable. The damage to the Let Haiti Live office was the worst – the roofs of the main office and training room were blown off and the rooms have nothing to cover them now. At the tree nursery, branches fell on the small trees, and a part of the fence was destroyed when a large tree branch fell on it.

We visited the homes of our youth group members, observing destruction everywhere we turned. We recognize that the moment the hurricane arrived was very difficult; the parents were preparing for tuition payments at the beginning of the school year, which isn’t far off. Parents who work their gardens for livelihood depend on produce from their gardens and fruit trees to support 90% of their kids’ school fees and this is the time of year are just beginning to sell on the market.

In terms of local food production, the community will be facing hunger for some time now. People in the village were already in a precarious position to have enough food to eat even one healthy meal each day. Now that nearly every plantain tree has fallen, what remains are small trees that will take several months to provide fruit. But, we note that in this moment there is still a lot of life, the suffering can't stay for too long. If it hasn't finished yet it almost has.

You can see photos of the damage in this slideshow:

In the spirit of Haitian Carnival celebration, if you donate by the end of the week, Friday, February 17, you will be entered into a raffle to win the Haitian artisanal prizes, including the original Haitian painting shown below, Haitian metal work,  or a copy of the book "Let Haiti Live: Unjust U.S. Policies Against Its Oldest Neighbor". 

We need your participation to support and celebrate Haitians helping Haitians. Please show your support bymaking a donation today at http://www.razoo.com/story/Lethaitilive!

Leadership Committee of JADPE, including: Wallens, Barbara, John, Fabiola and Charlot

John Garry Thierry Jean, JADPE President

“My birthday is March 7, 1992 and I am the President of JADPE. My dream is to become an agronomist engineer. I participate in JADPE because it is a group that works for development and change for Haiti, our country. My vision is to release the country from all the corrupt politicians, see a day when Haitians stop searching for a better life by taking to the sea, and work with JADPE to help Haiti return to its place as the Pearl of the Antilles.

“Protecting the environment and renewing our land so that it can reach it’s potential is the mission of the Reforest Haiti program of Let Haiti Live, and that is why it is so important to me. No one can live on this earth if it isn’t healthy, if there are no trees. We are helping in many ways, including training for young people, developing our talents and participating in social and cultural activities.

Our greatest objective is to see the day when Haiti has enough food for all its children to eat.

“I work with a group of dynamic young people that make feel that Haiti has a future, and that despite all the difficulties we can find a way to work. The young people always persevere and they want to continue their work. For me, I see the will these youth have to change our country and it is a great experience for me. I have a habit of working with young people in education and cultural activities. However to work with the land, to see a seed you plant begin to grow after only a few days, it makes me feel recognition of life itself.

“My contribution to Reforest Haiti is to structure the team’s work and to manage the team so that we can meet our goals. Our greatest objective is to see the day when Haiti has enough food for all its children to eat. Our vision is a future where we see the mountains become green again, and in the department of the southeast where JADPE is working, we want to see the water sources never run dry because of the efforts we have made.

On June 5, 2011 the Youth in Action for Development and the Protection of the Environment (JADPE) celebrated World Environment Day by holding a series of activities and renaming the day “Green Day”, a name that represents hope for them. 

The day began in the youth group’s tree nursery in Cyvadier, where they launched a debate about the environment. Everyone was able to share their opinions and how they understand the environmental problems with all the participants. They also spoke of the importance of the environment, and what role they can play in protecting the environment. After more than an hour of dialogue they still hadn’t addressed every question and proposal raised.