Our foundational principle is to ask the community leaders to present their prioritized needs for their neighborhoods. We then assess what we can do together. ”We can’t to everything, but we will do anything” is our philosophy and method. We collaborate on a variety of projects and programs to achieve our partners’ priorities, not our own.
Education and care of vulnerable populations: Great Partnerships
Orphans and people with disabilities are often a priority concern presented by the community leaders. Given it is a struggle to meet basic needs for anyone in these resource-poor areas, vulnerable people may suffer more acutely.
In Haiti, we are working with Centre d'Action pour le Developpement (CAD), an orphanage that fell into a desperate state when the founder passed away. Through FFP donors, FFP staff and the help of a local church, we are providing food, electricity, education and more for the 32 children and 6 staff members.
Vocational Training: Partnering to Create Economic Opportunities
After witnessing the work FFP teams did at the DR-Haiti border after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Ganthier Provincial Mayor Ralph Lapointe enabled the donation of five acres of government land to Foundation for Peace for vocational school to serve the Ganthier area. The community leaders said it was an answer to prayer. The Men nan Men school has been serving hundreds of students learning English, Spanish, Computer skills, Tiling, Sewing, Cooking and Electricity. Mayor Ralph said, “You didn’t come to bring us food which lasts a day. You came to bring us education. And education lasts a lifetime.”
Building infrastructure: Partnering to Help Strengthen Communities
Community leaders in rural areas often request the construction of latrines, septic tanks, water drainage, clean water, security, churches and community centers. As a result, we have completed many of these projects with the local community, significantly increasing the quality of life in these communities. These projects do not have the FFP name painted on them. They are owned and operated by the community.
Providing Medicalcare: Partnering to Improve Community Health
Our medical teams treat thousands of patients each year across the 3 countries. Where possible, we partner with the local government to ensure compliance with guidelines, facilitate follow-up, utilize existing education/vaccination programs and leverage the partnership to bring more government services to the area.
Through cooperation between two local governments, two Dominican communities and FFP, we have constructed medical clinics that are staffed and operated by the national government health department. Building these clinics to government specifications brought consistent, subsidized medical care for hundreds of families into each materially-impoverished community, improving overall health. Additional community-government-FFP partnerships are in discussion.
Church Activities: Partnering to Address Spiritual Matters and Peace-Making
The church is the center of many rural communities, being one of the few organizations consistently working to provide care for the people. Our church-led teams have partnered with many churches on construction, education, clean water, sanitation, latrines, recreational areas and other types of projects. Since we follow the lead of the church and community leaders on their priorities, we have done a wide variety of activities across the localities where we work.
Pedernales, DR and Anse-a-Pitre, Haiti share a country border on the south edge of the island. Tension between the countries can be an issue. After discussion with church leaders on both sides of the border, a plan was confirmed. The Haitians would come to the DR and help build a church and the Dominicans would go to Haiti and help build their church. The partnership resulted in two completed churches, friendships and a better understanding of cultures, languages and race.
Partnering is at the heart of what we do and is exemplified in our motto: Working Together Hand in Hand. We hope that you will add your hands into these important projects.
