Proposal (projectvoorstel) 'Cash for Work' door Wim Kanis vauit Haïti

Proposal Cash for Work Program
Petit Goave, Haiti.
Dated: 27 March 2010
Prepared by Wim Kanis 

Overview situation and history

It is now more than 2,5 months ago that a terrible earthquake shook Haiti and left the country in a state of devastations which is unprecedented. The economical situation prior to the earthquake was already in a bad state. Only 1 in 400 inhabitants had a regular income through jobs. Most people survived by doing all kinds of trading, thus getting just enough income or goods to enable them to survive.

The earthquake devastated many buildings leaving many people without a place to stay and now completely without any income.

In the first couple of months many aid was given to the affected population. Food, shelter, hygienic kits, water, etc were handed out free of charge. Medicare was also provided on a no payment basis.

Although this was an absolute necessity in order to let the people survive the initial period of time, this is beginning to show also negative side effects. People expect and demand free handouts and are sitting idle in the mean time. There is no doubt that the situation is very unstable, many have no house to live in and live in make shift dwellings or tents. The rainy season is approaching and it is expected that many will get sick because of the dampness, the bad living conditions and the unhygienic circumstances.

The food situation is still very difficult, although people try to buy and prefer to buy their traditional food on the local market places. There seems to be sufficient food, especially in the rural area’s/ The problem is that people have no income to buy the food. This makes them dependent on the help of others , which is not good for their pride and dignity.
 

Local situation in Petit Goave

In Petit Goave there are many camp sites where people live in dwellings or tents. Most of the people can not return to their (rented) homes because they are ruined of very unsafe because of the earthquake.

The Salvation Army along with the local corps of Armee du Salut has helped the needy people in the camps and in the local community. Approximately 1000 families have received MRE’s (meals ready to eat), Numana food parcels, tarpaulins, tents and all kinds of goods, to enable them to survive in these circumstances. Other agencies have build pit latrines and cared for potable water supply.

The camps the Salvation Army has done most good are: Gaston, Beatrice 1 &2 and Ti Guinen. Together with the affected local community it is estimated to count up to 7,000 persons. People do receive aid from different agencies. This leads to a lack of activities on their part and keeps the population in a state of dependence from outside help.

In order to activate the affected people and to stimulate them to take action themselves, a Cash for Work Program has been designed. This will enable them to buy the food on the local market again, which is also good for the local economy.
 

Cash for Work Programme

The Cash for Work Programme has been designed so that 111 persons will benefit from an income of 5 US $, per day during a period of 8 weeks.

The work will entail the cleaning of drains, so important with the rainy season coming, the cleaning and sweeping of the campsites, in order to prevent unhygienic situations where all kinds of insects and rodents will spread diseases and the clearing of debris and stones of collapsed buildings. Whatever the persons involved in Cash for Work will be doing, it will benefit the camp situation and themselves, being active again and receiving some income in order to sustain their families,

The Program will be under the supervision of a supervisor, a local and capable person, known to the local Salvation Army, who will work full time during 5 days a week. He will supervise the 10 team leaders who will also work fulltime. The workers are 100 labourers , living in the camps, able to do this kind of work, and in need of income. The overall supervision will be done by the local Salvation Army leader, the corps officer assisted by an expatriate Salvationist.

The tools, materials and T-shirts with the Army logo on it, will be bought locally so that in doing so the local economy is also benefitting.
 

Key indicators

1. 110 displaced persons living in the camps mentioned will receive an income of 5 US $ during 8 weeks.

2. The project will be staffed efficiently and the work will be closely supervised

3. Statistics will be kept in a transparent way and the supervisor will be accountable for the outcome

4. 110 persons will regain some dignity by actively participating in the improvement of the living circumstances of the camp population.

5. The hygienic situation in the camps will improve, through removal of dirt and debris

6. The camp sites will be prepared for the coming rainy season, by cleaning of the drains and digging new drains to prevent the formation of stagnant water pools (malaria prevention)

7. The local markets will benefit from the purchase of food and materials

Duration of the Programme
The programme will start immediately after approval of this proposal and will last for 8 weeks or as long as the subsidy will suffice.

Finances
The total amount of funds needed to make this programme successful is US $ 42,720.00.