Beatitudes, Inc. is a faith-based non-profit organization that partners with the Pwojè Fanm (“Women’s Projects”) vocational program, a 2-year program which focuses on teaching marketable skills to young women who were unable to complete their formal education. Areas of study are sewing, embroidery, cooking and flower-arranging. Beatitudes designs products for the American market and sends teams to Haiti twice a year to teach the women how to make them. Fair trade practices are used to pay the women for their work and then import the products to sell in the US. Profits from sale of these handcrafts support the Pwojè Fanm program.
Women's Economic Development
Micro Finance
Since 2008, Micro Finance loans have assisted recipients to start new endeavors or expand existing businesses without the burden of collateral. Goods have included rice, beans, flour, sugar, bread, oils, charcoal, cooking utensils, household sundries, personal care items, shoes, clothes, gas, cell phones, and cards for cell phones. There are more than 40 recipient families in 3 communities.
La Gonâve Goat Project
The project has trained more than 350 farmers in goat husbandry since 2003. New farmers begin their enrollment in the program with two days of training in the care and breeding of goats. At graduation, each farmer receives a pregnant doe. Farmer families attend regular veterinary clinics led by the Haitian program manager. Their goats receive vitamins and are treated with medicines when sick.
Agriculture
In 2016, the partnership received a grant to fund a garden at each of the 10 Episcopal schools. The gardens will be used to produce food for the school lunch program, to teach students good gardening practices, and to train others in the community how to compost and use raised beds. Smaller gardens allow families to raise more food to eat and provide a longer growing season.
