Haiti Task Force Meeting with DAF Account
Holders
June 7, 2010
Summary
RID and Vice President of Rotary International Eric
Adamson, PRID Bob Stuart, PRID Barry Rassin (Three of the Account Holders of the
Haiti Earthquake Relief DAF) and PDG (7020) Dick McCombe flew to Port-au-Prince,
Haiti on June 7, 2010 to meet with the Rotarian Haiti Task Force to discuss the
progress to date, priorities and some recommended projects. Account Holder RIDE
John Smarge was on other important Rotary business and unable to join the group.
We left Nassau at 5:00 am, arriving at in Port-au-Prince at 8:30 am, met with
the Task Force at the Vista Lodge until around 1:00 pm and then flew back to
Nassau at 2:30 pm to arrive in Nassau at around 6:00 pm.
An excellent meeting where challenges, issues, progress,
priorities, projects, communication, relationships and tentative projects were
discussed in detail. The Ministry of Education for Haiti and the President’s
Commission for Education in Haiti were both well represented and expressed their
interest in working closely with Rotary.
The DAF Account Holders provided an overview from where the
donations have come and the need that those donors have with complete
information going forward that their donations were used well. The philosophy
will be to use the DAF funds to inspire others (clubs, districts, countries,
etc.) to match funds and/or take on parts of projects. The process can be very
efficient as long as all information is included. Transparency, accountability,
communication and reporting will all be considered as paramount for each
project. Partnerships between local and International clubs will be important
and existing relationships between schools and local clubs would be beneficial.
Involving umbrella organizations that oversee the schools would also be
encouraged.
It was stated that it is important over the next two weeks
to move us forward to begin submitting projects so that the review and approval
process can begin and the communities can see some action.
It is recognized that within all projects it is important
to evaluate the prospects of the project enhancing the economy as well as
providing the needed relief. In other words it is better to build locally, buy
locally and use local manufacturers where possible. This goal will promote
growth of the local economy which will have long term benefits.
Education
It was reinforced that education is our priority. We need
to get the schools open and able to handle the shift in population throughout
the country and we need to work at getting it done by October 1, 2010 when the
schools should reopen. Although a high percentage of schools are private, the
government is intent on helping all the schools to reopen. At school the
children should get a meal, the necessary books that need to be published
locally and a kit of other needed supplies.
The Representative from the President of Haiti’s Commission
for Education told us of their recommendations being made to the government in
an official report by mid July. Their recommendations include:
1. Free education for all children
whether in private or public school, at least up to 9th grade.
2. One meal daily and necessary supplies
for each child.
3. Developing a Ministry of Superior
Education.
4. The education budget should move from
9% of the budget to 30% of the budget.
5. These should all start by the new
school year, October 2010.
The President has received these recommendations and agreed
to move them forward and integrate into the government plans to be operational
as soon as possible. They still need to determine how much will go to the
schools per student by deciding the cost for all schools and then a set price
will be determined. It is estimated that 80% of the school budget is for
salaries. (This does not address school issues between now and October).
This procedure is expected to equalize all the schools
which has prompted them to put in place a process to monitor the quality of
education. They do not wish to create a structure that only results in
mediocrity.
They are also examining the possibility of developing one
unique book with three parts which would encompass all subjects. (This would
result in one book per year with a section for each of the three semesters).
They estimate the development cost to be between about US$1.6 million for a book
for each of the first six years.
As most of the private schools are faith based, the
Rotarians should consider partnering with them to coordinate efforts in the
country. If the umbrella group for the schools and the Ministry of Education are
aware of the potential projects any chances of duplication would be minimized.
Tuition is usually between US$300 and US$400 per year per child and teacher
salaries are in the range of $200 per month. The tuition for many children has
not been paid and many salaries have not been paid since the schools re opened
in April.
Rotarians should only consider projects with schools that
are registered and licensed with the government, which is about 60% of them.
Once again reinforcement of a thorough needs assessment of
each school was discussed.
It was noted that the only school for special needs was
destroyed and so there is no school to meet those needs at this point in time.
Now that we are moving forward with specific projects it is
important to follow the process, communicate well, complete the application
forms, provide sufficient detail of the projects and show local club
relationships with the projects/schools.
The process should include:
1. The Rotary Club identifies a school
2. The Rotary Project Manager assists
with the application process and on site evaluation
3. The subcommittee of the Haiti Task
Force reviews the information to ensure it is complete and appropriate. The DAF
will rely on this subcommittee for their recommendations for all projects
that start from a Rotary Club in Haiti. Their opinion would also be requested
for any other requested projects. The subcommittee is made up of: Claude Surena,
Guy Theodore, Caleb Lucien, Nessim Izmery, Yves Martial and Robert Leger.
4. The application is forwarded to PRID
Barry Rassin and PDG Rick McCombe review and to determine appropriate funding
source:
a. DAF
b. District 7020
c. The Bahamas
Account
d. Other
countries and districts
e. Matching
Grants
f. Any
combination of the above
5. Whether sent to the DAF or another
source, they will review, determine if complete and appropriate and then begin
the approval process
6. Once approved the disbursement will
be by phase of the project
7. Progress reports are required as is a
Final Report. Both should have photos to show what was done.
Jaipur Limb Program
The Jaipur Limb project for the estimated 4,000 amputees
continues to move forward with the District 7020 Committee for Prosthetics for
Haiti making great progress in partnership with districts and Rotarians in the
UK and India. Rather than fixed buildings for the clinics it was recommended
that a mobile vehicle that will travel throughout the country with trained
orthopedic technicians to provide the appropriate fittings. The mobile van could
then be used for a different purpose at the conclusion of the prosthetic
project. All those present felt that this program should move forward as soon as
possible and PRID Barry Rassin will begin the process to get bids for a van
designed for this purpose.
ROTAH (Regroupement Oeuvrant a Travers des Actions
Humanitaires en Haiti)
ROTAH has been approved and signed off by all necessary
government departments (Ministry of Planning, The Ministry of the Interior and
The Ministry of External Affairs) as evidenced by the certificate that was
circulated. It now only needs the President to ratify it and to be gazetted in
the local newspaper, the Moniteur. With the final approval of ROTAH we will have
much greater ability to import goods duty free into the country with efficiency.
Rotary clubs and Rotary Districts should still not send goods without first
clearing the process with the Haiti Task Force if they expect Haiti Rotarians,
Haiti clubs or ROTAH to clear the goods.
The next step for ROTAH will be to acquire an office, staff
and transportation in order to greatly enhance the efficiency of Rotary work in
Haiti.
Rotary Project Manager
In order to assist all the local clubs and the Task Force
it was agreed that we would implement a program to have a Rotarian from outside
Haiti to assist in the project management from the needs assessment right
through the completion of the project. This will provide great help to those
clubs that are already stretched with multiple projects.
School Projects sponsored by the nineteen Rotary Clubs
The nineteen Rotary Clubs have been asked to locate a
school that is in need of assistance and to outline their needs for
consideration by the Task Force. Preliminary work has started and each club has
provided some information with an estimated total cost of about US$2.5 Million.
Projects can only go forward once the application with all details are complete
and presented to the Task Force and then approved. The Task Force would like to
bring projects all around the country to assist the children affected by the
earthquake not only in Port-au-Prince but also in the outlying regions where
many have now moved and overwhelmed their schools.
Tuition
While tuition is clearly a top priority we agreed that the
best approach would be to convince the schools to handle a “trade”. The schools
are asking for tuition to be paid for the students which would then allow them
to have the cash they need to provide repairs or supplies as needed. We will
instead offer to do the repairs or provide the equipment and/or supplies in
return for them providing free tuition for the equivalent number of children.
This was approved by the group present and will be presented to the schools.
Providing scholarships would only be one time donations
while providing equipment, building repairs and even certain supplies would be
long lasting and help many more students.
The Rotary Club of Les Cayes
The Rotary Club of Les Cayes presented an application to be
considered by the Task Force and if approved forwarded to the DAF. The project
is for the rebuilding of six class rooms at Ecole St. Famille School with which
the club has an ongoing relationship having done a few projects with them in the
past. It is broken into four phases for a total cost of US$122,391.92.
The Task Force approved the project and the details will be
forwarded to the DAF electronically for their consideration.
Summary
The meeting was a very healthy discussion covering all
pertinent and current topics to ensure that the local Rotary Clubs, the Task
Force and the DAF are all clear on expectations moving forward. The government
is very supportive of Rotary activities and wants to work with Rotary. The
schools are the priority and we have until October to help get them open to
capacity. The Jaipur Limbs will be a great help all around the country with a
mobile van that can reach the population in need. ROTAH will shortly be a fully
approved NGO that can be of great help is smoothing the way for deliveries from
other countries. A Rotarian Project Manager will be of help to the very busy
clubs to complete needs assessments, complete applications, provide interim
reports and final reports and show us photos of the projects from beginning to
end.
We encourage partnerships throughout the process in order
that the donations made can be multiplied and therefore reach even more people
than would have been possible otherwise. Rotarian to Rotarian or Club to Club
relationships that share cultures and understanding of similarities and
differences will greatly enhance the long term effect of the projects that are
undertaken.
Thanks to all for the excellent exchange of information and
philosophy. Now it is time to get to work.
Recorded by PRID Barry Rassin
In Attendance:
1. Eric Adamson, Rotary International Vice President and
Account Holder DAF– Rotary Club of Front Royal, VA, USA
2. Bob Stuart, Past Rotary International Director and
Account Holder DAF – Rotary Club of Springfield
3. Barry Rassin, Past Rotary International Director and
Account Holder DAF – Rotary Club of East Nassau
4. Marie Adele Noel Romelus, Assistant Governor & ROTAH
President, Rotary Club of Pignon, Haiti
5. Richard McCombe, PDG, 7020 Haiti Liaison & ROTAH Vice
President – Rotary Club of Southeast Nassau
6. Robert Leger, Past Assistant Governor & ROTAH Secretary
- Rotary Club of Les Cayes, Haiti
7. Guy D. Theodore, District Governor Nominee for 7020 &
ROTAH member – Rotary Club of Pignon, Haiti
8. Amos Durosier, PDG, Task Force member & ROTAH member–
Rotary Club de Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
9. Caleb E. Lucien, ROTAH member – Rotary Club of Pignon,
Haiti
10. Yves Martial , Assistant Governor & ROTAH member –
Rotary Club de Port-de-Paix
11. Claude Surena, Disaster Chair – Rotary Club of
Petionville
12. Rosa Leger, Foundation Chair – Rotary Club of Les
Cayes, Haiti
13. Ted Lazarre, Assistant Governor – Rotary Club of Delmas
Aeroport
14. Jean Marc Brissau, President – Rotary Club of Leogane,
Haiti
15. Brigitte Hudicourt, President – Rotary Club of
Port-Au-Prince
16. Perodin Gary, President – Rotary Club of Petionville,
Haiti
17. Georges Nicolas, Past President – Rotary Club of
Petionville
18. Kyss Jean Marie, Assistant Governor Elect – Rotary Club
of Port-Au-Prince
19. Gary Marcelin, Assistant Governor Elect – Rotary Club
de Verrettes
20. Pierre Michel Laguerre, General Director Ministry of
Education
21. Frantz Casseus, Director of Cabinet – Ministry of
Education
22. Mr. Nobert, Member, President’s Commission on Education
for Haiti