11 Years After the Big Quake, Challenges Remain in Haiti

MADISON, Wis. - Jan. 11, 2021 - PRLog -- Each January, the world commemorates the anniversary of Haiti's earthquake where more than 230,000 people died and a country's infrastructure was destroyed. Haiti still suffers major challenges: cholera introduced by foreign peacekeepers is still present, tens of thousands still live in tent slums, and over 60% continue to live in extreme poverty.

In spite of current reality, Haiti wasn't always this grim. "Haiti was the 3rd largest supplier of coffee in 1949. Now few know it exists," says CEO of nonprofit Singing Rooster, Molly Nicaise. She agrees Haiti was in need of emergency aid after the quake, but too much of that aid disappeared. For example, the Red Cross "lost" over $500,000 million post-quake.

Instead, Nicaise suggests long-term stability requires empowering Haiti's coffee farmers. "Coffee employs tens of thousands, and economy building around agriculture is twice as effective as other development."

According to Nicaise, who manages this Wisconsin-based social enterprise, coffee offers tangible solutions to a nation whose economy is built, in part, on foreign aid. Singing Rooster has supported rural economies in Haiti through coffee agriculture since 2009. She believes massive, grand strategies often fail to help the vulnerable.   She believes that when Haiti is able to support it's current farmers and open access to first-world markets.

Singing Rooster provides on the ground agriculture support and training in business management to small-scale producers. "We work with really small farmer groups and pay well above fair trade for crops, then transform them into roasted coffee for farmer benefit." Singing Rooster returns 100% of proceeds from coffee sales back to farmers and their communities for continued business growth and development.

"It's been a lot of work. We have re-built the entire supply chain from crops to a roasted and packaged product," said co-founder Christophe Nicaise who manages on-the-ground activities with farmer owned cooperatives. The payoff has been significant : Singing Rooster has put over $2,000,000 into the pockets of farmers, has improved yields by 31%, is replanting coffee trees by the hundreds of thousands, and is building direct access into roasted and green coffee markets in the United States so farmers, not middlemen, reap financial benefits.

According to Singing Rooster's Business Developer Justin Dena, "People are suffering donor fatigue and question how money may be spent. We offer a simple act: drink coffee."

To purchased roasted Haitian coffee, visit here:  https://singingrooster.org/buy/haitian-coffee/

To learn more about how you may fundraise with Haitian coffee, chocolate & art, visit here:  https://singingrooster.org/fundraising-haiti/

#yourcupmatters
#haitiancoffee
#singingrooster