With Martin we talked the day after her return from Haiti on projects that have led and interesting people with whom to meet in this country.
Martino impressions of the situation in Haiti today?
It's much better than after the earthquake in 2010. Corrected the path, the one and only paved road in the country is no longer full of holes, due to the accelerated quite right. Before there could not buy anything. We begin producing a small pump with shops on the road, where you can buy food at least.
The changes that are happening here, but these are only partial. The power is pro-American President Martelly, who supports the classical market economy but faces while the people of the former militant regime. They often block his decision. So no new laws, or not approved, and things that are moving forward very slowly. There is no consensus as to what direction the country should take.
How do you work with local people?
Agriculture HaitiLidé in Haiti are seriously amazing. But it is quite different cultural context. University education are mostly men, so that all leading positions in agricultural projects only they hold. I do not mean that women in farming not work at all, but hold only lower, usually manually oriented position.
As you work during the three years that?
I think that what we have in the project resolved. Immediately after the earthquake, we distributed the necessary things affected people and help them to stand on their feet again. Then, our goal was to develop local agriculture, which most people live in Haiti. Our work consisted mainly in the distribution of seeds throughout the area. Then we organized a year-long training in the form of "peer learning". They were held so that we selected in total. 800 people. 100 of them trained as intermediaries everything we learned, gave away the remaining 700 The training was practical teaching. We were really successful, because the harvest has increased by 35%. But do not imagine that too in a big way. They are just a small box, and when ever grown peppers such as 10, now we only had about three more. But even so, it was a great success and we all of which were enthusiastic.
Farmers are also taught how to do business in agriculture. We have established with them a small agricultural cooperatives from selected farmers buy crops or animals and they will sell on the local market.
We had support from the local Ministry of Agriculture, sent to us by experts and also from the Czech University of Agriculture, who taught us how to fight against soil erosion or how to store seeds properly.
What will happen to Haiti in the future?
The people of Haiti are very milíBudeme year to see how their small businesses thrive. When successful, 10% of the profits will be used to further community development in the country. Money can thus be used for example for the construction of forest nurseries to prevent erosion.
What you had for Haiti benefit personally?
I was surprised to find people of all were so enthusiastic and always full of energy. Although 70% of the people are illiterate, did not give up and tried to do something. What surprised me was the great solidarity, especially in remote mountainous areas. There it worked like communism, local residents redistributed assets according to the needs of the poorest. People in Haiti tend to support one another. I liked that time there was running slower and after each work area was all talk together and praise for everything that happened, or to clarify some things with which one disagreed. We do this in the Czech Republic we are not able at all.
What was your strongest experience?
Never forget to try when we arrange distribution of bananas. He is to bring the truck gathered 200 up to 300 local people because they came several kilometers on foot, but no truck arrived. This was repeated three times, the people came, but truck with bananas anywhere. In places where we waited gave rise only a small and narrow path, so the truck just turned and went away. When this was repeated for the fourth time, I realized patience, I hopped on the bike and coordinator of the truck we chased. They stopped us and I was trying to persuade both turn around immediately. Did not react, so we ended up at the police station when I accused them of being stolen from us bananas, and wanted to let us pay for loss of, or immediately come back. The police were at rest, they said that everyone makes mistakes. Truck So finally really arrived, but a lot of bananas was after so damaged or rotten. I could but what is almost impossible to Haiti, and I bargained for a 15% discount for damaged goods. It was a large amount, about $ 2,000, which we gave to farmers as compensation to buy a new bananas.
Source: tz ADRA