HAITI
Haitian American Foundation International (HAFI)

Micro Lending System

This program, which is administered under the umbrella organization Hope for Haiti Ministries (HFHM), was founded in July 2006 to provide services of micro-credit to the informal economy in Haiti. It has also developed and successfully runs a radio station to train and educate the Haitian people on important issues like Civic Engagment, Rights and Responsibilities of a good Citizen, Youth top-show Seminars.

In terms of property values, the program of Microcredit is estimated at $46,144 while the radio-station is estimated at $13,465.

HAFI primarily focuses its attention in the township of Verrettes which is located in the Department of Artibonite in Haiti. Verrettes is known to be an impoverished community that lacks sufficient housing, schools, health care, and resources. HAFI intends to assist over 120,000 people, especially mothers and heads of households in gaining loans and improving their credit for the better livelihood of themselves and their families. In order to continue receiving credit, each member of HAFI must pay administrative and membership fees as well as participate in all assemblies, meetings, and training sessions given by the foundation. Members are rewarded with lower interest rates and increased available credit if they consistently pay back their loans on time. Above all, following the same philosophy as HFHM, the program of HAFI desires to “help people help themselves.” HAFI is largely assisted and encouraged by city officials in Verrettes. It is likewise supported by members of HFHM who live across the world namely the United States, Canada, and France.

HAFI is operated by an organizational structure which includes an Administrative Council (CA) to direct the destiny of the foundation, a General Director (DG) who carries out the management of the foundation, a Surveillance Council elected by the assembly who keep track of the accounting record books of the foundation, a General Assembly of members to decide the strategic plans of the CA, and a Department Director (DD) who will have a number of employees according to the operational needs of the foundation. Its motto is “the good of the collective before the good of the individual.”

For the next five years, HAFI has several goals. In the short term, it aims to recruit as many new members as possible. In the “middle” term, it aims to increase the amount of loans granted to its members, reduce the interest rate for its members, and enlarge membership by twenty times the current number. For the long term, it desires to set up housing, create schools, implement health care, and establish resource centers all at a moderate price across Verrettes.

It is crucial for HAFI to continue the micro lending system in order for the people to keep their little survival business up and running. However, HAFI like many other organizations are facing tremendous financial challenges and we are asking HFHM's supporters to enter into agreement with us either through a lending/donation to overcome the crisis that we are facing now.

Operating Budget for the next four (4) years is available upon request. HAFI is seeking through the agreement loan/donation support a total of $450,000.00 for four years to give an opportunity to existing members and to serve the ones on the waiting list to substain for their families. We know the beneficiairies will be able to develop health communities.