Dynamic charities joins forces for Haiti relief house scheme

TV personalities, businesspeople and politicians are gathered in Cork today in a bid to highlight the work being done in Haiti by Irish charity Haven.

It is spearheaded by businessman Leslie Buckley who has been working in Haiti for the last two years.

Guests at today’s event include Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, rugby player Frankie Sheehan and TV personality George Hook. Corkman, Leslie Buckley, founder of Haven will also be present.

Haven is to join with Habitat for Humanity as they begin work on their 500-house development project in Léogâne, , 29 km from Port Au Prince and the area that was the epicentre of the devastating 2010 earthquake.

President Martelly of Haiti, elected to his post in April of this year, with over a 60% of the vote, is to speak at the event.

Haven’s next Build It Week will be taking place from October 29 to November 5 in Léogâne. Hundreds of Irish volunteers will be travelling to the country as part of this endeavour.

Habitat’s Carter Work Project will run from November 6 to 13 and Haven will manage the logistical programme for Habitat’s more than 500 volunteers. This will involve catering, accommodation, security and transport.

The partnership between Haven and Habitat for Humanity is utilising a combination of the skills base of both organisations – Habitat will be providing community development, house design and construction while Haven will be helping to construct the houses, setting up the sites and providing the logistics needed for two consecutive groups of volunteers to complete 150 of the 500 planned houses for the Santo site.

Habitat for Humanity’s vice-president of Haiti recovery, Mark Andrews, said, “We are very pleased to partner with Haven to not only provide logistical support for Habitat’s Carter Work Project volunteers but to help in building 50 Habitat houses. By working together, we can bring more houses to more families in a shorter amount of time.”

Haven said both organisations are initiating long-term plans to work together for the benefit of the people of Haiti and will be an example of best practice in the field of development aid.

Haven was set up Mr Buckley, who has worked alongside entrepreneur Denis O’Brien for many years. Also involved in the setting up of the charity in January 2009 was Mr Buckley’s wife Carmel. The NGO is working solely in Haiti, building houses and sustainable communities, while providing emergency relief in the wake of the earthquake which struck last January 2010, killing 230,000 people and leaving 1.5 million people homeless.

By the end of 2011 Haven will have built, repaired and upgraded 3,000 homes in the country. Haven has built over 1,300 latrines, 308 showers and 20 community shelters. Over 3,000 local people have been trained in hygiene promotion, conflict resolution and vocational training to empower communities to pursue their livelihoods.

Haven has employed 600 local people in their projects. Over 10,000 children in 13 schools have been provided with clean water, sanitation facilities and hygiene training.

After Build it Week 2011, over 1,000 volunteers will have travelled with Haven to Haiti. The format of the traditional Build it Week will change going forward.

Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and has provided housing solutions through a variety of initiatives, including new home construction, progressive building, home repairs and improvements. Habitat also builds capacity in construction skills, disaster risk reduction and financial literacy, and works in coordination with community and government agencies.