The United States receives a bad wrap when it comes to development assistance. Statistics are frequently batted around that show the United States as being one of the least generous industrialized countries. I have yet to see figures that include the donations of Americans to non profit organizations. Read more »

Today, the 4th annual World Water Forum met in Mexico City, Mexico to release the triennial UN World Water Development Report, a collaboration of 24 UN agencies in partnership with governments and other organizations. Click here to find a copy of the 2nd United Nations World Water Development Report: 'Water, a shared responsibility'. Read more »

Tomorrow is World Water Day, how will you celebrate? In many countries around the world, an abundant and potable water supply such as our own is pure fantasy. In Haiti, countless women and children wake hours before sunrise in order to walk miles to the nearest community well or mountain spring. Read more »

I recently came across a speech given by Ms. Sandra Pianalto, the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, in which she claimed that one of the keys to the revitalization of Cleveland’s economy is innovation. For those of you unfamiliar with the economic woes of Cleveland, it has had the distinction of being ranked the poorest, big city in America, a status no city wants to claim as its own. Read more »

Hope for the future of Haiti will depend to a large degree on the education and enlightenment of the Haitian children of today. Although much financial and intellectual support will be needed from other nations, it will ultimately be the Haitians themselves who must take the lead. Read more »

“For the 658 children who are attending school, the people of Medor say thank you. The faces of the children are changing; they are not so thin and they are more alert. This is because they are eating. For the school lunch program, (for some children, their only meal of the day) the people of Medor say thank you. No one thought that they had worms, but then they took the de-worming medicine and saw the worms being expelled from their bodies. For the de-worming medicine and the vitamins, the people of Medor say thank you.” Read more »

Pact’s Community REACH Program for HIV/AIDS Activities is pleased to announce a request for applications for RFA 06-A-1, “Providing Comprehensive Care for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC) affected by HIV/AIDS in Haiti”. Under this RFA, Community REACH anticipates awarding one to two cooperative agreements on a competitive basis to qualifying organizations that are implementing activities in Haiti. The deadline for applications is April 13, 2006, 5pm EST. Applications must be in English. To download the RFA, please refer to the Community REACH website. Read more »

Having completed its presidential elections, Haiti moved toward local elections. Soon, it will be be time to assemble a government. Assembling a coalition government is easy, maintaining it is another story. It is our hope that the most qualified individuals, regardless of past affiliations, will be able to play a role. Career diplomats who have the ability to work with the international community are very much needed now. Read more »

Environmental reforms should be at the forefront of the agenda for the president elect of Haiti. If they aren’t soon enough there won’t be a country to be president of. Read more »

peace corpsIt would seem that fate isn't without a sense of humor. Not a week has passed since we rallied to put PC back in Haiti, only to learn that it has been closed for good. Last night, I attended the 45th birthday of the Peace Corps celebrated on Capitol Hill with the likes of Senators Dodd, Kennedy, and Obama, Congressmen Farr, Shays, and Honda, et al. Sergeant Shriver and Eunice were there with their son Tim, as well as PC Director Vasquez and his wife. It was, as far as the PC and the hill are concerned, a star studded event. Read more »