What's New at AMURT-Haiti Hundreds of Women in Commune Anse Rouge Celebrate Women's Day with AMURT/EL-Haiti and AEPA! March 8, 2009 More than 500 women from villages throughout Communse Anse Rouge gathered in the village of La Source Chaude to celebrate women's day with AMURT-Haiti and its affiliated women's organization AMURTEL (together referred to as AMURT/EL). The celebration and march followed a two day women's empowerment training for the leaders of thirty four womens' organizations. AMURT/EL supported the festivities and march in collaboration with the community organization, Association for the Education of the People of Anse Rouge (AEPA). After gathering together at AMURT/EL's newly constructed community Center for New-Humanist Education, the women sang cooperative songs and marched together to the village square, dancing and singing in celebration of their day. "Today marks a day in history for this commune" said Dinali Abeysekera, Women's Empowerment Project Coordinator for AMURT/EL. “Just two years ago, not a single women's organization existed in this commune. Today the women are not only marching together in solidarity, but they are working together in cooperative organizations to operate businesses, improve their health, and provide support to their families and children." As onlookers gathered around the community platform, AEPA women’s leaders led the audience in singing and dancing as the tambou played and the crowd swayed back and forth. “The organization of the women’s groups is largely a result of the efforts of AEPA, a community based organization in Commune Anse Rouge that assists in organizing, coordinating, motivating, and training local organizations. AMURT/EL partners with AEPA on various projects and helps to support AEPA’s efforts.” “Working together with AMURT/EL, AEPA is currently developing a Community Bank that will support the development of cooperative businesses through micro-credit. The thirty four women’s organizations that led the march today will be the first beneficiaries of the program.” ________________________________________________________________________________ Women's Empowerment Center and Clay Artisan, Brick and Tile Facility On March 4th, 2009, AMURT-Haiti signed a long-term contract with community associations in the Atti Louis for the establishment of the first-of-its-kind integrated development project. The project involves the renovation and transformation of an abandoned warehouse into a clay brick, tile, and artisan production facility and women’s empowerment center in an extremely isolated part of Anse Rouge commune. This project seeks to reinforce the capacity of the local community in Anse Rouge to achieve economic self-sufficiency by creating a community-owned and managed business enterprise with the anticipated affect of increasing the long-term sustainable employment opportunities for community members with an emphasis on women. The project involves the training of women in production of artisana from clay, and other small-business enterprises as well as training in small business and financial management. As with all of its projects, AMURT-Haiti is working in partnership with local associations to develop and facilitate the operations and trainings. ________________________________________________________________________________ AMURT-Haiti's Community-Based Salt Project in Final Phase of Construction AMURT-Haiti's salt project aims to address the root causes of migration from the salt producing areas of Anse Rouge by working with communities to plan and implement their own development, including the implementation of innovative methods of salt production and investment in essential community infrastructure. AMURT-Haiti’s community salt project is more than just salt! The project will create an appropriate model of salt production and iodization that is technologically progressive, socially inclusive, economically feasible and environmentally sustainable. Once fully operational the salt project will likely produce enough salt to meet 25% of Haiti's consumption demands with locally produced, iodized salt. Currently, most salt produced in Haiti is in a form that cannot be iodized. Iodization is necessary to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disease, which is prevalent in children in Haiti. Construction of the salt works is expected to be complete by mid-June, and the factory is expected to become operational by the end of the summer. ________________________________________________________________________________ Official Visit of the Force Command of MINUSTAH with AMURT May 23, 2008 As the Force Commander of MINUSTAH shared, "I commend AMURT for their integrated approach of empowering the local communities through micro-economic self-sufficiency. I am greatly encouraged to see the results of this initiative, as it seeks long-range solutions rather than temporary fixes to Haiti's crisis." Click here for the radio program of the UN Haiti radio station highlighting AMURT's PROUT istic salt initiative. MORE ________________________________________________________________________________ AMURT-Haiti Hosting the Award Winning Bread and Puppet Theater April 21-28, 2008 From April 21st to April 29th AMURT-Haiti hosted a 7-day community workshop and public performance led by Peter Schumann, the Artistic Director of the award-winning Bread and Puppet Theater. The workshops and performances focused on the themes of social justice and self-empowerment through the art of papier-mâché puppetry and social drama. MORE

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