If Pi

gs C

ould

Fly

—Ha

iti Mon Bouton in November 2013

Our small nonprofit, founded by Dr. Randy Mont-Reynaud, has been working in the Zoranje zone in south-eastern Haiti for 13 years with our partner community, Mon Bouton. This summer, together with the local community organizer, Toma Abraham, she and engineer Rose Ashford implemented a solar powered system for pumping water designed by Dr.Eric Sabelman.

Here’s news for you of the project to which so many have contributed, the solar water pump: In August, with the needed equipment already in place, Rose Ashford, a former NASA engineer, hiked up with Randy and supervised the installation of the solar water pump for two weeks. By the end of their visit, it began to pump water up the mountain!

A major goal of IPCF-H is human development, a two-way street between Haitians and American visitors. We are happy to report its development this past summer. Rose found the Haitians incredibly hard-working, and great problem-solvers. Part of your donations supported wages for thirty local workers, bringing much needed cash into the community and more expertise. You may go to:http://www.haitinextdoor.com/

It is quite an effort to install the technology in this rugged country!

A rockfall hindered completion, so the community itself is pledged to finish the rest with its new know-how. Toma’s innovative and Haitian-born idea about this will make the best use of existing resources, and keep the solar panels and pumps in a safer area. In the end, water will be

easily accessible to an even wider community, as the final tank will be near the footpath crossroads to mountain markets and the city.

As for Rose Ashford, the engineer, she said “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything in the world!” She detailed how much it meant to to her to live with the family, and share the days, nights, workload, music and laughter. She was very impressed with how quickly they understood what to do. The 30 Haitians she worked with now have some working knowledge of installing solar devices.

Dear Supporters:

Everyone, even children haul water.

Here comes the water from the solar pump!

30 people installing pipe.

Please check in here to donate online

http://www.ifpigscouldflyhaiti.org/

or mail checks to: If Pigs Could Fly–Haiti, 4250 El Camino Real, # C-126, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Your donation is tax-deductible.

IPCF-H supports small scale peanut butter production (“mamba”)—accomplished with a meat grinder. We bought a new one this year. This effort provides paid work for women as well as the daily snacks for 170 school children.

IPCF-H sent funds after Hurricane Sandy washed away fields, homes and the harvest. We collaborated to bring a Haitian NGO, Zafen, to the zone. Zafen accordingly funded plantings of beans and peanuts to help compensate for the lost harvest. To be able to buy locally grown peanuts for our “mamba” project is a real win-win for Zoranje.

IPCF-H brought Digicel, the Caribbean’s largest cellular provider, to the zone. Digicel has begun building the first brick and mortar school in the whole region in Mon Bouton. This also provides much paid work for our residents. The walls are up!

Also up the mountain are our five treadle sewing machines and a cadre of willing women to make things to sell. One young woman, Kloteed, got herself into a state-run certificate program. She took one machine to Darbonne to be close to the school, and will complete her course of studies next year.

The vision and energy of Randy, our founder, and Toma Abraham, our Haitian CEO (Chief Eternal Optimist), have transformed Mon Bouton. Now connected to the outside world with internet, linked to other organizations like Digicel and Zafen, it is less isolated. Children get peanut butter nutrition

at two schools daily. Soon they will have a seismically-sound school. “Sew What,” a small sewing project can

support training and work for both men and women. The water project will free many hands. Without you and your donations to If Pigs Could Fly–Haiti, none of this would have been possible. We hope you will continue your support. Please check in here to donate online. http://www.ifpigscouldflyhaiti.org/

The school walls are up! The cement blocks were hauled up by mule. School lunch of “Mamba” (peanut butter) and “biskit,” sometimes their only meal.

Rose, guest engineer, setting up the frame for the first of two solar panel installations with Toma and Nelis, who will

maintain the system. Note the water tank behind them.

Randy pitches in!

Kloteedand her machine.