05 August, 2011
The story of Marceline Limane, founder of FAVAT (Famn Vanyan Nan Tichal)
Marceline Limane is no stranger to poverty and hunger. As a single mother of five children, she knows the pain of not having enough to provide for her own family. She now heads an organization called FAVAT (Famn Vanyan Nan Tichal) in Bony, a tiny town on the outskirts of the small impoverished and dirt-filled commune of Anse-a-Pitres in southeast border regions of Haiti. “I started FAVAT over a year ago, after noting the many of us that were going hungry in our town after the devastating earthquake that almost destroyed everything,” said Marceline. Recognizing the need to band together and pull funds and resources to care for the hungry, the 20 members of FAVAT gather once a week to discuss the present needs in their community and formulate plans on how to meet those needs. But food was high on their list.
In the past several months, since (BRA) Batey Relief Alliance’s food distribution program funded by USAID’s Food for Peace/IFRP initiative began in December, Marceline has been able to share the food donations she received with many people (anywhere from 50 to 80 in a given month). She and the other members of FAVAT focus on distributing to those who are most vulnerable and food insecure in her community—primarily to pregnant and nursing women, and then to the elderly, the anemic, and those suffering from tuberculosis and other severe illnesses. “The food has been well-received by the recipients; not only does it subside hunger, but they have also found it to be quite delicious and nutritious,” added Marceline. With the assistance of BRA, FAVAT has also been able to conduct food demonstrations, to inform recipients on how best to cook the food, while teaching fundamental sanitation practices, to promote health and minimize the spread of dangerous disease (such as cholera).
Although the food distributions have greatly helped Marceline and her neighbors, but she and the other members of FAVAT recognize that it is not the ultimate solution to the chronic hunger problem in her town. With the aid of such projects like BRA’s Jaden Lakou—a food security activity conducted under a USAID/DGP-funded Women Economic Empowerment project, they too hope to develop their own vegetable gardens in time, to be able to have a sustainable source of food and nourishment for their town. As BRA helps meet the current hunger needs in Bony and other such impoverished communities in border regions of Haiti, women like Marceline are empowered and able to plan for the future and focus on findings and developing long-term solutions.
Support BRA’s Women Empowerment Program in border regions of Haiti. Women like Marceline deserve another chance to better themselves. You can make that happen. Please Donate to BRA.
