21 June, 2012
NEW YORK, N.Y. – After becoming a member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in 2011, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) launched two Commitments to Action to improve living conditions in impoverished and vulnerable communities of Haiti and Dominican Republic (DR).
In 2011, BRA partnered with Haiti-based microcredit NGO, FONKOZE, to expand women empowerment activities to an additional 150 Haitian women in three communes of Haiti’s Southeast Department (Anse-a-Pitres, Thiotte and Grand Gosier). BRA focused on three major areas of capacity development: trainings on leadership, gender-based violence and organizational strengthening; workforce development through small-scale agriculture, trainings on marketing and retail, and cooperative sales practices; and microcredit. Over a one-year period, the 150 women engaged in sustainable economic and agricultural development initiatives that led to improvements in household income, better employment opportunities and access to trade markets.
In 2012, BRA joined forces with the New York-based Swiss and Danish company, Frandsen Vestergaard, to expanding its health-related clean water program activities in the DR to an additional 3,200 families living in 20 rural and “batey” communities in the Monte Plata province. BRA and Frandsen focused on three major areas of community improvement: 1) distributing 3,200 LifeStraw(R) Family water filters to secure potable water for 16,000 people, 2) training community health promoters to organize/educate local residents about adverse health conditions associated with drinking contaminated water, and proper filter usage and management, and 3) delivering comprehensive health and HIV/AIDS care, antiretroviral therapy and counseling to water filter recipients. Over a two-year period, 16,000 people will have sustainable access to clean water in their homes and be well equipped to challenge adverse health-related conditions related to contaminated water, and receive comprehensive health services.
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion.
