Member Capacity Pillar

The Member Capacity Pillar is the third essential pillar in a sustainable development model as it refers to investment in the full development of the human being to realize their utmost potential. It comes as a surprise to many that the literacy rate of Haiti is around 54% with the semi-literate/Illiteracy rate in rural communities hovering around 90%. While this makes it impossible for one to succeed in a business enterprise, they are greater debilitating effects that limit the average Haitian: fear, mistrust, low self-esteem and confidence, deference to powerful leaders, and an overall inability to articulate a vision or believe in a future of self-reliance has led to Haiti’s epitaph, “the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.” To address the challenges of this mentality, FIDA/pcH developed a comprehensive three-level adult curriculum in Haiti. Inspired by Paolo Friere’s, “Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” the organization sought to create a program in Kreyòl, the language of the people, written and designed by Haitian educators, to address topics relative to rural Haitian life toward being a productive and responsible citizen equipped with confidence, discernment, and critical thinking skills.

Adult Literacy Program

The Adult Literacy Program is regarded as the most innovative aspect of the Member Capacity Development Pillar, the third essential pillar in a sustainable development model.

In the FIDA/pcH experience, it is the transformational pillar of development that is so critical in assuring sustainability and long -term change in rural Haiti.

Literacy is about teaching skills in reading and writing
Literacy is about developing the confidence of men and women to reflect critically on their world and take action to transform it
Literacy empowers women and men to take control of their lives
Literacy enhances the participant’s self-confidence as valuable, competent, contributing members of society.

The productive agricultural cooperative model was established in 1984 by visionary founder Jack F. Wall. The first three-year literacy program was eventually launched in 2000 as a benefit to members of cooperatives. The resulting impact was that membership tripled. Cooperatives grew, their services expanded, and shares increased. The cooperative model was finally realizing its potential.

Testimonials

“The literacy program has been a big impact for the cooperative as it helps the members to better understand the mission and participate, and to actively participate in the life of the cooperative. Literacy helps our members to be able to vote intelligently and to express ourselves in society in both formal and non-formal meetings and exchanges.”

Kellick Clairsaint

Adult Literacy Participant Level II

“Literacy has opened our eyes. It is our dream come true. We now must put our heads together for those who still don’t know how. This responsibility is in our hands. If we want our country to go forward, we cannot have people who are blind and cannot read or write.”

Adult Literacy Graduate Level I

“I want to thank you all for making this program possible. We believe we can make change. With alfa (literacy) we saw that we can make a dream come true. Hands up for cooperative! Hands up for pcH! Hands up for the monitors! Hands up for you the participants! Our dream was to build strong relationships and today you can see the results. Imagine, being 60 years old and learning to read and write for the first time! No matter how insecure the situation was in our country and even though we had to pause from time to time, pcH was always there for us. This dream has come true. Greater change is now truly before us.”

Board Member of KOTADA Cooperative

“If we all want to do something, we know now we can do it. Alfa (literacy) makes us good citizens. It is the school of life. This is how we will build our country.”

“Our eyes have been opened. This is no longer a dream. We can do this for real.”

“We now know how to read and write. We must put our heads together for those who still don’t know how. This is now our work, our responsibility. It is in our hands.”

“If we want our country to go forward, we cannot have people who are blind and cannot read or write.”

Adult Literacy Participants Level I

FAQs

FIDA/pcH collaborates with the BSEA Secretary of State for Literacy Office (BSEA) a government agency for the Level I program.

The approximate cost per participant for a six-month term is $150 USD/$200 CAD.

There are currently three levels offered with a fourth level being considered focusing on vocational training.

While it is difficult to accurately assess the total number of participants since 2001 it can be estimated that well over 6,000 men and women have successfully participated in Level I, Level II and Level III of the program.

Each semester is nine months, three days per week. The hours of study are scheduled around their workday.

The literacy program is by choice. There can be challenges for those who choose to do so. Many are women who have never had access to this precious right. Many are old and simply come from families who could not afford the fees. Women can be ridiculed by their husbands for thinking they are better than them. Others are ridiculed for their age. What do they think reading and writing is going to do for them now? For some, due to these and other factors such as illness or family obligations, are unable to complete a level. However, the rate of incompletion is very low. The rate of participation is higher for Level I than for Level II and Level III where the more complex topics require another degree of motivation.

The following video on the impact of adult literacy was produced by a FIDA/pcH partner:

Eyvanise Learns to Write Her Name

Peace and Justice/Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program

The Peace and Justice Program related to GBV implementation is a cross-cutting theme that pcH is implementing in the communities through all its programs fighting against inequality between groups, sex, and individuals, while standing with the vulnerable to protect their rights, promote equality and dignity as people created in God’s image. In this context, pcH supports gender-sensitive programming, organizational structures, procedures, and relationships for and with our own staff, cooperative partners, and community members. The purpose of the program is to facilitate access to leadership development of women in their own communities.

Activities include:

organization of training sessions for both men and women on the principles of a safe and trusting relationship
mobilization of community members on their awareness of GBV issues and the consequences implicated in their relationships.
strengthening the capacity of women in terms of financial access and control.
facilitating community dialogue between men and women to address gender -based issues and consequences in family and community.

This cross-cutting theme program is being implemented by pcH in partnerships with cooperatives in Fon Batis, Delis, and Duchity.

FIDA Canada is a fully registered charitable organization: BN 13365 2768 RR0001

FIDA USA is a fully registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization: US EIN # 47-2300976

productive cooperatives Haiti (pcH) is a fully registered Haitian non-profit organization: #B0307

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