RADIKAL earthquake response
Relief efforts
Since a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Les Cayes and surroundings last month, we have been helping our network members get back on their feet through our relief and recovery efforts.
After a post-earthquake census of street food vendors, thoroughly conducted in 3 departments in the southern region of Haiti (South, Grand’Anse and Nippes), we accounted for around 2,000 vendors whose businesses and livelihoods have been severely affected.
Here is what we have accomplished over the past 6 weeks:
- We immediately launched a post-earthquake census of street food vendors, thoroughly conducted in 3 departments in the southern region of Haiti (South, Grand’Anse and Nippes), during which around 2,000 vendors whose businesses and livelihoods had been severely affected were accounted for;
- We’ve spent the last 6 weeks ensuring that a majority of our network vendors received relief funds of at least $50 each through mobile cash transfers, thanks to the contributions of many organizational partners;
- We have received and are distributing 100 donated water filters at street vendor stations, ensuring that the communities readily have access to clean and potable water;
- We have secured in-kind donations of essential goods valued at over $25,000, from trusted local and international partners. The supplies are already being distributed to our network members, including tents, tarps, toilet paper, soap, diapers, bed sheets, and more.
Recovery phase
We have we now entered the recovery phase of our earthquake response plan during which we aim to distribute micro-grants of up to $1,000 to Saradi in the southern region to assist them in re-establishing their destroyed businesses.
Right now, many vendors need help with replacing lost or damaged inventory, equipment and cooking utensils.
With your support, we can ensure that they will be provided the following : clean cookstoves, tents/safe work spaces, tables and utensils, as well as access to locally sourced food, business trainings, and financial products and services.
Investing in these women and their micro-businesses fortifies and amplifies their efforts to stay in Haiti, earn an honest living and thrive in their communities.
Support
Saradi Businesses
Invest in Saradi as they get back on their feet to feed and serve their communities during this time of crisis.
With your investment, they will be provided clean cookstoves,
tents, tables and utensils, in addition to access to locally sourced food, business development trainings, and financial products and services.
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Thoughts from our Chief Root Cultivator
September 24, 2021
I write to you with a heavy heart following the immigration catastrophe at the Texas border this week. These distressing events have called on us to reflect on our countries conditions and our mission to address them. For many fleeing Haiti, they are driven by desperation from a lack of security, safety and opportunity. It cannot be emphasized enough, however, that if conditions allowed, those very people would choose not uproot their lives and leave their communities.
Last week marked one month since a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Les Cayes and rattled the lives and livelihoods of thousands in the southern region of Haiti. For many in despondent situations this was yet another reason to leave Haiti and never return. Sadly, thousands came to this decision, including many women and their newborn children. Faced with an intolerable decision to leave, these individuals are now being met with greater strife, as the Biden administration is actively deporting those at the Texas border back to Haiti.
This, right now, is the time-yet again- to call on ourselves and our allies, to come together to strengthen Haiti and create the proper conditions for citizens to prosper. This is the time to invest in those who are committed to their communities through entrepreneurship. This is the time to amplify the efforts of those on the ground deeply engaged in social change.
The amount of devastation I saw over the past few weeks has been shocking, but it has stood no chance against the determination and faith of the women in our network. As our team has orchestrated sending cashing assistance to these women over the past six weeks, we came to understand the impact that even a seemingly small gesture can have on the lives of the vulnerable.
With as little as $50, we have seen the 1,000 plus women receiving relief funds procure basic necessity items including food and shelter; while others have been able to pay off looming debts or started side businesses as they wait for conditions to improve.
As we continue to craft our response and recovery plan, our next move is to directly support these women in relaunching their food businesses. With your investment, they will be provided with clean cookstoves, tents, tables and utensils, as well as access to locally sourced food, business trainings, and financial products and services.
Over the last few weeks, with your support, our small team has reached those who are often forgotten of, or simply left behind. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your contributions and your encouragement. We could not have done this without you.
We must continue to fortify our roots so that our people are not driven from their homes to look for a better life elsewhere, facing humiliation, unimaginable hardships, and often death. The time is now to act.
Fòs,
Nora Jann Jozèf
Chief Root Cultivator
RADIKAL
August 17, 2021
RADIKAL’s headquartersPrior located in Les Cayes, is approximately 25 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake that left thousands of people — including our staff, partners and collaborators shaken to their core; with far too many lives reduced to rubble. Today, the death toll continues to rise, with thousands more injured and even more missing.
This is the gut-wrenching result of poor infrastructure, leadership, and governance; that has produced widespread poverty.
On August 14, 1791 — exactly 230 years ago — enslaved African revolutionaries and maroons gathered in the woods to plot their liberation. The significance of such a devastating earthquake occurring on this historic date is not lost upon us. As the ancestors broke free from their chains 230 years ago, today, Haitians are being called to break from the shackles of poverty.
Our people are still recovering from the earthquake in 2010, and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, making it abundantly clear that the people of Haiti cannot afford to wait to fight for a better life nor for the international community to become the right partners in this struggle for freedom.
The battle that began over 230 years ago is ours to lead and must be won today.
At RADIKAL, we know that food security is a basic need and human right; intrinsically tied to economic stability, self-sufficiency and women’s empowerment. The women and children of Barraderes, Les Cayes, Camp-Perrin, Cavaillon, Jeremie, Pestel and the surrounding communities of Southern Haiti must be fed. Many of those affected by this latest catastrophe will be without shelter for days, weeks and potentially even months — they must eat.
Over the last year, RADIKAL has created a growing network of women-operated food franchises, known as Saradi, who are bringing nutritious, affordable meals to the most vulnerable. These enterprising women are on the frontlines of food security and with the people of Haiti facing peril once again, these women, the Saradi, are needed now more than ever.
Currently, we are working with the Saradi to set up food stations to serve those that have been displaced by the earthquake.
How can YOU make a difference right now? Invest in our Saradi.
Support their newly launched and growing food businesses, as they rise from poverty and feed their communities.
You can be a part of this movement for justice — not charity.
I hope you will join us.
Nora Jeanne Joseph
Chief Root Cultivator
RADIKAL
Saradi food vendors
Relaunched ventures
Clients served to date
Hear our conversation with a street food vendor in Anse-à-Veau (Nippes), as she talks about her experience during and since the August 14 earthquake.