Mission: to empower Haitian women to become leaders and productive members of their community by providing them with the training that will help them to create a sustainable future.

project uniting the women of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the women of Haiti.

coordinated by: Myriam Jeannis, UMD Senior, Nursing Major, HASA member Deirdre Healy, Associate Director, Center for Civic Engagement

“ You educate a boy, and you’re educating an individual. You educate a girl, and you’re educating an entire community.” -African proverb, as presented in Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Half the Sky by Nick Kristoff

• 10 Haitian women age 13 to 24 from La Branle Haiti will be selected annually to attend an after school program focusing on: literacy, health and sustainability.

• Program will run for 10 years training a total of 100 Haitian young women.

• 10 UMass Dartmouth women will each recruit 10 additional women to pledge $100 per year for 10 years

La Branle is situated in Artibonite, Haiti. It has an estimated population of 10,000-15,000.0 people. La Branle is 15 miles from Gonaives - the city of independence.

Association des Femmes Progressiste des Gonaives (AFPG) is a grassroot association in Gonaives, Haiti that has been working for the past 5 years to end injustice against women. Lead by Mme. Jn Beauplan Eliette Jeanite the goal of this Association is to promote women rights. This is accomplished by helping women to get an education so that they become self sufficient. Through education and microloans women become financially independent and supportive of their communities.

Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.. With gifts of livestock and training Heifer helps families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. Heifer refers to the animals as "living loans" because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal's offspring to another family in need. It's called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever expanding network of hope and peace.

The project Budget is $10,000 annually.

Our fundraising Model: Our basic idea is to recruit 100 women from our UMass Dartmouth

network to pledge $100 per year for 10 years. These funds will sponsor 10 Haitian young women per year for 10 years for a total of 100 women.

Funds will be used to: 1) pay Haitian teachers and staff. 2) supply necessary materials for the courses. 3) provide a hot meal for the girls. 4) rent a location to create an “oasis” to maintain a sustainable project.

Monthly ( USD-Gourdes)

Yearly

Project Manager $170.00 ( 5950.00 gourdes)

$2040.00 (71,400.00gourdes)

Teachers ( Literacy and Healthcare)

$160.00 (5600.00 gourdes)

$1920.00 ( 67,200.00 gourdes)

Supplies $50.00(1750.00 gourdes) $600.00 (21,000.00 gourdes)

Food $20.00 ( 700.00 gourdes)per child $ 200.00 (7000.00gourdes) for 10 children

$2400.00 (84,000.00 gourdes)

Maintenance $40.00 (1400.00 gourdes) $480.00 (16,800.00 gourdes)

Rent 1 Hectare of Land $75.00 (2625.00 gourdes) $900.00 (31,500.00 gourdes)

Supplies for the Oasis $75.00 (2625.00 gourdes) $900.00 ( 31,500.00 gourdes)

Transportation $ 30.00 (1050.00 gourdes)

$360.00 (12,600.00 gourdes)

Miscellaneous $400.00 ( 14,000.00 gourdes)

Total $ 800.00 ( 28,000.00 gourdes)

$ 9600.00 + $400.00= $10000.00 ( 350,000.00 gourdes)

1. What is an "oasis"? Oasis is a term for a designated common area used to care for the animals provided by Heifer International. It is a safe place for the animals.

2. How will the teachers be selected? The teachers will be selected by the Progressive Women Association. A preference will be given to teachers who live locally.

3. Why La Branle? Recommended by the Progressive Women’s Association, many girls only have a chance to go to school until 7th grade, when they become pregnant and are unable to continue with their education.

Myriam has visited and worked with this community and has found they are very open to change and would like a better future for themselves and their children. In addition, the La Branle community is willing to provide a location to hold the classes and to rent a hectare of land for the oasis at half price as part of their contribution to the project.

In 2006, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth nursing student Myriam Jeannis began a school supply drive for the benefit of children in Gonaives Haiti, left vulnerable by hurricane Jeanne in 2004. Myriam knew of the conditions faced by the children as she until the age of fourteen, lived in Gonaives before emigrating to Massachusetts.

By 2010 the drive including a partnerships with two Dartmouth elementary schools, supported school fees for 23 Haitian school children and supplies for 70 additional pupils. The UMass Dartmouth Community continued to be the greatest supporter of the project to the point that 4 student groups have now travelled to Gonaives and Port-au-Prince Haiti, volunteering as students nurses, construction workers, translators and student counselors .

On January 13th 2010 an Earthquake devastated Haiti and the UMASS Dartmouth community, lead by Myriam responded with “L’Inyon Fe La Fos- Strength through Unity” relief events resulting in monetary donations enabling 18 members of the UMD community to complete a service trip to Haiti over Spring break.

In the Spring of 2011,10 UMass Dartmouth women have been inspired to join Myriam to launch Project 100 Women!

Our Inspiration

Myriam giving HIV/AIDS workshop in Goniaves Haiti, June 2010

Myriam regularly presents about student service trips to Haiti

Myriam hosting “L’Inyon Fe La Fos” relief event in

UMD auditorium

Ann Boisvert, Assistant Director of START/College Now

Tina Bruen, Director International Student & Scholar Center

Michelle Cheyne, Assistant Professor of French

Cynthia Cummings, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Monica Faria, Admissions Counselor

Deirdre Healy, Associate Director, Center for Civic Engagement

Jeanne Leffers, Assistant Professor of Nursing

Jean MacCormack, Chancellor

Cristina Mehrtens, Associate Professor of History

Stephanie O’Hara, Assistant Professor of Foreign Literature &

Languages

10 UMass Dartmouth women inspired by Myriam

You’re Invited to become a member of

the 100 Women project by pledging your

support!

r.s.v.p. to: Your name here with email address.

a project uniting the women of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the women of

Haiti.