THE CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE INC

HONDURAS IS THE SECOND POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. FAMILY INCOME AVERAGES ABOUT 500 A YEAR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE A MAJORITY OF HONDURANS LIVE. THE COUNTRY IS WRACKED BY DRUG WARS, CORRUPTION, VERY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, AND A GENERAL LAWLESSNESS THAT PERVADES ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY. IT HAS THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA MURDER RATE OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. OTHER THAN MULTINATIONAL FOOD COMPANIES AND A GROWING GARMENT INDUSTRY, HONDURAS PRODUCES LITTLE FOR EXPORT. EXACERBATING THE DIRE SITUATION ARE INCREASINGLY INCONSISTENT RAINY SEASONS THAT PUT SUBSISTENCE FARM FAMILIES AT TREMENDOUS RISK. HONDURAS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: BUILT SCHOOL, 7-12 GRADE AS MANY AS 126 STUDENTS IN ANY ONE YEAR, WHERE THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 13 YEARS OF GRADUATIONS UNIFORMS, SHOES, TUITION FOR NEEDIEST STUDENTS REFORESTING WITH 5,500 "CASH" TREES ( MAHOGANY/TEAK) ALL SALES TO BENEFIT SCHOOL COMMUNITY 6,000 COFFEE TREES ( SOCIAL/ FINANCIAL PROFIT) COMMUNITY BUNK HOUSE: COMMUNITY "OFFICE"), GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VISITORS WATER CATCHMENT PROGRAMS FOR DRINKING WATER AS WELL AS FOR CATTLE. WORK FOR MANY IF THE MOST DISPOSSESSED. COMMUNITY LIBRARY FRUIT ORCHARD FOR COMMUNITY NEW TRUCK PURCHASE FOR "AWAY" STUDENTS TO GET TO SCHOOL, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY USE GENERAL VILLAGE REPAIRS/UPKEEP: ROADS, WIFI, ETC. NUMEROUS "ONE OFFS": SOCCER, MUSIC, DANCE PROGRAMS. PARTNERSHIP WITH CATHOLIC WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION ALLOWING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACCESS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD: ACCESS TO FOOD, EDUCATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ERADICATING FEAR OF THE MESTIZO COMMUNITY WRIT LARGE.., INTRODUCTION OF COVER CROPS AND REFURBISHING OF "WORN OUT" SOIL, REBUILDING OF VILLAGE WATER TANKS AS WELL AS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS - HAITI HAITI REMAINS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND AMONG THE POOREST GLOBALLY. IN RECENT YEARS, IT HAS DESCENDED INTO NEAR-TOTAL STATE COLLAPSE, WITH LARGE SWATHS CONTROLLED BY WARRING GANGS. ALTHOUGH INTERNATIONAL AID POURED INTO THE COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING 2010 EARTHQUAKE, THOSE EFFORTS PROVED LARGELY INEFFECTUAL. TODAY, CIVIL UNREST HAS FORCED MANY NGOS AND VOLUNTEERS TO WITHDRAW ENTIRELY. PHAETON OUR WORK IS CENTERED IN PHAETON, A SMALL VILLAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000 RESIDENTS SITUATED ALONG HAITI'S NORTHEAST COAST. THE COMMUNITY'S REMOTE LOCATION HAS PROVIDED SOME INSULATION FROM THE NATIONAL TURMOIL, YET DAILY LIFE REMAINS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WITH NO ELECTRICITY, UNRELIABLE ACCESS TO WATER, AND MOST FAMILIES SURVIVING ON LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR PER DAY, THE CHALLENGES ARE IMMENSE. DESPITE THESE HARDSHIPS, OUR ONGOING PROGRAMS HAVE MADE MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN IMPROVING LIVES. PRIORITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS "THE PRIMARY SCHOOL WE ESTABLISHED OFFERS EDUCATION FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 6 AND SERVES A DAILY HOT LUNCH - THE ONLY SUBSTANTIAL MEAL MANY STUDENTS RECEIVE. "A SCHOOL GARDEN SUPPLIES FRESH PRODUCE, WHILE CORN AND BANANA CROPS ARE CULTIVATED BOTH FOR SCHOOL USE AND LOCAL SALE, HELPING THE COMMUNITY GENERATE MODEST INCOME. "WE HAVE OPENED A MEDICAL CLINIC, OPERATED BY A DEDICATED YOUNG HAITIAN DOCTOR, TO MEET ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS FOR PHAETON AND NEARBY VILLAGES. THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, COLLABORATION, AND STEADFAST LOCAL PARTNERSHIP, TCI CONTINUES TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF PHAETON BUILD A MORE STABLE AND HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.