Starfish Community

Now that the Haiti government has declared that it is time for recovery and reconstruction, I want to encourage all NGOs and private sector business people to consider how the Private Sector can make a sustainable impact for Haiti!

I say emphatically that it is not a business vs. charity polemic, but BOTH! We need charity in the relief stages through reconstruction, but business can turbo charge the self sustainablity of projects that will impact the communities we are serving in.

I would encourage you to bring a business person with you if you are planning to bring a team to Haiti. One who has construction, masonry, water, sewage and any building trade is perfect! He or she can look at starting a business with a local businessperson. This will create jobs and also keep people busy in a worthwhile community building project. Other businesspeople and businesses back home could even "invest" in this business in Haiti. Tradespeople from church can rotate through the business to build capability and capacity of the locals. Set up a Business Fund for starting small businesses in the communities.

Capitalism with a purpose! Create jobs! Rebuild a nation! Give hope! Even make money that can be reinvested in other businesses and social projects (schools, churches, wells - the list goes on and on...)

Haitians will be changed! But you will be changed more...