09 Oct Let’s get a Tap-Tap….and solve a HUGE transportation problem
For the past 8 years, together we have been fighting poverty in Haiti with education and training programs that empower Haitian men and women to obtain degrees, and secure dignified jobs with sustainable sources of income. In our work we are always pushing ourselves to recognize barriers to success…and break them down! Last year we realized, TRANSPORTATION was a huge and expensive barrier for folks.
Currently, 70% of our job trainees reside in a displacement camp near the border of Haiti. The camp is located 45 km away from our training center in Port Au Prince. In a country faced with constant threat of natural disasters, poor road conditions, and inefficient public transportation, the 45 km is equivalent to at least triple the distance in the US. In fact, our team leaves home at 3:30 am in the morning to arrive at 7:00 am for training. That’s three and a half hours of travel time with multiple Tap Taps – as the local bus system is called.
It is imperative that we find ways to make the commute to work less strenuous. Our trainees represent the future workforce of Haiti — A country with an estimated 80% formal unemployment. Let’s break down the transportation barrier for them, once and for all. Join us as we launch a campaign that will provide a safer and more efficient mode of transportation for our program participants.
With excellent partnerships, we are excited to announce our “Tap Tap Campaign” is already a quarter funded! Join us in our goal to raise $25,000 that will allow us to purchase a new vehicle to safely transfer more than 20 people from the refugee displacement camp to our training center in Port-au-Prince. Travel time will significantly be reduced by 2 hours, each way. No more leaving at wee hours in the morning which, in turn, means more time can be spent with the family! AND we will create another dignified, living wage job for a full-time driver.
REBUILD globally cannot diminish poverty all at once, but we can gradually remove barriers one at a time. Together, we can make a difference. Lets end 2018 with a new Tap Tap! Join us as we create an impact on dozens of families that will benefit from this project.
Take a ride with us and donate to the Tap Tap Campaign!
“Giving is not just about making a donation, It is about making a difference.” – Kathy Calvin