Haiti needs reconstruction: the reconstruction of its national identity as an essentially agricultural country, the reconstruction of its moral values by consuming products “made in Haiti,” and the reconstruction of its food sovereignty through local agricultural initiatives.
That's why, within the framework of the second UN Sustainable Development Goal for 2030, the Women’s Association for the Development of Lafon (AFADLA) is launching an integrated sustainable agricultural development program. This program aims to train girls from the association to set up an agricultural business while implementing principles of sustainable development. Once integrated into the program, professional farmers and conservators will follow them as they build the capacity to manage natural resources and use them in a responsible way to produce food from plants and animals: fruits, vegetables, cereals, milk, and meat.
Haiti’s agriculture is the main pillar of its economic value chain, so the promotion of sustainable agriculture is foundational to our sustainable development. To us, sustainable development means development that meets current needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
AFADLA is committed to joining this effort through education and direct action, giving priority to girls who are self-motivated to work in agriculture. To serve the country in an holistic way, these girls will continue to work there with the goal of integrating other young people from other regions of Haiti. Although this initiative may seem modest, we want to train these girls to materialize all that we have lost with the goal of reviving the country’s agriculture.
AFADLA’s mission is to help girls pursue a professional career, but also to make wise and visionary choices to serve the future of the country. This is our passion. And we have seen it begin to spread. That’s why we believe our hard work will pay dividends for the future of Haiti.
––Fabienne Lerine
President, Women's Association for the Development of Lafon
(Translated by Michael Dylan Rogers)
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