Konbit Pou Ayiti

We’ve been having spotty blackout all morning today. I am not complaining however, because while we were gone our neighborhood was included in the Cayes-Jacmel electricity system. Cayes-Jacmel is commonly referred to as Okay, but should not be confused with the major city Les Cayes – also referred to as Okay, which is the provincial capital of the south department, just as Jacmel is the provincial capital of the southeast. The electricity in our Okay system is coming from a water turbine system, known as the jedò, and the output is fantastic. Instead of an eight-hour black out everyday from 6am to 2pm, we now have a few short blackouts at different times during the day. The folks in Jacmel had a blackout for four days last week!

There is still a truck stuck in my driveway, but this hasn’t stopped several of the villagers of Cyvader from coming to get key lime and orange trees from the Youth for the Development of Cyvadier (JDS) tree nursery in my front yard. Just before seven this morning more villagers came by to pick up the seedlings, carrying them out in buckets, wheelbarrows and rice sacks.

With the partnership of Global Village in Peoria, Illinois, JDS started 30,000 new seedlings in 2007, and this week many are being distributed to farmers based on their commitment to protect and maintain the trees. In addition, we are planning a tree-planting event before the end of the month to plant thousands of trees in strategic places on Cyvadier’s steep mountain sides. The members of JDS and Guypson have been exploring the area to choose ravines and other key spots for soil retention.

Due to the flooding during Hurricane Noel, JDS lost 5,000 seedlings in November. This didn’t slow the group down, and instead they decided to start more seedlings to be sure they could reach their original goal of 30,000. Although the last 6,000 will be planted this February, JDS is very pleased that they produced a total of 30,000 trees in 2007

The goal for 2008 is even more ambitious – 50,000 trees! With the continued support of Global Village and assistance from some of KONPAY’s other funders, JDS should be able to do it.

Below: JDS members have collected discarded plastic bags used for drinking water and are using them to start new seedlings.