RSS
Institutional Strategy
In addition to supporting the program work of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and CEDDISEC, Episcopal Relief & Development is also providing direct technical and operational support to these institutions.
A unique aspect of Episcopal Relief & Development’s response to the quake, as compared to its other international response efforts, is that Episcopal Relief & Development program staff and consultants have been deployed within Haiti for substantial periods of time. The organization’s rationale behind this deployment considers the scale of the disaster and its stress on local clergy, leadership and systems, as well as the possibility of assisting CEDDISEC in coordinating with the massive international relief efforts and diverse US parish-based mission responses, on behalf of the vast number of individuals and communities across Haiti in which the Episcopal church is present.
Throughout all the phases of Episcopal Relief & Development’s response, the principles and strategies that guide the organization’s support of the Diocese and CEDDISEC have included:
- Supporting and encouraging the vision of Bishop Duracin that calls parishes to work together with and on behalf of their entire communities, not only their congregations, so that Haiti may rise up and move forward together.
- Strengthening local leadership and engaging Haitians in their own recovery and redevelopment processes.
- Reinvesting knowledge and experience gained through previous emergency and community-based programming into current earthquake recovery efforts.
- Ensuring that support reaches communities throughout the country, assisting both those displaced by the quake as well as communities hosting them.
- Ensuring that recovery programs provide individuals and communities with choices, create employment (both short- and long-term), protect the environment, and ensure participation and respect for all people.
Phase I & II
Diocesan Rehabilitation Activities
While CEDDISEC was identified as Episcopal Relief & Development’s primary partner in the Haiti recovery efforts, a number of projects have been carried out by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti itself.
Rubble and debris were removed from the campus of the Episcopal University in Port-au-Prince, and a large structure with three classrooms was constructed in order to allow classes to continue. Because of this, 670 university students were able to continue their education, and 64 workers were employed in periods of 10-12 days.
Also, the St. Trinity Professional School in Port-au-Prince was relocated to Croix des Bouquets, where a structure with 4 classrooms was built to enable 200 vocational students to continue their course work. Nineteen workers were employed for 20 days to complete this project.
Phase I, II & III
CEDDISEC Rehabilitation Activities
With Episcopal Relief & Development support, CEDDISEC invested in the rehabilitation and reinforcement of its own institutional capacities. This included:
- The cleaning and rehabilitation of offices on the grounds of College St. Pierre, as well as the replacement of office equipment and supplies destroyed during the earthquake (e.g., computers, printers, desks and chairs, etc.).
- Construction of a warehouse alongside CEDDISEC’s office, helping CEDDISEC to avoid taxes and storage fees placed on containers received in port, and also purchase program-related goods in bulk and thus at a better price.
- Creation of a program database to track program participants and progress.
- Leadership strengthening and training in participative community recovery approaches for CEDDISEC Development Agents (launched September 15 – 17 at a workshop for CEDDISEC staff and Development Agents in Port-au-Prince).
- Support by Episcopal Relief & Development of operational costs and salaries for 11 professional staff, 27 Development Agents, and 10 support staff.
