Projects
Empower Haiti
Solar Electrification for a Rural Health Clinic
Project Location: Hinche, HaitiIn September 2009, Solar Liberty Foundation provided a much-needed solar electrification system to a Partners In Health clinic in Hinche, Haiti. This clinic, which is located in rural Haiti, has no access to electricity. The off-grid solar electrification system provides consistent power for critical communications systems that the clinic's health care professionals use for contact with doctors and referral hospitals in the country.
Prior to the Solar Liberty Foundation system, electricity for the clinic's communication system came from running a diesel generator. With diesel fuel costing approximately $8/gallon, the clinic was spending money that could be used to provide the necessary health care services to people of Hinche. In addition, by eliminating the pollution from the generator, there is less harm to the environment, to patients and staff of the health clinic.
Like Solar Liberty Foundation, Partners in Health is a nonprofit. Founded in 1987, Partners In Health provides a preferential health care option for the poor and treats all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Partners In Health has worked in rural Haiti for over 20 years.
Solar Cookers Provide Relief in Earthquake-ravaged Capital
Project Location: Port-au-PrinceThe devastating 2010 earthquake crippled the fragile infrastructure of the Haitian capital leaving millions with no way of preparing meals and no solution in sight. Fortunately, Solar Liberty Foundation was able to provide help. The Foundation provided a shipment of solar cookers to the Haitian Bouske organization. The organization assisted displaced individuals in Port-au-Prince and distributed solar cookers for families in need. The solar cookers enable people and families to safely cook food and to sterilize water. The two-pot design allows a large family or group to eat a cooked meal from a single solar cooking unit.
In Haiti, much of the cooking must be done on an open flame using charcoal. This forces many families to spend more money than necessary on expensive charcoal rather than to purchase food and other family necessities.
In addition to reducing costs to families, the solar cookers lessen the environmental impact and the health risks caused by the use of charcoal for cooking fuel.
A Brighter Future for the Girls of NOTRE DAME DE LOURDES FOYER Orphanage in Haiti
Project Location: Port-au-PrinceIn addition to the great personal loss caused by the 2010 earthquake, the girls and staff of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Foyer orphanage in Haiti also saw the loss of their home. The earthquake damaged their building making it uninhabitable for the children. Nearly 70 young girls ranging in age from two to 16, most only two to three years of age, are now forced to live outside in makeshift tents. Additionally, many of the orphanage staff have been forced to care for their own families and not able to return to work, leaving the girls with limited supervision, care and security.
The orphanage will be a beautiful new home for these children and will have the capacity to take-in other children who are currently being turned away because of lack of resources.
Fortunately help is on the way, and Solar Liberty Foundation is playing a role. A group led by Robert Greene, a partner with the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP in Buffalo, NY, is working to rebuild the orphanage. The group has purchased a tract of land for a new orphanage building, and construction plans have been drafted. Solar Liberty Foundation has partnered with Mr. Greene to provide a solar electrification system for the soon to be built orphanage. The solar electrification system will generate much needed power for food to be cooked, lighting for their classrooms, and nighttime security.
Because the young girls are currently living outside, the new orphanage is on the fast track. The orphanage will be a beautiful new home for these children and will have the capacity to take-in other children who otherwise would have been turned away because of the lack of resources. These girls are the future of Haiti, and with the help of Solar Liberty Foundation, their future looks brighter everyday.
Community Kitchen in Haiti
With 98% of rural Haiti deforested, kindling and wood for cooking is nearly non-existent. Kenel Antoine, a Haitian-American architect from Syracuse, NY has begun development of a community kitchen in which villagers can rent time to cook in the kitchen for less than the cost of cooking fuel. Solar Liberty Foundation has partnered with Mr. Antoine to supply a solar electrification system for the community kitchen to power burners and other equipment. Once completed, this community kitchen model will be replicated in rural locations across Haiti.
Relocation of Tent City in Haiti Project Location: 45 miles outside Port-au-Prince
Tom Pavone, a Rochester, NY engineer, is spearheading an effort for his church to build a new village for residents in rural Haiti who were displaced by the 2010 earthquake. Construction of the first structure, a community center, is underway and Solar Liberty Foundation is providing a solar electrification system.
The community center will allow residents of the village access to computers and communication with the outside world. Residents will be able to sell products and initiate other economic endeavors with the access to computers and the Internet.
A centerpiece of the new village project is Providence University, a center of higher learning that offers secondary and higher levels of education for Haitians who would otherwise need to leave the country for an advanced education. The solar electrification system from Solar Liberty Foundation will be the primary source of electrical power for the university building as well.
