I Believe in Haiti

Before the earthquake, dollars from the Haitian Diaspora have given the Haitian economy a boost.  The one to two million Haitians living outside of Haiti sent home an estimated $1.9 billion in remittances, accounting for up to 30 percent of the nation’s GDP.

As Haiti begins the long process of recovery and redevelopment following the earthquake’s devastation, members of the Haitian Diaspora, like Boston physician Arielle Adrien, have also been active in projects designed to encourage sustainable economic growth.   Adrien helps support an organic farm that produces vegetables, eggs, fish, pigs and goats.

There is no official count for the number of Haitians living abroad who contribute in this way, however, a newly launched website now makes it easier for the Haitian Diaspora in the United States, approximately 500,000 individuals, to help fund the reconstruction of their homeland following January’s devastating earthquake.

Zafen.org connects projects in Haiti with individual and institutional sources of funding. Zafèn means “It’s our business” in Creole.