Microfinance plays a critical role

Haiti is not only one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere but it is also located in a region prone to natural disasters. Worldwise Microfinance was created to assist Haitians after the earthquake of 2010. Our Haitian program continued to expand and prosper until 2021, when the President was assassinated and the nation was plunged into chaos. Our partners in Haiti (an agricultural cooperative) were initially minimally impacted by the chaos but by mid-2023 the head of the cooperative, Guy Louis was forced to flee the country for his safety.

Since then, Guy received sporadic reports about the loan program. In 2024, those reports stopped and we have no current program data. While we remain optimistic that a loan program continues to function, we are not able to safely travel to Haiti to independently confirm that loans are still being made.

1,000 microloans in five years

WorldWise Microfinance provided its first microloans to the community of Barreau Michel (northwest of Port au Prince) following the January 2010 earthquake. Tom Eggert, founder and current President of the Board, had a Haitian student in his class whose family remained in Port-au-Prince with front row seats to the devastation. The student connected Tom with the founder of an economic development non-profit called the Centre d’Education Chrétienne de Formation et d’Orientation Professionnelle (CECFOP). CECFOP took on the challenge of identifying loan recipients, distributing loans and following up with borrowers.

WorldWise Microfinance partnered with CECFOP successfully, providing 1,000 microloans in the first 5 years of the program. These loans were reflected in healthier and happier families and a community that grew with the addition of a medical clinic and school.

A new partnership

With the arrival of new board members in 2019, WorldWise Microfinance forged a new partnership with the Federation of Organizations and Agricultural Technicians (FOTADEL) of Léogâne, a cooperative of 17 farmers’ associations that provides farmers educational and financial support. By the end of 2023, this partnership had allowed loans to be accessed by almost 300 cooperative members.

Moving forward

In 2024, we did not receive any reports on the success of the loan program. Consequently, we provided no additional funds in Haiti. We hope to travel to Haiti to meet with cooperative members, but until the political situation is addressed and travelers can safely travel in the country, we are suspending the Haitian program.

Microfinance recognizes that poor people are remarkable reservoirs of energy and knowledge, posing an untapped opportunity to create markets, bring people in from the margins and give them the tools with which to help themselves.

—Kofi Annan

Support our Haiti program

The success of the Haiti program is largely attributable to great in country partners who are committed to the success of the loan recipients. Please consider supporting them today!

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