S.O.D.A. Volunteers Making a Difference in Port au Prince

Though I haven't interacted directly with S.O.D.A (Sosyete Djòl Ansanm pou Demokrasi Patisipatif), I am intrigued.  SODA is a local organization, not an international NGO, that describes itself as "...a decentralized network of grassroots groups based in poor communities in that are dedicated to promoting voluntary and cooperative ways of organizing in the pursuit of social justice, economic self-sufficiency and universal education."  Their programs are ambitious and the website well done.  This organization is definitely worth a look.

SODA was founded by a group of individuals who saw problems and wanted to make a difference. They are involved in numerous activities including poultry projects (referenced at the end of an Inside the USA Special called 'The Politics of Rice'), adult literacy classes, a school and lunch program for street kids, and five free schools that are educating more than 400 children.  Soon they will have a lunch program in the neighborhood of Solino for 120 kids using only locally grown foods.  Instead of imported rice, the organization notes that they supply yams, sweet potatoes, manioc, breadfruit, plantains, corn, millet, and Haitian rice.

Other activities involve the creation of an open air film festival in Port au Prince, a city with very few cinemas.  Members of SODA helped rehabilitate an abandoned orphanage in Port au Prince called Lafanmi Selavi (The Family Is Life.)  It is a long story but the orphanage was started by Aristide, fell on very hard times, and stopped functioning.  SODA worked with adults who had grown up in the orphanage to reopen it for street kids.  SODA states that its volunteers give classes to around 20 street children, most of whom sleep inside the facility at night.

There is an impressive collection of videos of their work which you can view by clicking here.  Take a look at this clip on the weaknesses of the educational system in Haiti and how a few committed individuals did their part by starting their own school.  This video is a bit old having first been aired in 2006 on Telesur.  The website notes that AVJ school now has books and other supplies, the teachers receive a stipend, and the students receive a full meal and clean water each day.

The website is available in English, Spanish, soon in Kreyol. You can sign up to the SODA listserv to stay informed of their activities.  One way to help is through donations but you can also volunteer either stateside or in Haiti.  For more information, email info@sodahaiti.org.  You could also provide in kind materials.  As with most things, it is cheaper to purchase books and other supplies locally than to ship it.  Items like computers, medical supplies and water purifiers are much harder to come by though.  If you would like more information, take a look at the Friends of Soda Website as well.   

There is much negative press around Haiti and the challenges the country faces.  I wish more coverage were devoted to local organizations like SODA that are comprised of hard working volunteers who are proud of their country and know that they can make it better.  If there is such a thing as sustainable development, it involves working with local organizations such as this. If anyone has experience working with SODA please do post in the comments section below.

Thanks!
Bryan