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Ayiti Demen and FOKAL at the 5th Haiti Funders Conference in Washington, DC
June 25, 2023 | Ayiti Demen
The 5th edition of the Haiti Funders Conference was held in Washington, D.C. from June 12 to 14. Haiti Demen and FOKAL were pleased to be part of this event. Co-organized by the Haiti Development Institute (HDI) at the Boston Foundation, the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL), and Ayiti Demen, the event brought together nearly 200 participants and 57 panelists representing 123 organizations. Over the course of three days, participants engaged in more than twenty plenary and breakout sessions, artistic performances, and several powerful keynote addresses.As the keynote speaker, Michèle D. Pierre-Louis, FOKAL’s president and Ayiti Demen’s chairperson, provided a comprehensive overview of the current landscape in Haiti and the critical role of philanthropy in driving forward-thinking solutions.
“Yes, we live in a world of violence, unsafe for all. Even scientific progress creates major disruptions in our planetary system by contributing to pollution, health issues, and climate change. The crisis has penetrated our minds and threatens our human dignity. […] Paradoxically, there is another side in ‘this moment’, that of hard work, resistance, solidarity, empathy, a world of care, learning, community engagement, good causes, radical joy and hope. That is where philanthropy plays a major role if we are faithful to its etymological meaning: philos love, anthropos, humankind.”
Read the full speech here.
Despite the efforts of various partners, the situation in Haiti has deteriorated over the past five years, particularly due to increasing insecurity in the Ouest and Artibonite regions. The Haiti Funders Conference provided a valuable opportunity to discuss development issues in this fragile context. It brought together investors, funders, donors, diaspora and nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders to strategize on how best to support the Haitian people and Haitian-led initiatives for change. Yvens Rumbold, Ayiti Demen’s executive director, captured the conference’s spirit perfectly: “Two words came out in every conversation here: collaboration and partnership. Because we have a duty to do better than in the past and our collective brain here is powerful. We can do better than what the world is doing now in Haiti.”
Despite the efforts of various partners, the situation in Haiti has deteriorated over the past five years, particularly due to increasing insecurity in the Ouest and Artibonite regions. The Haiti Funders Conference provided a valuable opportunity to discuss development issues in this fragile context. It brought together investors, funders, donors, diaspora and nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders to strategize on how best to support the Haitian people and Haitian-led initiatives for change.
Yvens Rumbold, Ayiti Demen’s executive director, captured the conference’s spirit perfectly: “Two words came out in every conversation here: collaboration and partnership. Because we have a duty to do better than in the past and our collective brain here is powerful. We can do better than what the world is doing now in Haiti.”
Initiated by the Haiti Development Institute, the Haiti Funders Conference series is dedicated to increasing the volume and impact of philanthropy directed toward sustainable economic and social development in Haiti. This highly participatory event encourages existing and new actors to engage deeply with Haiti’s development challenges and opportunities.
The 5th Haiti Funders Conference was more than a gathering; it was a call to action. By fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among a diverse group of stakeholders, the conference laid the groundwork for an effective, sustainable partnership for development in Haiti. As Yvens Rumbold pointed out, the collective power and commitment of participants can lead to better outcomes and pave the way for a brighter future for Haiti.
You can read more about the proceedings of the 5th Haiti Funders Conference here.