August 2012 saw the TaiwanICDF release Self-reliance, the fourth title in its series of short films, to raise public awareness of global food crises.

Today (October 26) sees the release of Chinese and English versions of the organization’s fifth short film, Beginnings, which focuses on Taiwan’s work in the aftermath of the massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010, describing how Taiwan provided supplies and medical equipment, and, subsequently, became involved in post-disaster reconstruction. The film goes on to show how the TaiwanICDF, working under a commission from the Taiwanese government, responded to the needs of Haitian authorities and put Haiti on the road to recovery through the promotion of agricultural production and vocational training programs, thereby assisting survivors to earn a living and improve their lives.

A number of significant international days have been celebrated throughout October, including the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Although each focuses on a slightly different issue, the purpose of all such events is to remind us of the extent of poverty and hunger throughout the world. Other issues, such as global climate change and environmental protection, also demand our sustained attention. As a recipient of aid, Haiti, in the Caribbean, is one of the international community’s greatest concerns.

Indeed, Haiti remains one of the world’s poorest nations. According to the World Bank, in 2011 the average Haitian still lived on less than US$2 dollars a day. After the earthquake in 2010, economic growth dropped by nearly 5 percent, leaving both public and private sector services at a virtual standstill. With disaster having affected around one million citizens, and left many homeless, Haiti’s path to reconstruction will be long and arduous.

In view of this, the Taiwanese government established New Hope Village in Savane Diane, providing survivors with a permanent place to call their own. Meanwhile, the TaiwanICDF, with the objective of improving rates of self-sufficiency in food production, improving food security and addressing Haiti’s most urgent socio-economic development policies, has been promoting agricultural production projects and begun to develop 322.5 hectares of farmland, guiding residents to plant crops such as maize, sorghum and pigeon peas, which have helped survivors to become self-sufficient in food production, while also raising incomes through sales.

In addition, the TaiwanICDF has also begun to promote a bamboo crafts training project, training residents to make furniture and weave bamboo textiles, which provide an additional source of income. Residents are gaining the capacity to become truly independent, gradually creating a better life for themselves and embracing hope once more.

Viewers are welcome to watch Beginnings at the TaiwanICDF’s official site, as well as at its YouTube and Facebook pages.

Through its pioneering spirit, sustainable thinking, and an approach to technical cooperation that embraces grain production and capacity building, the TaiwanICDF is assisting Haiti to get back on its feet. The organization is sowing the seeds of hope, and spreading the results throughout the world, where they can grow up for all to see.

•Related Projects and Operations:

Haiti New Hope Village Residents Resettlement Project

Providing Fish, Teaching People How to Fish: On the Road to Reconstruction in Haiti (Press Release)

Taking the Long View of Post-disaster Reconstruction: TaiwanICDF Assistance to Haiti Continues, Implementation on Schedule (Press Release)

Further information on TaiwanICDF projects is also available at http://www.icdf.org.tw/ct.asp?xItem=4595&CtNode=29822&mp=2

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• Update: 2018/03/01
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