HOT OFF THE CYBER PRESS: Today's photos reveal the extent and importance of the peanut butter project in Zoranje zone. Lekol Freres Abraham, shown in photos above, is one of the 2 schools where the "if Pigs Coud Fly Haiti" effort provides work for men and women, who buy, carry, roast and grind the peanuts, and a nutritious snack for the children who are able to attend school.
School attendance for some, is made possible by the awarding of livestock "work-study" scholarships by www.ifpgscouldflyhaiti.org . A child's family receives a goat or a pig, so they "earn" their tuition fees. If they are successful in caring for their animal, it serves to cover school fees - or, they have the choice of how to spend their earnings. This policy puts the decision in the hands of family members, and emphasizes a work effort. "If Pigs" tries to make this less a matter of direct charity, but the pig or goat is of course, still an asset we are handing out.
Other efforts of the If Pigs group include: "Sew What?" - to support training and "manufacturing" of uniforms and artisan dresses. Please see the website for a short (but exciting!) music video of "Sew What?" - an effort to render the term "sweatshop" obsolete...