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Haiti Outreach - Commission Committees

Twinning Committee

The twinning committee is made up of representatives from each of the regions of the Diocese. Its purpose and function is to support, resource and oversee the Haiti twinning ministry of the Diocese of Richmond. It assists in the development of guidelines and policies for twinning parishes, in recruiting  new twins and supporting existing twins.

Sustainable Development Committee

The Sustainable Development Committee had its beginnings in October 1995 when a four member delegation from the Diocese of Richmond traveled to meet and discuss the possibilities of working with the Diocese of Hinche on Sustainable Development Projects. Quickly the decision was made that committees would be formed both in the Diocese of Hinche and the Diocese of Richmond to work together on projects that are economically and ecologically sustainable

Presently the Diocese of Hinche and the Diocese of Richmond each have a committee that meets in their respective Diocese monthly and the two committees meet twice a year to do joint planning and decision making.

Current projects and focuses of the Diocese of Richmond committee includes:

    ●  Battaglia Fund Matching Grant Program

  • Launching a pilot agricultural project in partnership with the Diocese of Hinche and Virginia Tech with the goal of reducing poverty in the central plateau by improving food security for the peasants and increasing the environmental viability.
  • Assisting in promoting sustainable development concepts in all elements of the Haiti ministry, including new programs, existing programs, boards and committees.
  • Increasing the committee's knowledge and understanding of sustainable development. Investigating other organizations and projects involved in sustainable development in Haiti.

  • Discerning ways to be a resource and communication conduit for twinning parishes in efforts to engage in sustainable development projects.

The Battaglia Fund

The Diocese of Richmond's Haiti Ministry has been bequeathed the amount of $80,000.00 from the last Will and Testament of Gaspare Battaglia to provide food and medical assistance for the poor of Haiti.  The Sustainable Development Committee is administering these funds through a matching grant program of up to $5,000.00 each.  Projects must meet the purpose of providing food and/or medical assistance to Haiti and the projects must be considered economically and ecologically sustainable.  The following links can be used to access:

                                    Further Grant Information

                                    The Grant Application

                                    Grant Reporting Form    

 

 

Advocacy Committee

"Speak out for those who can not speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out,
judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy" Proverbs 31: 8-9

Purpose:

  • to become educated and share information about justice issues in Haiti
  • to listen to the people of Haiti so that we can determine important issues on which to advocate
  • to work with the (USCCB)United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, (CRS) Catholic Relief Services and other organizations on advocacy issues
  • to actively engage in advocacy with our U.S. government to enact just policies toward Haiti

Partners and resources:

Present focus:

Along with other world wide organizations the U.S. Catholic Community is mobilizing to meet the goal of ending extreme global poverty. It is using the frame work of the millennium development goals and focusing on legislative initiatives which will help developing nations including Haiti reach these goals.

Aid: Increasing foreign aid to .7% of our gross national product and supporting effective programs that foster long-term development and empower the poor.

Trade: Shaping U.S. trade policies so that overcoming poverty and promoting human development are central priorities.

Debt relief: Eliminating the debt of the poorest countries in ways that reduce poverty and promote human dignity.

  • For more information, contact Jay Brown.
  • Help us advocate for Haiti. Read our current legislative advocacy information in the What You Can Do section.

The Haitian Education Fund

The Haitian Education Fund is made up a board working to promote and sustain the education of the teachers and children of Hinche, Haiti. It works in collaboration with partners including the Diocese of Hinche and the parishes participating in the twinning program of the Diocese of Richmond. The vision of the board is to achieve an educational system through partners, primarily in the Diocese of Hinche, that will prepare children to meet the political, economic, social and spiritual challenges of the future, ultimately improving the societal conditions and the level of human dignity of those living in Haiti.