Haitian, Disapora Women Leaders Plan Global Solidarity Initiative to Empower, Help Haitian Women and Girls and Grassroots Progressive Groups

When I was in Haiti shortly after the quake, I met with Haitian women leaders to talk about their emergency needs and the best way for the global community of women and organizations to support them to reorganize and play a leading role in discussions and forums about Rebuilding Haiti. Back in the US, I've been working with Haitian women in the diaspora and feminist leaders to begin organizing a global grassroots solidarity initiative that we've tentatively named the Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti initiative.

To date, two conference calls have taken place among some Haitian and diaspora advocates and leaders in grassroots organizations on the topic of an accelerated global response to the urgent needs facing Haitian women and girls, and on a parallel need to support the voices, vision and leadership of Haitian women in this post-disaster rebuilding period.

The Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti initiative is in an early stage of implementation. Organizers are reaching out to women globally in order to move forward quickly to address known needs of women and girls in Haiti.

There is an urgent awareness of the forthcoming additional threats posed by seasonal tropical storms, possible hurricanes and earthquakes, and predicted aftershocks that are likely to greatly worsen the current catastrophic situation. The already battered women's organizations need great support to address these additional challenges.

Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti organizers are using the World Pulse media/Pulsewire social networking platform for group discussions and planning of the initiative.

A community forum has been started there and all are invited to register and participate in sharing initiatives, analysis, visions, and comments. To find the Community Forum,, you simply register at PulseWire then look within the Groups section for this group.

Women's Summit?

One idea that has just emerged is a possible post-disaster Women's Summit that could take place in Haiti, and possible satellite women's meetings at the upcoming OAS, Donor's and other forums on Rebuilding Haiti.

Advocates want to raise awareness of the additional challenges faced by women and girls in the wake of natural disasters, and possible new programs that could be designed with their needs in mind. For example, while Haitian market women are regarded as the pillars of Haiti's agricultural economy, advocates are asking how new reconstruction jobs (removing debris, recycling rubble, rebuilding cities) will benefit the many women who need access to income, but aren't likely to be hired for such traditionally male positions.

Call for Needs Assessments, Surveys related to Women, Girls:

Colleagues at the Lambi Fund have agreed to gather Needs Assessments and surveys of the post-disaster response that have been carried out by groups in different sectors (shelter, health, needs of pregnant women, security and violence, vulnerable children and orphans, etc.). Please share any reports you may have or know about by sharing this information with the Lambi Fund (email: info@lambifund.org). Please mark 'Women's Survey Report' in the Subject line.

Note: If you are a donor, NGO or private individual who is interested in supporting activities or providing resources to benefit women and girls, please contact us to learn about which activities are being considered. Send queries to me at talktothefuture@gmail.com and I will share with the group.

Note: I will post updates on this initiative and a website URL when it is ready.

Ansanm, Ansanm!