The charter for Foundation for International Development Assistance/productive cooperatives Haiti (FIDA/pcH) was established in 1980 when former resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Jack Wall, resigned as founding president of International Child Care to pursue a more economic-based development model in Haiti.Four years later, Wall and his wife Anne sold everything they had and moved to Haiti. They were sixty years old at the time. They spent the next fifteen years of their life there, Jack investing in people whose “hands were in the soil” and Anne establishing Wall’s International Guest House in Port au Prince that become host to thousands of teams and families over the years.
Betsy Wall, daughter of Anne and Jack, inherited the legacy as FIDA/pcH Executive Director upon her father’s retirement in 1999. “My father believed that true development must be envisioned by the people, owned by the people, and managed by the people. If not, it will surely fail. This is the heart of the mission and vision of the organization.”
It was in her role to do what is right by Haiti, that Wall discovered the influential classic, “Small is Beautiful: Economics as If people mattered” published in the mid 1970’s by renowned economist, E. F. Schumacher. She came to appreciate that while there is a price to pay for choosing to be small, big has never proven effective in Haiti. She notes, “It takes time to ensure that people are at the centre of their own development, but it is more effective in terms of sustaining change. Experience has led us to evolve a three-pillar development approach that insists on the infrastructure of a member-owned cooperative business model; economic drivers that focus primarily on agricultural inputs and production; and investment in member capacity such as our innovative and comprehensive adult literacy program. These are essential components for there to be any measure of hope for change in Haiti.”
With the theme, “When Small is Beautiful”, the celebration of 40 years of continuous work in Haiti will be hosted at the Trevor Falk Farm, 1039 Lakeshore Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake on September 5th. A Haitian-themed cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m. with the Juliet Dunn Jazz Trio followed by a buffet dinner catered by MJ Ingribelli Catering Co. and dessert of homemade Mennonite pies donated by Elmira-based Donuts & Deli.
Niagara’s own funny guy, Joe Pillitteri, is back again hosting the live auction which begins at 7:45 pm. The event also features a raffle table and silent auction that includes unique Haitian atizani.
As last year’s event netted $135,000 for 800 women and men to participate in adult literacy, there will be a brief presentation attesting to the impact of funds raised. Tickets are still available for September 5th at $100/person (includes a $50 tax receipt) and can be purchased by emailing [email protected] or dialing 519-588-7967.
Wall concludes, “We have listened, responded, and never left… for 40 years. Small has proven beautiful… because people mattered. We welcome you to be a force for such a productive and peaceful corner of the world.”
