10 Holiday Gifts That Help the Poor, Empower Women, and Save the Environment
Submitted by: Blueprint Creative Group
2008-12-22 00:04:29
Give a gift this holiday season that will feed the poor, help them become self-sufficient, and save the environment at the same time.
Miami, FL (OPENPRESS) December 22, 2008 -- This holiday season while many scramble to find the perfect gift for loved ones giving a gift in the name of a family member or friend makes the perfect stocking stuffer. The holidays are meant to rejoice in thanksgiving for those important treasures in life, but the holidays for families in Haiti mean severe poverty, malnutrition, and the devastating aftermath from this summer's tumultuous hurricane season. In the spirit of the holidays, it is better to give than to receive. So, give the gift of food, self-sufficiency, and a greener environment with the purchase of a gift certificate from Lambi Fund of Haiti's gift catalog, which goes towards helping rural communities in Haiti rebuild and become sustainable.
Pigs-- $100 each or $25 a share
Pigs are incredibly valuable assets in Haiti. For the poorest of the poor, they serve as "living and breathing bank accounts." Struggling Haitian families can sell the offspring of female pigs (sows), which on average can produce 16 piglets a year. This precious income can be used for special or urgent needs such as school or health care. Give the gift that lasts. Pigs offer a way out of poverty and towards self-reliance.
Flock of Chicks-- $5
A flock of chicks makes the perfect gift for struggling families in Haiti. It takes little money to take care of them and the protein packed in just one egg can be life-saving for a hungry child. Just one flock of chicks provides a family with a dozen chicks. Most good hens lay up to 200 eggs a year- plenty for families with inadequate diets to eat, share, or sell.
Sheep-- $120 or $30 a share
Sheep make incredibly important contributions to Haitian communities who depend on them for wool and meat, which can then be sold for added income. Sheep frequently give birth to twins or triplets and are incredibly resilient animals. They can graze on even the hilliest, rockiest pastures usually deemed unsuitable for pasture. This makes them well-suited to survive in Haiti's deforested and degraded areas.
Tree Seedlings-- $22/ Grove of Trees-- $220
The Lambi Fund of Haiti is passionate about the environment and believes that deforestation has critical impacts on food security and the environment. The Lambi Fund is partnering with the Green Belt Movement, founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, to help strengthen grassroots reforestation throughout Haiti. A gift of tree seedlings will help plant one million trees, provide training and technical assistance from agronomists, and strengthen Haitian-led reforestation efforts. We must all work together for a sustainable and healthy environment.
Seeds-- $50
The food crisis in Haiti is an urgent plea for more food. A seed bank enables Haitian communities to plant inexpensive, high-quality seeds and grow food to feed their families sustainably for years. Farmers have had to buy seeds at triple the cost of what they can earn from their crops. A gift of seeds will provide community members seeds for a seed bank and provide sustainable agriculture training; empowering Haitians to provide food for their families and increasing food security. Haitians will have access to reasonably priced food that they grow themselves.
Start a Tool Bank-- $80/ Tools $25
Haitian farmers raising crops generally lack the proper tools to do an effective job. Your gift will help start a much needed community tool bank of hoes, picks, and rakes for farmers to use in cultivating the land. The Lambi Fund, with your assistance, will train women and men how to safely and effectively use the tools- furthering productivity and lightening workloads.
Honey Bees-- $30
Beekeeping allows communities and families in Haiti to earn money from the sale of honey, beeswax, and pollen. In fact, bees are instrumental in pollination, while strategic placement can double fruit and vegetable yields. Give the gift of honey bees and help hard-working Haitians envision a prosperous future. Your gift will help Lambi Fund provide a package of bees, the box, hive and proper training to a community in need.
Support Women-- $500
Women make up 70% of the world's poor and produce 80 percent of the developing world's food, yet they own less than one percent of the world's land. Sadly, this rings true in Haiti. Lambi Fund understands that the hope for a sustainable, poverty-free, and economically thriving Haiti cannot be achieved without the help of women. Women are overlooked by government programs, receive lower wages, and have fewer opportunities for education. By giving the gift of women's empowerment, you recognize that women are valuable resources in society, and that they can act as powerful agents of change given the opportunity. Haitian women want a way out, not a hand-out. Help provide leadership, organizational, and technical training to women. Through this gift, you can help create a strong future for women and their families.
The Lambi Farm-- $5,000
The Lambi Farm offers families all over Haiti a start on a seemingly impossible journey to food security and dependable income. Imagine the possibilities! Your gift provides an entire farm's worth of seeds, training, resources, and tools. Community organizations will have access to tool banks, high quality seeds, and clean water, as well as valuable training in agriculture and leadership.
Grain Mills-- $10,000
Looking to make a substantial contribution to women and communities in Haiti? Grain mills are incredibly profitable investments, yet most Haitians lack the training and capital required to establish a fully functioning mill. Grain mills process grains such as corn and millet into flour, which increases the product value when sold at market. In Haiti, women often run grain mills and sell the milling services to local farmers for a fee. The income earned from the milling service helps build income for women, which is seen to positively impact the greater well-being of children and communities time and time again.
Give a gift that will feed the poor, save the environment, and help the people of Haiti become self-sufficient. For more information and to purchase a gift certificate, please visit LambiFund.org/support_catalog.htm or email info@LambiFund.org.
Media Contact:
Fabiola Fleuranvil of Blueprint Creative Group
(404) 437-0078
Fabiola@BlueprintCreativeGroup.com
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