The world is changing rapidly in 2022. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is causing both a worldwide food crisis, and a shift in aid focus toward the urgent needs of traumatized civilians in the war zone.
Sadly, the massive media focus on war assures that the people of Haiti are mostly forgotten… again.
In a failed state where weekly survival is a struggle endlessly repeated, it takes little to push a family that is barely hanging on into a food crisis. In a dysfunctional economy where poverty is the norm, many families could be in danger of starving.
Next Steps
UPG is currently exploring new partnership opportunities for Haiti, as well as building organizational capacity in South Florida.
If you belong to an organization that has “boots on the ground” in Haiti, or if you wish to support those who are in Haiti, please let us know.
To make direct, measurable impacts we need sustained and specific support and resources.
Funding is key: people must be paid for their work and their steady dedication, in both Haiti and FL.
In-Kind resources can be wonderful, because they allow us to expand our impacts to far more people. It allows us to do more with the funding we have. Funding is the glue that holds the in-kind resources together and ensures that in-kind resources are delivering value to the people of Haiti.
Please click here for UPG’s Calendar. You can check on upcoming Seeds events there.
Would you commit to 3+ hours per month? Take the Climate Active Pledge (options include Haiti-centric activities). We’ll talk about what your time investment could bring alive.
In-Kind Resources: UPG needs the nuts and bolts that keep us moving. Seeds, tools, vehicles, and land are urgently in need. Your in-kind donations can unlock amazing possibilities, because it allows us to focus our limited funding on getting aid where it is needed. Is your headache our solution? Just ask. WISHLIST COMING SOON.
Can you donate funding? Any amount helps. Recurring donations are especially appreciated, because they help us make long-range plans for deeper impacts. Click the Donate Now button, and write Haiti in special instructions.
With every decade, Haiti’s problems grow. The “Bandaid” aid being sent to Haiti is a major part of the problem: it prevents Haiti from developing a healthy economy because no business can compete with so much “free stuff”. They are being drowned (with kindest intentions), forgotten again, and with each disaster cycle it gets worse.
UPG does not participate in this approach.
UPG identifies the needs of Haitians at the Family and Village levels, and obtains the components that are essential for success. We provide them as directly as possible to families and the people of Haiti.
We are unlocking the human potential of those with the greatest need and the greatest motivations by providing what they need to survive and thrive through their own efforts.
These components have included: * Seeds for vegetable gardening or farming * Education (planting instructions and nutritional info for each plant in Kreyol)* Food for family gardeners’ start-up phase * Farm tools
Future components may include: * Spoken word/video education to reach more people * Gardener Kits (seeds, food, trowel) packed in a lidded 5 gallon bucket * UPG distribution & education teams in Haiti * UPG training programs in Miami and Haiti * Custom designed seed and aid packaging
With these components, each recipient family in Haiti can work for itself and help itself. With self-grown, vine ripened food comes better nutrition, health, quality of life, and increased economic capacity. If they grow more than they can eat, they can earn income or help others in their circle. With better health and more energy, parents can get more done… children grow up healthier… education (not free in Haiti) becomes possible…
With every family that can work its way into food security, the village and wider community gain another family that has shifted from a state of crisis into a community and economic asset. When enough families have achieved food security, the village will have enough food to raise all children on a healthy diet.
When enough families reach economic stability, they can pool their resources and hire a teacher. They can elect local leaders who will be accountable to the needs of the community, and establish rule of law locally.
With every village or neighborhood that is able to thrive, the region or town can too. Farmers, craftsmen and women, merchants and the trades can go into business. Higher levels of education become attainable, and a middle class can create itself.
As this process is activated in more areas of Haiti, and food security and rule of law are attained, whole regions could prosper. They will provide both motivation and model for families to activate their potential where they live.
By trickling up, one family and one village at a time, a national transformation might be achieved.
Help us provide Heirloom Vegetable Seeds so people in Haiti can feed their families!
We’re working to deliver our next (delayed) Seed Batch in collaboration with new partners, serving new areas of Haiti that we have never reached before.
This page will be updated soon with new links and info.
We do Corporate Events! Got Funding & Volunteers? Let’s DO this!
This is not comprehensive, so see the Calendar for all events.Read each event carefully to understand what is expected of you.
Ready to Walk The Walk? These are some of the roles we need to fill.Note age ranges. Children must be prepared to work diligently alongside adults.
SEED LEADERS (TRAINING & Commitment Required)This will prepare you to train and supervise small groups of Volunteers (usually 6- 10) at Seed Packaging Events. qualify you as a Seed Leader (see below).
You must attend Seed Leader Training (it is fairly simple, but requires great attention to detail).Then you will be “on call” when we have an event where we need Seed Leaders.Ages from 14-100.
VOLUNTEERS (Event Commitment Only)Sign up for a Packaging Event.Children are welcome, but they must be well behaved and prepared to work diligently alongside adults (doing repetitive stuff that might make them bored).Ages from 8-100.
LOGISTICS SPECIALISTS (TRAINING & Commitment Required)This will prepare you to manage bulk seeds, packaging, measuring, planning, staging, storage, selection, ordering, shipping… plus all SEED LEADER skills.You may be part of the Logistics Team at events, managing functions before, during and after packaging.
Logistics Training is all “On the Job”.Then you may be asked to commit to specific projects and roles.You’ll also “on call” when we have an event where we need Seed Leaders.Ages from 18-100.
CAMPUS CHAPTER LEADERS (Commitment Required)Student Leaders provide the backbone of our Campus Chapter. They organize events, recruit other students, provide mission-critical services, and serve as liaisons with the whole Campus Community. All Chapter Leaders serve as Seed Leaders, and take on other roles described here and much more. Commitment is substantial: at least 10 hours per week average.Ages from 18-70.
SEED COMMITTEE (Commitment Required)This group is guiding the growth of Seeds of Paradise, including Seeds for Haiti. If you have the skills and resources, and are willing to put in the time, let us know. There will be challenges. Expect to work in many roles. Expect to grow as a human being.Ages from 16-100.
FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT (Commitment Required)Help us take it to the next level. You will be contacting companies requesting donation of funding and supplies, seeds, etc. There may be grant-writing.Ages from 20-100.
Seeds for Haiti is part of the UPG Seeds of Paradise Program.
OVERVIEWWe are re-packaging bulk vegetable seeds in smaller sizes in Miami for distribution in SW Haiti (in the vicinity of Jacmel), where Hurricane Matthew has destroyed most crops. Distribution in Haiti is via trusted UPG Partners.
SEEDSThese vegetable seeds are Heirloom or Open Pollinated seeds (not GMO and not Hybrid), so the farmers can save their seeds and replant them. The types are vegetables requested by people in Haiti, customary foods. Each Seed Set includes at least 10 different types, a mix of greens, grains, beans and other veggies so Haitians can provide their families with a healthy, balanced diet. Seed Sets are in 2 sizes, with enough seeds so that either 20 or 100 people can feed themselves. By saving seeds after harvest, farmers can be self-sufficient thereafter.
A partner in Jacmel has food (soup concentrate) so that farmers can feed their families until their crops become a reliable food source.
S4H Batch #1: Seeds for ~26,000 people, 18,000+ individual packages (shipped to Haiti on 4/18/2018: see photo link).S4H Batch #2: Seeds for ~24,000 people 8,900+ individual packages (in production now).
PACKAGINGEach package includes: a mini-ziplock baggie, a label, and seeds.
The 2-sided label is very specific to the seed type and volume, with seed name, weight/count, # of people and families served, technical planting info, nutrition info and program. Kreyol is the dominant language (english is in a small font for aid workers). A big heart contains the message “From Miami” and “Haiti Strong” with a Haitian Flag. Illiteracy rates are often 70-80%, so these symbols are essential, saying “Miami loves Haiti, we care, and you have not been forgotten”.
The ziplock baggie is sized based on label size, seed volume, Volunteer effectiveness and cost. They are food-quality and 2mil thick for toughness, and long future service in Haiti for seed management and other uses.
Packaging and seed costs are substantial. We deeply appreciate the corporate sponsorship of Batch 1 and Batch 2. When they are sent to Haiti, and the materials are exhausted, we must have more funding to continue the program or it will cease.
It takes a village to accomplish our huge objectives. This page is still in development and being updated, so if your organization contributed and you don’t appear here, please let us know.
Community PartnersHandsOn MiamiMiami Dade College Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy (iCED) and Earth Ethics Institute (EEI)University of Florida Alpha Phi Omega Service Organization
Funding PartnersLexis/NexisIngersoll-Rand
Distribution PartnersSIDR (Shelters International Disaster Relief) Sow A SeedThird Wave VolunteersHaiti Resilience Systems / Global Resilience SystemsLift Non-Profit LogisticsAmeriJet Cargo
Project PartnersHandsOn MiamiMiami Dade CollegeChristofer Columbus High SchoolSt. Brendans High SchoolMiami Marlins
(More valued Partners coming soon!)
Below: Image of the UPG Shipping Labels for “Batch 1” buckets. There were 34 buckets of seeds in Batch 1, each containing seeds for an average of 766 people weighing 9.2kg.
