BPW Haïti: Growing Despite Adversity, First Report  (Click here)

BPW members worldwide all rallied to support our sisters in Haiti in the devastating aftermath of the Earthquake there on January 12^th, 2010.

Many, many thanks to all our members who so generously donated and also to the many clubs and federations who had fundraisers to collect the donations. We have been lucky to get some photos of these donations and I am sure there are more. Please do send them to us for the website. BPW International raised almost $15,000 dollars and there are still more fundraisers continuing.  The biggest donation came from BPW Cyprus who raised $7,700 USD!

President Liz Benham and Gabriella Canonica, 1st Vice President are receiving the check from the President of  BPW Cyprus Alexandra Galanou.

Others included BPW Nigeria, BPW Moncton Canada, BPW Fidapa, BPW Zurich and all the many individuals.

President Liz Benham is receiving the check from the President of BPW Nigeria, Tinuade A. Ihama.

BPW Haiti is very grateful for this financial help and they have begun a project for women and girls in the settlement camps which are rife with violence. They will keep us updated on their progress.

Liz Benham  -  International  President

Project title

• Psychosocial assistance and rehabilitation of young girls and women living in the camps and other sites.

• Duration: 18 months and possibility of extension if necessary, after evaluation.

Objectives

• To contribute to the reduction of violence against women specially those living in the camps.
• To promote mental and physical equilibrate of victims of the earthquake, mainly women and contribute to their psychosocial rehabilitation.
• To contribute to the control of the population and the rate of prevalence of SIDA (AIDS) and other sickness sexually transmissible.
• To contribute to the reduction of poverty among vulnerable groups.
• To promote education and professional training of women and their future integration into the labor sector.
• To contribute to the welfare of the Haitian family in general

Gift from BPW Zurich, Switzerland

Upon the call of BPW International to make donations in favour of our BPW sisters in Haiti, the board of BPW Club Zurich , Switzerland, decided to collect money from our members at the candlelight dinner on 3 February 2010. Our members gave CHF 875 which we increased by using funds of our club so that EUR 650 could be transferred to BPW International for BPW Haiti.

We wish our BPW sisters in Haiti the typical women's power to re-establish their private and professional live and to regain their courage.
Warm regards

Bettina Rudin
Immediate past president BPW Club Zürich

News from President a.i BPW Haiti

Dear Mrs Benham,

Thanks for your friendly and supportive message addressed to all presidents and associates clubs informing them about the catastrophic earthquake, which unfortunately had devastated our beloved country. We are grateful for your prayers and support. As you mentioned, we want to do our best to support the unfortunate victims of the natural disaster.

As you already know we have lost one of founding members, Nicole Desbrosse who, since 1968, has played a great role to promote our club in Haiti.

Thanks once more, sincerely yours,

Marie Carmelle Lafontant President a.i. BPW Haiti

UN Seeking Support from Donors to Scale up Cash-for-work Initiative in Haiti

New York, Feb  4 2010

The United Nations is seeking to scale up its cash-for-work programme that is enabling Haitians to earn an income as they help their country recover from last month’s devastating earthquake. The world body is calling on donors to help fund the vital initiative.
“The goal of the next few days is to ramp up the coverage, depending on the generosity of donors,” Jordan Ryan, Assistant Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told a news conference. UNDP coordinates the cash-for-work programme, identified as one of the priority activities in the early recovery agenda following the 12 January quake that is estimated to have affected one third of the 9 million citizens of Haiti, already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Transmitted by BPW News Coordinator.

Member News from BPW Haiti

January 26, 2010
Thank you for your support. So far we have lost one of our members Nicole Debrosse. I talked to some of the others. They are ok. 3 of us, Claudette Allen, Odette Fombrun and I have lost almost everything.

I will keep you informed.

Marie Andrée Etienne, Past President BPW Haiti

News from President a.i BPW Haiti

February, 1st
Dear Mrs Benham,

Thanks for your friendly and supportive message addressed to all presidents and associates clubs informing them about the catastrophic earthquake which unfortunately had devastated our beloved country. We are grateful for your prayers and support. As you mentioned, we want to do our best to support the unfortunate victims of the natural disaster. As you have already knew we have lost one of founding members, Nicole Desbrosse who, since 1968, has played a great role to promote our club in Haiti.
Thanks once more, Sincerely yours,

Marie Carmelle Lafontant President a.i. BPW Haiti

News from BPW Haiti

January 26, 2010
Thank you for your support. So far we have lost one of our members Nicole Debrosse. I talked to some of the others. They are ok. 3 of us, Claudette Allen, Odette Fombrun and I have lost almost everything.

I will keep you informed.

Marie Andrée Etienne
Past President BPW Haiti

Haiti, House of Marie Andrée Etienne Past President BPW Haiti

Dear BPW Members,

As you are aware there has been a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti with very much devastation. It is a terrible tragedy and we have sent communications to our members there but have not heard any news back so far. We will keep you advised on this.

BPW International is always very concerned about the wellbeing of our members in these cases of disaster and so we have put in place a process for our affiliates and members worldwide to provide financial support to the affected club.

I can therefore direct you to the menu box on the right side of this homepage : "Haiti - You can help!" where you will be able through PayPal to make a donation for the cause if you choose to do so.

The collected, designated funds for Haiti will be distributed to the BPW Club directly from BPW International in a timely manner.
Let us keep our sisters in Haiti in our prayers and hope that they are spared from the terrible devastation.
With Kind Regards

Liz Benham
International President 2008-2011

News received from BPW Haiti, Past President Marie Andrée Etienne

In english

We were with a Puerto Rican journalist under batching slabs. I saw the desctruction,  I saw death.
I praid , praid the whole duration of the convulsion.
I send this email; affraid  that the internet service is stopped.

Looking for news from family and friends in Haïti ?

The International Red Cross has set up an internet site for all those looking for news from family and friends in Haïti

It could be useful also for our friends and members of BPW Port au Prince

Amélie Leclercq
Regional Coordinator BPW Europe 2008-2011