REBUILD Globally is one of the unrecognized NGO’s involved in fighting poverty and environment protection in Haiti. They settled in the country shortly after the earthquake and with a low-budget and a high motivation, they’ve managed to get the best out of their resources. Through education and labor, they are working to change people future in a country where poor folks are doomed to live in misery. All you need to know about REBUILD Globally is in the following interview.
1 – What is REBUILD Globally about? Who are the founders and who are in charge of this organization?
At REBUILD globally our mission is to improve the quality of life for people Port-au-Prince by using techniques to promote education, gainful employment, agriculture and community development. Julie Colombino is our Founder and CEO. Sandra Fernandez is our Country Director and oversees all of the day-to-day activities at the REBUILD shop.
2 – Since when this organization is involved in the country? Was it difficult to settle here and why did you choose Haiti?
Julie founded REBUILD in March 2010. Setting up shop in Port-au-Prince has been challenging at times, but we have some great staff and our Haitian management team helped us a lot. We chose Haiti because the need for living wage employment is so great. Julie arrived here as a humanitarian relief worker 10 days after the earthquake and immediately saw that the situation in Haiti would take a long time to address. Whenever she asked Haitians what they needed the answer was always: “jobs.” That is how REBUILD was born.
3 – Where do you recruit your artisans? And how do you manage to collect abandoned tires? Why did you chose to produce only sandals? How many sandals did you sold for 2012?
We have worked closely with the community of Tabarre, especially the Women’s Group of Tabarre to find the artisans that we have employed. Tires are collected from the streets of Tabarre by our staff or we will sometimes trade tires for sandals from neighborhood locals. We chose to produce sandals because we also work with street boys and orphanages and it is a great product to have when so many children are barefoot. One day, we hope to expand to other products. In 2012, we sold over 2,000 pairs of sandals.
4 – REBUILD Globally teach management and business classes to their employees. How do you design the classes and how do you make sure they get the core of these lessons?
Our management classes are often taught by volunteers. Entrepreneurs and business professionals from the United States have wanted to come and share their techniques and skills with our artisans. These volunteers design the class to highlight a certain skill that they feel is important and create exercises and discussions around it. Previous classes have covered: creating a budget, microfinance, savings, non-discrimination, and interpersonal skills. Our classes are discussion based, so all of our artisans are involved and asking questions the whole way through. This ensures that they understand and internalize the message.
5 – What is REBUILD Globally Budget for 2013 and how does the organization plan to spend it?
We are quickly growing and for this year we are projecting our budget to be over $100,000. Most of our spending is on the salaries of the artisans. That is the most important: to make sure that we are able to keep as many people employed as possible. Also, our next biggest project is our school scholarships for the students in our Apprenticeship Program. We will spend most of our money for these two programs.
6 – What is your opinion on the environmental situation in Haiti? How do you think individual, private businesses and the government can improve it?
Unfortunately Haiti’s environment is in need of a dire help. For instance, trash and waste is not properly disposed of, much of it being burned. This releases harmful toxins into the air—affecting the entire population. The biggest things individuals and private businesses can do is try to cut back on their waste production. Many items can be reused in practical and beneficial ways. The government can create and enforce regulations on trash removal as well as create alternative avenues for Haitians to dispose of or recycle their waste.
7 – Do you measure if there are real improvements in the life of the people after they completed the business and English classes?
Yes, we measure the improvements with the classes. The artisans who do better in the classes become leaders in our shop. They have taken management positions. Also, some of our female artisans are able to help their children with English homework. They pass on what they have learned. Our artisans practice English in the shop, even when they are not in class. They really like English class! Thanks to the business classes they have learned how to save money and budget properly. This helps their whole family.
8 – How many people attended your classes so far?
We only have REBUILD Globally staff members attend the classes. We have had about 30 people in two classes: advanced English and beginning English. On Saturday, we have a Program for young adults 16-21 years old. We also teach them English, leadership class and life-skills class.
9 – Your organization is the BIG Award Winner 2012. Tell me more about it.
Yes, the BIG Award stands for Business, Innovation and Growth Award. It is for business leaders and entrepreneurs from central Florida. It is a $50,500 marketing prize for our organization. Julie and I both come from Orlando, so this award is right in our home town. We now have billboards, news articles and other marketing exposure that will help people to learn about us so we can sell the sandals! It is very exciting.
People can donate online at: http://www.rebuildglobally.org/support-our-work/give-online/
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