La Gonave Haiti Partnership

The La Gonave Haiti Partnership is a community development project between the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and various U.S. partners, including Episcopal, Anglican, and Presbyterian churches; local Rotary chapters and Rotary International; non-profit organizations; foundations; and private individuals. The Partnership was formed in 1989 to serve the island of La Gonave, which is an often-treacherous two-hour boat ride from the mainland. The island has a population of 100,000 and is impoverished, even by Haitian standards. Project areas include education, healthcare, nutrition, agriculture, water, and economic opportunity. The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta is a key supporter and funder of these projects and is Global Health Action's primary point of contact with the Partnership.

Over the years, GHA has provided training for dozens of community health workers and traditional birth attendants, as well as medical staff working out of the Bill Rice Community Health Center. GHA continues to supply technical and training support to the La Gonave Goat Project, which began in 2002 under GHA's guidance and has trained and provided goats to more than 300 farmers.

GHA staff oversaw the construction of a Goat Park in the community of Nouvelle Cite and provided the initial training, support, and supervision for the Project Coordinator and other staff. GHA's Senior Goat Project Coordinator Franck Touissant, based in Darbonne, makes regular visits to the island to provide technical assistance and support. Global Health Action is also responsible for some of the project's administration and accounting oversight.