The Green Family Foundation would like to introduce you to Ayiti Foto Konbit. The organization's social photography workshops teach young people in Haiti to take photographs of their communities in their surroundings. Foto Konbit partners with professional photographers in the U.S. and internationally and with grassroots organizations in Haiti to train 10-15 participants in the art of photography. The contact sheets were produced at Florida International University's University Park Campus.

A photo exhibition of the students' work was exhibit at Florida International University's Graham Center in November, before traveling to New Jersey City University. The Green Family Foundation attended the exhibit's closing engagement. To view some of the photos taken in Port au Prince and included in the exhibit, click here.

CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO SEE IT LARGER.

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The Cholera outbreak in Haiti that's been reported extensively in the media, is the nation's first in more than 100 years.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), two conditions need to be present in order for a cholera outbreak to occur. They are: (1) there must be significant breaches in the water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure used by groups of people, permitting large-scale exposure to food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae organisms; and (2) cholera must be present in the population.

While it is unclear how cholera was re-introduced to Haiti, both of these conditions now exist. The first condition has existed in Haiti for many years. Most anyone who has traveled there is aware of the threat of waterborne illnesses on visitors and residents alike. Staff of the Green Family Foundation have witnessed firsthand what freestanding water coupled with inefficient (or nonexistent) sanitation looks like. In Carrefour, just past the evermore undriveable Chavez Road, there is a "river of trash" in which we see residents wading and rummaging for items. It is clearly not something safe to do. It happens, though. And watching the people of Haiti go through this is not easy to see.

Our friends, Partners in Health are on the ground in Haiti and continuing their health work despite the cholera outbreak. Some of their work now is concentrated on protecting citizens with weakened immune systems from the outbreak. As of this writing they report none of the Haitian patients in their care have been fallen ill from cholera.

The Green Family Foundation recommends checking the Partners in Health website and the CDC website for current information about Haiti's cholera situation.

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On October 7, 2010 Fairwinds Trading, BrandAid Haiti, Macy's and other partners held the launch of Macy's Heart of Haiti collection at the Dadeland store. The Heart of Haiti program began in June, 2010 when the William J. Clinton Foundation sent out a call for private firms to help rekindle the Haitian artisan economy.

Working extraordinarily quickly, Fairwinds Trading, with their partners BrandAid, and the amazing artisans of Haiti were able to design, develop, produce and bring to market approximately 20,000 hand-crafted Haitian items within 100 days. This project provided immediate employment for 235 artisans and has generated income for packers, suppliers, and shippers, and significantly improving the lives of 2,100 individuals.

The opening celebration featured a panel discussion with three of the primary artists who were chosen for the Heart of Haiti project: Metal artist Serge Jolimeau, Papier mache artist Pascuale, and master artisan Pierre Satyr. City of North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre moderated the event, which featured speakers such as Willa Shalit, founder and CEO of Fairwinds Trading and our own Kimberly Green, president of the Green Family Foundation. To hear Kimberly Green's speech, visit our YouTube channel.

Fairwinds' Shallit says, "Heart of Haiti follows the Fairwinds model of connecting cultures through business, art and understanding.  Americans can now have a piece of the brilliant culture of Haiti in their own homes, and the Haitian artists are connecting to the marketplace, resulting in prosperity and hope."

FastForward Haiti, a content partner of the Green Family Foundation, provided multimedia and videos for the event which was well-attended and featured folkloric dancers (see a performance), Haitian drummers and singers, and Haitian foods.

CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO SEE IT LARGER AND READ CAPTIONS

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The University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine recently unveiled a plaque  to honor of the contributions made to the school by the Green Family Foundation. The installation is located just outside the elevators on the second floor of the Batchelor Children's Research Institute building of the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

With help from the three-year grant from Green Family Foundation, the school has made significant strides in conducting research on pediatric infectious diseases, immunology and international health issues. Just last week the Miller School pediatric researchers concluded a study that found that children with HIV can reap great benefits from participating in a structured exercise program. Read about that here.

The Green Family Foundation is honored to have the dedicated plaque and is proud of the accomplishments of the University of Miami School of Medicine.

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