FRIENDS OF BELLE-RIVIERE INC

Programs

1. Community: fbr provides financial support to the community in the three critical areas of health, stability, and development.a. Clean water: fbr facilitated eight new wells within the b-r area to provide an alternative to drinking water from the river and to save the huge effort of carrying water to homes. Fbr has provided water filtration systems for 1,200 homes. Systems and wells are monitored, resupplied, and repaired by a team of five local water technicians.b. Electricity: few b-r residences have access to electricity. A fbr-financed solar array on the community center provides the only electricity available in a public space. The center facilitates all community activities requiring electricity, including a year-round, 30-station computer lab. Fbr has also provided over 10,000 individual solar lamps, which are sold at a discount to replace dangerous kerosene lamps and to provide lighting in private homes.c. Enterprise: fbr finances a private micro-lending initiative which was founded by a group of local women and successfully gives vendors and farmers access to short-term loans at rates considerably more reasonable than available through financial institutions. The same…

   $24,097 spent
   28% of program spending

2. 1. Construction/repair: infrastructure is key to building connection and encouraging progress both within belle-rivire (b-r) proper and with the greater community at large. The haitian government rarely addresses infrastructure needs of remote communities. The following are examples of how friends of belle-rivire, (fbr) has filled this gap:a. Road/bridge: roads are mostly bare soil and must be repaired due to constant erosion. Until recently, access to b-r required fording a river. The village became isolated during seasonal high-water events and hurricanes. After four years of planning, a 50-meter pedestrian bridge was completed in 2022 at a cost of $170,000.b. Public space: fbr has provided the financial support to construct, and in some cases purchase the land for, a community center, community market, community park, community store, and the reconstruction of the local national school following its destruction from a hurricane.c. Shelter: fbr has provided the financial support to replace a dozen houses deemed unrepairable due to deterioration or damage from natural causes. Recipients are chosen by local leaders based on need. The current cost of constructing a single,…

   $23,300 spent
   27% of program spending

3. 3. Education: education is key to providing youth with the motivation to stay in the community. It also provides adults with the ability to move beyond subsistence living. In addition to supporting the local national school, which typically lacks the resources available to private schools, fbr finances classes in digital education. Fbr also finances some of the only organized activities for youth in the community.a. Computer classes: year-round classes are provided in the computer lab at the community center. Twelve classes of approximately 35 adults have graduated since the lab was established in 2012. In 2018 classes were incorporated into the ministry of education curriculum for select students from five local schools.b. Youth activities: young women, particularly those who cannot complete their secondary education, learn homebuilding, hygiene, and child care skills, in year-round cooking & sewing classes. Men's and women's organized soccer teams represent b-r in competitions with teams from nearby communities. Interest in those teams has expanded to building teams at five area schools.c. School supplies: fbr enhances the national school's impact by providing additional…

   $19,495 spent
   23% of program spending

4. Local initiatives: projects in previous categories are typically planned and budgeted in advance. In an effort to grow independence, this category gives local b-r coordinators the freedom to judge and meet community needs as they arise.a. Transportation of goods and people: the great majority of the b-r community depends on animals or motorcycles for transportation. Fbr has provided a small truck which is used for countless community needs including health emergencies, funerals, busing groups of people to special events (such as beach outings for soccer teams). Users compensate a portion of the vehicle operating expenses depending on need and means.b. Spontaneous needs: fbr-provided finances, allows local coordinators the freedom to make immediate repairs (to roads, wells, etc.) as needed. These are needs which have a timely impact, cannot be anticipated or efficiently addressed by outsiders. Coordinators report the outcome of the projects and funds expended at the completion of each project.c. Emergency response: haiti is subject to frequent natural disasters. Using fbr-financed resources, local coordinators can respond to the aftermath of disasters including earthquakes,…

   $18,400 spent
   22% of program spending

5. Sea container shipments: fbr finances annual sea-container shipments that have been key to provide b-r with essential products such as solar lights, agricultural tools, and school supplies. These items are often either not available in haiti, or the human risks associated with trying to secure them in gang-controlled areas are overwhelming. Although shipments were cancelled in 2020 and 2022 due to political unrest, they will hopefully be restored in future years.

   $0 spent
   0% of program spending

The 5 programs described on its FY2022 Form 990-EZ. Program spending in total: $85,292.