Founders James and Gale Hull Founded 1990 | Area served Haiti and Guatemala | |
Type Non-governmental organization Focus The extreme poor attain independence and whole life improvement. Location Ipswich, MA, US (Office in USA); Blanchard, HT (Clinic in Haiti); San Bernardino, Suchitepéquez, Guatemala (Clinic in Guatemala) Method Transformation through a variety of programs to achieve community transformation in places where hope is often lost in the cycle of poverty. Profiles | ||
Partners in development inc guatemala
Partners In Development (PID), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to alleviate poverty in Haiti and Guatemala. Through child sponsorships, microfinance loans, housing opportunities and medical care PID aims to transform communities so they can be self-sufficient. PID has served over 20,000 people in Haiti and Guatemala who are determined to break the cycle of poverty for their families.
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Background
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Partners In Development has been gaining support in both the United States and the countries in which PID runs its programs since it was founded in 1990. PID began its work in Haiti and used the same model to expand to Guatemala in 2005. PID operates with a small staff in the United States, Haiti, and Guatemala. Our Board of Directors in the United States meets quarterly to review financial information, track progress of the programs, and identify strengths and weaknesses of our work. PID’s President, Gale Hull, travels to Haiti and Guatemala on a regular basis to meet with PID's Field Directors in each country and also to meet with program participants to learn first hand about how needs are being met. The key staff members of PID also keep blogs about their work at home and abroad, which can be seen here. PID also hosts dozens of group trips group trips with hundreds of people from the United States to Guatemala and Haiti each year. The trip attendees work in our programs, meet the people they are helping and learn more about life in developing countries. PID also has a huge volunteer staff that organizes fund raisers, assists us with mailings, does administrative work and spreads the word about PID’s mission.
Programs
PID’s focus on whole life improvement has fostered the creation of programs so extremely poor families become independent: parents can have an income so they can provide for their families; children attend school and become educated adults; families eat regular meals resulting in healthier, more-productive communities; access to medical care; and housing so families can have a decent place to live.
Child Sponsorship: PID’s approach to child sponsorships is unique. Since every child is different, sponsorships are based on the individual needs of each child providing schooling, nutritional supplements, food, shoes, medical care and medicine as needed. Sponsors are assigned a child, either in Haiti or Guatemala. A biography of the child is sent to you describing exactly how your sponsorship will help them. PID field workers will make regular visits to assess your child’s progress and to monitor general family concerns. $25 a month supports sponsors a child with Partners In Development.
Medical Care: PID believes that a healthy community is a productive one. The basis of PID’s medical program is to provide primary health care to the communities in which PID serves. PID focuses on preventive techniques (regular physicals and eye exams, vitamins, oral hygiene, tracking proper growth in children, nutritional therapy, health education, etc.). Partners In Development runs a medical clinic in both Haiti and Guatemala.
Microcredit Loans: PID supports entrepreneurs who have no credit history or collateral to qualify for a loan with a bank. PID has provided over 450 loans in Haiti since inception. PID's microcredit loan program began in Guatemala in 2006 and has since provided over 25 loans. Loans range from $25 to $100 for a six-month term. PID has had remarkable success with this program and has an overall default rate under five percent. Loan recipients are so grateful for the opportunity to have their own businesses and for the chance to provide for their families, they are fiercely determined to succeed as business owners.
Housing: The housing program takes families living in squalor conditions and builds them a home with the help of PID mission teams. The homes are modest two-room cement dwellings and families have a zero-interest mortgage rate. A home in Haiti and Guatemala can be built with Partners In Development for $3000.
Group Trips: PID's group trip program offers dozens of group trips to Guatemala and Haiti each year. In addition to experiencing the local culture, participants have the opportunity to build homes, work in our medical clinics and run children's programs. No experience needed. PID is also currently in need of those looking to participate in emergency relief/recovery trips to Haiti. Preferably, PID is looking for medical professionals and/or those with construction/re-building experience.
PID/Jou Nouvo: As of April 2009, PID has teamed up with a new group in Haiti called Jou Nouvo, forming a partnership to respond to the needs of the poor in another area of Haiti—Bon-Repos. The new program, called "PID/Jou Nouvo" is working with the community to provide access to medical care, loans for small businesses, literacy programs for adults, and sponsorship programs for children so they may have the opportunity to attend school.
Earthquake relief efforts
Since January 12, when the 7.0 earthquake struck just outside PID's headquarters in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, PID has undertaken an extensive, long-term relief effort in Haiti. Following the devastating event, there was an incredible outpouring of support for PID’s relief efforts. President of Partners In Development, Gale Hull, along with an assessment team arrived in Haiti twelve days after the disaster and have since worked to help the people of Haiti in the surrounding villages.