Fondation Espoir is a humanitarian foundation based in Haiti that has promoted sustainable development for over fifteen years. Foundation Hope for Haiti is the American based 501(c)(3) development arm of Fondation Espoir, created to support projects in Haiti through fundraising, awareness and nurturing of long-term relationships with national and international friends of Haiti.

History

Founded in 1986 by Drs. Jon Robertson, Florence Bellande Robertson and Mr. Jean Robert Bellande, Fondation Espoir (FE) began as a Facts of Faith Christian Fellowship mission project that sponsored health and education projects in Haiti. Once officially recognized by the Haitian government in 1995, Fondation Espoir started managing its own projects and programs and over the years, developed a methodology called Harmonious Development that promotes a holistic capacity-building approach to sustainable development by investing in the betterment of local human resources, their organizations and communities. This process entails the training of association Leaders, the facilitation of networking opportunities as well as the use of social communication media to encourage a collective change in mentality. These activities are reinforced through Project Centers, based in Port-au-Prince and several provinces, which provide technical assistance to local organizations and also serve as supportive entrepreneurial environments for the community. The foundation also has two affiliated centers, Athletic d’Haiti, a football and schooling program in Cité Soleil, and Ikashi, an Aikido Dojo, promoting Conflict Management and Peace Building in Pétion-Ville. 

From its inception, Fondation Espoir partnered with local and international organizations working to promote health and education among marginalized communities. Over the years it has contributed to Grace Children's Hospital sponsoring operations for abandoned /HIV positive children, worked with Healing Hands for Haiti and Dr. Barth Green/ Project Medishare to create the Sonia B. Green Center, a housing facility for people living with disabilities who come from the provinces to Port-au-Prince to get physical therapy and prosthesis operations as well as provided support to orphaned children at the Village of Vision for Haiti/ Fondation Enfant Jesus. Simultaneously, the foundation has been active in education through various university and trade school scholarships, First Aid seminars, technical and financial assistance to the elementary schools Ecole Immaculee Conception in Thomassin, and Teachers Training at the St. George de Fleurenceau School in St. Marc.

As Fondation Espoir grew, so did the need for financial support and awareness, therefore, in 2002, Foundation Hope for Haiti (FHH) was created in the United States as the 501(c)(3) development arm of Fondation Espoir.  Eager to reinforce the work being done in the field, Foundation Hope for Haiti spearheaded fundraising efforts in the United States and began nurturing relationships with national and international friends of Haiti. During this period, in Haiti, Fondation Espoir also steadily developed itself as a grant writing institution, continuously presenting projects to different donors to pursue its mission. Among the activities funded were the “Intergenerational Exchange between Girls and Positive Female Role Models”, financed by the United Nations (UNOPS) as well as the multifaceted projects funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) which include: “Vision and Agenda for Youth”, “Reinforcing Community Associations”, the “Champions Program”, “Reinforcing Project Centers” and “Engaging Youth in Community Development”. The foundation also worked with the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and the Organization of American States (OAS) proposing an “e-Government Development Strategy “ and the “Computers for Schools” program and organized “Training for Young Candidates”, financed by the International Republican Institute, (IRI) where several of the participants were elected to public office as Senators, House Representatives and Mayors.

Thanks to a European Union (EU) grant, Fondation Espoir has collaborated with organizations such as the Haitian Environment Foundation (FHE) holding National Forums and Workshops on Energy and Water Strategic plans, and with CHF International on communication programs, hosting the show, Jeune Ayiti on national radio, addressing leadership, health and self-improvement issues for Haitian youth. Its social communication efforts have also included the production of a Leadership Training video and 2 short films “Accepting Being Haitian” and “Fyev Wouj”, (Red Fever) a thriller that addresses the impact of not protecting nature and the environment. The participants, who were selected from the foundation's national Jeune Ayiti network of more than 900 young leaders, were presented with the challenge of contributing to the writing of the film scenarios as well as acting, in just a week’s time at a retreat in the National Reserve Forest of Seguin.

For the year 2009-2010, Fondation Espoir was working on integrating its different projects through the creation of a comprehensive program, called “Technology for Sustainable Development”, which included the development of a curriculum for training technicians in sustainable development, the promotion of its “Computers for Schools” program through the installation of recycled computers in schools and the development of Information Technology and Leadership classes in secondary schools. The foundation was actively looking for funds to promote this new program when Haiti was hit by the historic earthquake of January 12th, 2010. 

After the Earthquake

Although still under the shock of massive devastation and loss, several young leaders of the Fondation Espoir / Jeune Ayiti network reacted immediately to participate in rescue efforts, saving the lives of numerous people who were blocked under the rubble and also participating in the disposal of bodies in mass graves. One group in particular, the National Federation of Youth for Development, (FNJD) a federation of young professionals that have been receiving support and technical assistance from Fondation Espoir for years, particularly distinguished itself and moved from rescue efforts into the organization of refugee camps, now numbering forty-eight. Working in several severely affected areas, the FNJD provide full management of camp resources, security and health issues, all through an integrated and replicable system, and continuous help from Fondation Espoir, as it modifies its actions to address Haiti’s current reality. 

Fondation Espoir and FNJD rapidly designed a new program dubbed “Rebuild Haitian Families and Communities”. The program has the objective of moving the camp populations to new settlements on new land where they will participate in the construction of villages, with schools, health centers, markets, community centers, workshops and houses. The idea is to propose a decentralized system, where the camp people will participate in the construction of their own homes all the while learning a new trade. The foundation is forming partnerships with various Haitian and International organizations to build “Villages of Hope”, which offer a comprehensive solution to the displaced populations, including the identification of appropriate land, the use of both prefabricated homes as well as manufacturing of local and adapted building materials, the training of construction workers and the creation, construction and management of the new communities. An SMS hotline has been set up for the camps, and currently the foundation is also establishing Wi-Fi networks for camps, schools, hospitals and community centers around the country with several partners in the technology field such as Multilik and Haiti Connect.

Fondation Espoir and Fondation Hope for Haiti’s philosophy concerning the post-seismic response is to convert the catastrophe into an opportunity to rethink Haiti, its excessive centralization and its obsolete administrative structures. Being a mountainous country and a very community oriented people, it is well understood that the villages can be a sustainable model, however it is also important to think about giving access to health, education and other services in the remote areas, moreover to create facilities to support job creation and investment through special venture funds and small business start-ups through micro-loans in the technology, construction and production sectors.  

Fondation Espoir is also co-sponsoring a document called “The Reconstruction Charter”, initiated by Haitians from the Diaspora that are eager to contribute to the moral reconstruction of the Haitian people in Haiti by making sure that no one is left behind in the process. This document will serve as a base of discussion to initiate a series of seminars and workshops in the camps and around the country to discuss the vision of the reconstruction process at the real level, which is with the Haitian people, in order to channel their aspirations and engage them in a capacity-building process.

Once again, Haitians have shown the world that they are resilient, and the global community, which has displayed remarkable generosity and solidarity, must now give Haiti a chance to help itself and regain its dignity through a participatory process in the countries construction efforts. 

Like the mythical Phoenix that rises from her own ashes, Haiti must move forward. Fondation Espoir invite's Haitians and the friends of Haiti world-wide to join in this "rebirth" by volunteering technical assistance and or by financing projects through donations made to Foundation Hope for Haiti.

Join us as we create hope for Haiti by building tomorrow’s communities today!

Hans Tippenhauer, the President of Foundation Espoir/ Jeune Ayiti, and a coordinator of the Latin America and Caribbean Network for Democracy, is a Social Entrepreneur that has been working in the Business and Development sectors for more than 17 years, first as the coordinator and creator of the Industrial Engineering Dept at Quisqueya University and later as a Director, consultant and on the boards of several organizations in the private sector (Group Bigio SA, Group Croissance SA, PromoCapital SA, Bati Ayiti SA) the non-profit sector (Manufacturers Association of Haiti - ADIH, Haitian Environment Foundation, Foundation Espoir) and public sector (Presidential Committee for Youth Integration, Telecommunications of Haiti SAM). He is also a speaker and Trainer on several Governance, Leadership and Democracy building issues, and has been an adviser to several political groups, a leader of the Civil Society Movement for Democracy, Group 184, and a radio and TV show producer and host. He is an Industrial Engineer by training with a specialization in Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement. 

Nadège Bellande Robertson, Vice-President of Development for Foundation Hope for Haiti, is the former Executive Director of Fondation Espoir and has spent over 15 years in Haiti engaged in teaching, communications and promotion of the arts as a vehicle for personal and community development. In addition to producing and hosting radio shows and regular appearances on TV, Ms. Robertson has been active in the artistic and cultural domain as the Director of Accords, a program that donates instruments and brings world class artists to Haiti who give benefit concerts and work with local musicians offering master classes and workshops, and as co- founder of Irie Lotus Center for the Arts. Ms Robertson is a singer/song writer who performs both as a soloist and with her band N’Didgenous. Her academic background is in Political Science, Gender Studies and Creative Writing. 

Dear Family and Friends, January 28, 2010

Thank you for all your expressions of concern and support. Your collective goodwill radiates at multiple levels and imbues those of us here in Haiti with energy and courage. The first days after the earthquake, I was able to move around on motorcycle or on foot, help distribute water, administer basic First Aid and assess the state of things in person. Sporadic telephone and Internet access permitted me to let people know that the children, my mother and I were fine (Hans was not in the country) as well as give reports to Dr. Kevin Ross, the extremely concerned President of Lynn University, regarding the rescue efforts happening at the Montana Hotel. I was supposed to be at the Montana around 4:30pm the afternoon of the earthquake to greet Dr. Patrick Hartwick, Richard Bruno and a dozen eager college students from Lynn, just in from Florida, who came to volunteer for Food for the Poor. I never made it and am still in a state of shock at the horrific turn of events and the loss of so many lives. I pray without ceasing for all of those struck by this tragedy.

Today, a little more than two weeks after the quake, the aftershocks are still occurring. The dust from collapsed buildings creates a smog-like haze above what was once a city and the stench of forgotten bodies permeates the air. Makeshift tents of tarp and plastic have sprouted in the streets like wild mushroom and while most Haitians are displaying solidarity and resilience, security is an issue, particularly at night, as groups of armed bandits roam the streets, brandishing knives and firing stolen weapons. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, inevitably, life goes on and those left living have no choice but to keep on keeping on… certainly, that is one of the things Haitians do best.

The images of Haiti have opened the hearts of the world and many of you have asked how you can help.

As most of you know, Hans is the Executive Director of Fondation Espoir, a Haitian nonprofit, officially recognized in 1995 ( http://www.fondationespoir.org ). Thanks to private contributions, national and international grants and the unwavering support of our Florida based sister organization, Foundation Hope for Haiti (http://www.foundationhopeforhaiti.org ), Fondation Espoir has been active for years in Port-au-Prince and more importantly, the provinces, working in education, leadership training and social entrepreneurship.

In the immediate and short term, Fondation Espoir is addressing the urgent needs of orphaned children. Your donations will go to purchase food, clothing and medication for the children of Village of Vision for Haiti/ Fondation Enfant Jesus (http://www.vvhf.org). We have collaborated with the founders of VVH for years and can attest to their efficacy and credibility.

Gearing up for the mid and long term challenge of rebuilding the country, decentralization, education and sustainability must be at the heart of any national reconstruction plan. It will take a village; lots of villages to raise all the children orphaned by the earthquake. Fondation Espoir will partner with local and international organizations to plan and develop professional secondary schools that also serve as coordination and development centers, able to address community needs.

As time passes and media interest wanes, the world will go back to business as usual, but I hope you will keep the people of Haiti in mind. Please visit (http://www.foundationhopeforhaiti.org ) and use Pay-PaI to make a donation. I will keep you updated on our activities as we join together with other Haitians and the international community to rebuild a more equitable and just nation.

On behalf of Fondation Espoir, Foundation Hope for Haiti and the millions of Haitians touched by your kindness, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Blessings and Gratitude.

Nadège Bellande Robertson

Haiti is a stunned, slowly awakening corps trying to face the surreal aftermath of the devastating earthquake that leveled many parts of Port-au-Prince and other regions the afternoon of January 12th.  The death toll is mounting alarmingly. Some of us have been more fortunate than others where both human lives and material possessions are concerned.  The country is in whaling, prayers and disbelief!   FHH would like to – once again- to count on your generosity to help us join the many organizations and individuals attempting to bring help and relief to a devastated, desperate nation. In Haiti, we will be mainly working through our sister-foundation: Fondation Espoir, with its extensive regional network. Please, send your checks to us at: Foundation Hope for Haiti,[a 501-c3 organization] P.O. Box 212673, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33421 or go to our Website where you can go to “Donate”: Above all, we need action and your continuous prayers! Remember, “..the generosity of a few is the HOPE of many” Thank you for  your generosity! Florence Bellande Robertson, President: FHH January 13, 2010 561)702-3758….212-4175 About Us Foundation Hope for Haiti is a non-profit 501(c) 3 humanitarian organization, whose mission is to give financial and technical support to Haitian-based non-profit organizations working in the sectors of community development, education and health. FHH’s goal is to serve as a bridge between countries, permitting Haitians and the friends of Haiti around the world to participate in creating hope for all Haitians.

Read a message from our founder, Dr. Florence Bellande Robertson Project Directors, Please click here to download our Grant Application