Here are where recent funds sent by VPI are being utilized:
Project #1
A small shop called MJ Designs was given funds for the purchase of two
new sewing machines. The shop is located in Mirebalais. The project was
evaluated and approved by Fonkoze also. Below is the write up on it.
M&J Design is seeking assistance to upgrade its business facility with the
purchase of two sewing machines in order to increase efficiency and meet
their order demand. Due to a lack of resources, the shop is forced to limit
orders. With these machines, the shop will be able to produce clothes more
quickly and deliver product to the market in less time. Thus, the shop will
increase its revenues and profits.
M & J Fashion Design was created in 2008 by Menahem Janvier, an accountant
by training, who had developed a passion for clothing design.
He created the shop to sell his products and also provide employment for
young people. M & J Fashion Design supports the local youth organization
that was created by the owner, Red Star. Red Star began as a church youth
group then became a model group. The shop is the official designer for the
group and the members of Red Star are the official models for the shop.
Project #2
This project will allow Eden Bon Gout to build a second mixing tank to
double its production of frozen treats. Eden Bon Gout manufactures “Sa pi
bon”, a locally-made ice pop prepared with artificial fruit flavors. It is
very popular among children and is the least expensive frozen treat
available in the area. While ice pops are traditionally a homemade treat
that is sold in the streets by vendors who produce it at their own homes,
Eden Bon Gout is one of the few businesses that mass-produce the frozen
treat and prepare it under strict hygienic conditions. However, with only
one mixing tank, they are not able to manufacture enough product to satisfy
market demand. With the anticipated success of the revived business, the
owner plans to hire 3 more people to meet production goals.
The owner of Eden Bon Gout, Fritz Jean Archer, used to buy ice pops on a
daily basis for his children. However, he did not like the quality of the
product he was buying. Ice pops are usually made in homes, where of course
there is no government institution to regulate food production. On many
occasions Fritz was used to finding dirt in the ice pops that he was buying
for his children. He saw a market opportunity in the mass- production of
ice pops prepared under good hygienic conditions. He saved money from his
restaurant to create Eden Bon Gout in 1998 and purchased a water filtration
system to ensure that the water used to make Eden Bon Gout¹s ice pops is
sanitary. Since 1998, Eden Bon Gout has been the main source of income for
the owner and his family.
Before the January 12th earthquake, business was very good and there were
plans in place to build a second mixing tank to increase production and
profits. Although Eden Bon Gout¹s business facility was not physically
affected by the earthquake, they were forced to shut down because of the
lack of customers. Additionally, the owner had to leave the country with his
family to receive to medical care abroad.
Since his return in late April, business has restarted slowly as schools
have been reopened. The vendors of ice pops are not only selling in front of
schools, they target also the tent cities where because of the heat the kids
tend to consume more cold drinks.
Project #3
This project is regarding a man named Johnson. He worked for MAF several years as our accountant. He is a man of high character who understands customer service. He left MAF to finish school but
was almost killed when the building at school collapsed during the
earthquake.
He was able to find a job at a local security company as an accountant. In
the evening he would see the neighborhood kids hanging around with nothing
to do and a lot of his friends would come over to use his internet
connection. He saw this as an opportunity to offer a service to the
community and started a small cyber café. He made sure he started small,
had good customer service and did not get greedy. Over time the money he
saved from working at the security company, was put into his cyber café he
started at his house. He purchased a game console and would let the kids in
the neighborhood play games while their brother or other family would be
using the computers in his cyber café.
A few weeks ago he was over talking and mentioned he was saving money to get
a good inverter and two batteries. He was not asking for money but just
telling me what he was doing in his business. I decided to “loan” him
some funds. He has come up with a payment plan also. All of these pictures are what he did on his own! With
his own money that he had saved over several months. I was really moved to
see him doing so well.
Part of the VPI funds was used to purchase the inverter (mounted on wall above the batteries), two of the
batteries in the picture, and help with repair of the yellow generator.
God Bless,
Will
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