Centuries of French colonization heavily impacted Haiti’s economy and human development, making it the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere. Political unrest and natural disasters continue contributing to negative economic growth and discouraging foreign investment. However, in 2024, Hope for Haitians started a baking project in Haiti with Au Bon Pain de Ton-Ro/Boulangerie et Pâtisserie, a for-profit bakery in Trou du Nord, Haiti.

This initiative, supported by the HELP Foundation and Village Leadership Councils (VLC), helps people in seven rural villages acquire jobs, providing job security while creating self-reliance in both the economy and food sources. This initiative can have a significant impact, as unemployment in Haiti affects about 15% of the population, nearly three times the global average.

Sustainable Partnership

Hope for Haitians and Au Bon Pain de Ton-Ro have similar goals, with Hope for Haitians respecting Au Bon Pain de Ton-Ro’s position as a locally owned business. Hope for Haitians provides the necessary funding to improve the bakery’s facilities, buy equipment and provide vocational training, ensuring the future success of this baking initiative in Haiti.

The bakery provides at least two jobs in each village, baking food for Hope for Haitians-VLC to sell and training employees to continue developing their skills. The main focus is long-term economic growth, which is accomplished through building job skills to keep the bakery operating while ensuring the success remains within the local economy.

Empowering Communities

This baking in Haiti project offers workers leadership roles and economic opportunities, fostering a sense of empowerment for people who struggle with poverty. Although Hope for Haitians-VLC provides operational and managerial support, each village has complete control over selling the bakery’s goods, helping workers earn locally.

The project uses a revenue-sharing system to support sellers and to give back to each community. Local sellers earn 5% of the sales; another 5% goes to schools, health care or public services. The project also creates jobs beyond the bakery, with workers receiving vocational training to acquire skills to participate in other business ventures.

This allows the workers to improve their baking skills while creating future opportunities in Haiti’s growing food industry. Infrastructure upgrades such as new ovens, milling equipment and distribution vehicles ensure the continued success of this initiative.

Overcoming Challenges

All parties involved understand that large projects come with risks and Hope for Haitians has pledged to use its resources to support the villages’ ongoing economic development. The organizations have implemented measures to ensure bakeries operate safely and efficiently, addressing challenges as they arise.

For example, if a village faces distribution issues, the bakery and Hope for Haitians-VLC work together locally to identify and resolve the problem, preventing it from affecting the broader operation. Additionally, contingency plans are in place for potential shutdowns or unexpected disruptions. This thoughtful approach reflects Hope for Haitians’s dedication to the community’s long-term success.

The Future

The bakery represents progress and hope for the future, showing how people living in poverty can become successful if given the right opportunities and support. Hope for Haitians is promoting a future founded on long-term growth by funding local companies rather than managing from outside.

As the project grows, its impact reaches beyond baking and distributing bread. It demonstrates how companies and nonprofits can work together to strengthen impoverished communities and help them escape poverty. The initiative allows Haiti’s rural areas to become more self-sufficient by focusing on local leadership and building community relationships.

– Rafe Photopoulos

Rafe is based in Gainesville, FL, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels