Kanpé, which means “standing up” in Haitian creole, is a foundation that brings support to vulnerable communities in Haiti by identifying the most urgent needs and helping locals achieve autonomy. Together with the community and local partners, the organization ensures the most crucial initiatives get full support.

Kanpé’s Work in Baille Tourible

Kanpé supports the community of Baille Tourible in the remote highlands of Haiti’s Central Plateau. The area is known for its mountainous terrain and geographic isolation, and it is home to an underserved and vulnerable community made up of 98% of subsistence farmers. With limited access to transportation and municipal services, locals have to walk for as long as 6 hours along steep mountain trails to reach the nearest city.

Until 1986, Baille Tourible had a strong vegetation cover, but today, more than half of the territory faces deforestation. Tree coverage has almost completely disappeared under the pressure of inhabitants who have no choice but to burn wood for fuel. With significant soil erosion stemming from deforestation, crop burning, free-range farming, poor cultivation practices, and over-exploitation, there are no irrigated areas in the community. The dire lack of water has contributed to the problem, rendering the soil unable to hold the rainfall.

The consequences manifest in a vicious cycle of environmental degradation, food insecurity, and poverty. Environmental damage has made the population more vulnerable to the negative impacts of atmospheric phenomena — rainfall, wind, sun, and heat — intensified by climate change. It also continues to place excessive pressure on natural resources as the terrain cannot meet the agricultural production needs of the population, leading to weak economic opportunities for the population of Baille Tourible.

How Age of Union Is Helping

In 2021, Age of Union started a 5-year partnership with Kanpé on an agroforestry initiative to produce and plant over 25,000 fruit and forest trees per year and support the activities of the experimental farm in Baille Tourible.

This project will help improve tree coverage in the community with the aim of benefitting the environment, increasing agricultural output, and promoting economic empowerment.