Good
Rest – Haiti Construction and Re-development Company
Mission Statement
Our goal is to further the long-term economic well -being for
graduates of Good Rest Orphanage (Good Rest) and the Haitian community through
job creation and skills building.
Background
The unemployment rate in Haiti is currently 80%. For the young adults of Good Rest, more needs
to be done to fight poverty, secure a more sustainable economic future and
ensure a successful transition to independent adulthood. Although education is a top priority, with
such a high unemployment rate, they simply cannot just “go get a job” after
graduation. Children’s Heritage
Foundation, (CHF) in it’s continuing effort to bring an economic
self-sufficiency to the people of Haiti will launch a new construction company
in partnership with graduates of Good rest.
It will be operated by the young adult graduates of Good Rest who have
completed the appropriate construction related training.
Who will this help
and how will it be done?
No other industry in Haiti has more room for growth than
construction. As Port au Prince and
outlining communities rebuild after the devastated earthquake, the opportunity
for work and jobs will become more accessible to those with construction
related skills and knowledge. This work
will be made available through Haitian government funded projects and private sector
development. Each of the eight employees,
who will co-own the company, (referred to here as “employee/owners”) have
completed trade school in their related fields of construction. Mr. Chatlin, a prominent businessman in
Haiti, will mentor the employees/owners. He will use his contacts and broad
network to assist the company with securing a broad range of jobs.
They will also
receive administrative support under the direction of CHF’s American associate
in Haiti, Carl Fielstra. The employee
owned company will establish a trustworthy reputation of hard working,
knowledgeable and well trained employees who each own a share of the
company. Through this model we will to
build a “pride of ownership” in the work performed by the business.
CHF will utilize its contacts and associates, both Haitian
and American, to secure job opportunities across Port-au-Prince. The company will engage in some pro-bono work
in order to build the company’s portfolio and reputation in the industry. For
example, the company will provide the first day of work at no charge on certain
projects in order to give perspective clients a “no risk” evaluation of the employees’
skills and abilities.
Initial funding
The initial funding of the project will provide sufficient
financial support to allow the company to complete the medical building that is
currently under construction at Good Rest.
The completion of this project will not only benefit Good Rest but also add
to their business, a resume. The
project will also allow the employees/owners to refine their construction skills
and build team synergy.
Investing in the Fight Against Poverty
Children’s Heritage Foundation hopes to raise approximately $15,000
to $20,000 in startup capital to seed the business including: provide the
initial equipment and payroll expense while the company grows. Some of the initial startup funds will subsidize
payroll while employees seek to acquire projects and contracts. Salaries will be subsidized on a decreasing
sliding scale over 100 days. The decrease
in subsidized wages is expected to offset by income from news jobs. Eventually, all of the subsidized income will
be phased out.
The itemization of
funds is as follows:
·
Initial
wages for employee/owners $8,000-$9,000
·
Tools
and materials $2,000 - $3,000
·
Transportation
for the company (purchase of truck and its delivery to Haiti) $6,000 - $8,000
Our Measurement of Success
The start-up funds while not a loan, in the traditional
sense; will not be a gift either. The
company’s employee/owners will be expected to become completely self-reliant within
a 6-month period. Employees/owners are
expected to re-pay the initial startup investment over a period of 2 years. These funds will then be used in a modified
“micro-bank” model to fund and support other entrepreneurial endeavors by
current and future residents of Good Rest.
Our goal is to invest in the start up the company for a
limited duration of time. The goal is
for the company to become self-sufficient, teaching and allowing the employees
to be economically independent and self-reliant. As the company grows, builds a portfolio and
reputation of success, it will in turn benefit the community beyond Good Rest;
by job creation and hiring of other Haitians needing work.
Starting Now
Children’s Heritage Foundation is looking for individuals who
are will to contribute financially to this effort. The funds received will go directly towards
the start-up activities of the company. We
have a start date of July 15, 2013.
Please consider making an investment in the economic well-being of these
young Haitians. Please mail your contributions to Children’s
Heritage Foundation and write “Haiti Construction Company” in the
memo. Children’s Heritage Foundation
991-C Lomas Santa Fe Drive, PMB 427 Solana Beach, CA 92075.
recall,
I said yesterday that the market would react more vigorously to today's reports
because of all the volatility of late. I also said there was more downside to
upside because signs of a strong economy reinforce Bernanke's new position to
taper QE. So, even though the reports this morning were far from exciting,
traders still reacted to it by selling off bonds.
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