THE KANPE FOUNDATION In Haitian Creole, “kanpe” means to stand up. The KANPE Foundation was founded by strong, successful women of the Haitian diaspora in Canada. Régine Chassagne is the co-founder of the internationally renowned band Arcade Fire, and Dominique Anglade is a prominent business and academic leader in Quebec. KANPE is a foundation that
Read MoreEsmine Siméon, 38, is a native of Baille Tourible and the mother of three children. She is a tradeswoman. Taking part in the soil conservation work was a duty for her and the other members of the women’s associations. For Esmine, this work is of particular importance, as it protects her land from erosion caused
Read MoreChristian Pierre has been a farmer and tradesman in Baille Tourible for several decades. A father of five children who has also adopted two others, he is deeply attached to his community. It was with great pleasure that he agreed to take an active part in soil conservation work. For Christian, soil conservation is much
Read MoreAt around 8 o’clock this morning, a team of eight men and four women gathered on the southern slopes of the Grande Plaine model forest. After exchanging greetings, the team leader, an MPP technician, gives the instructions. While the women set off in search of stones, one of them begins to prepare a meal for
Read MoreAt Baille Tourible, soil conservation work plays a crucial role in climate resilience efforts. By protecting soils from erosion, these projects help to maintain the fertility of farmland, which is essential for food security. They also serve to regulate the flow of water, preventing floods and droughts. Work began in February last year, during the
Read MoreAs you may have heard, the security situation in Haiti has recently worsened, leading to a state of emergency declaration in Port-au-Prince, the capital, since Sunday. We remain concerned about the situation and hope for a quick resolution to the current unrest. So far the communities we support, nestled in the mountains of the Central
Read MoreSince our establishment in Haiti’s Central Plateau, KANPE has made supporting disadvantaged rural communities its mission. We believe that development must be approached comprehensively because the roots of impoverishment in these historically neglected communities are manifold. Therefore, every development initiative must address problems from all angles. By supporting health, we ensure that communities are robust
Read MoreFor Grammy-winning musician and Arcade Fire co-founder Régine Chassagne, Haiti is more than a place of ancestry—it’s a calling. In 2010, she co-founded KANPE to support Haiti’s most disadvantaged rural communities, helping them achieve autonomy through health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and leadership initiatives. Development is never about just one thing. As Régine puts it, “It’s
Read MoreSince beginning our work in Baille Tourible, KANPE has prioritized an inclusive approach that empowers local communities to take charge of their own development. In this remote village of Haiti’s Central Plateau, women’s associations once operated on the margins, with little involvement in decision-making. By fostering their participation alongside youth and farmers’ organizations, we have
Read MoreIn Haiti’s Central Plateau, agronomist and experimental farm manager Odinave Dominique is leading a bold initiative to restore lost forests and strengthen his community’s livelihoods in Baille Tourible. For over 25 years, coffee has no longer grown in Baille Tourible due to climate change and deforestation. 98% of residents are subsistence farmers struggling with increasing
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