Building community and a shared vision in Akayè, Haiti

In remote regions of Haiti, cross-sector and community collaboration has created a stronger healthcare infrastructure for pregnant women and their newborns. In 2016, birthing wards in local hospitals saw a 22 percent increase in maternal and infant services. The same kind of collaboration around community priorities is improving income generation for small farmers. Crop yields per hectare for peanut farmers have almost doubled ($155 from $82) – significantly improving earnings in a country where per capita income is around $400.

The State University of New York (SUNY) began working in Haiti in 2016 through their initiative called Learning Through Development. With the support from students, faculty and staff across 64 SUNY campuses and local organizations in Haiti, the people of Akayè are turning their vision for their community into a reality.