Haiti

• less duplication of effort and costs
• more access to operational, on-the-ground expertise
• access to places where there are few or no Lutherans
• stronger, more effective ministry.

In Haiti, the ELCA works with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Lutheran World Relief and Church World Service.  In addition, the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, as a Companion Synod, supports the work with the LWF and works with individual congregations.

The Lutheran World Federation

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of 140 churches (including the ELCA) and 68 million people that is grounded in a common Lutheran faith.  The LWF provides space for Lutherans from around the world to share joys, challenges, and expertise as they seek the healing of the world. ELCA World Hunger funds help support the Department for World Service (DWS), the LWF’s relief and development arm, and the Department for Mission and Development (DMD), which focuses on holistic ministries through which the church participates in God’s mission to all creation.

ELCA World Hunger funds help the LWF Department of World Service Caribbean/Haiti Country Program.  This program emphasizes a human rights based program in Haiti focusing on community organization, particularly in rural areas, to promote greater participation in local decision making processes. Creating jobs, particularly in rural areas, is the complementary emphasis in fighting persistent poverty. Some hope and potential for improving living conditions is found in the consistent support to small coffee planters for the growing and export of quality coffee at a fair price.

The LWF/DWS Program strategy is based on the following priority themes: institutional strengthening of community based organizations, professional associations and women's groups; integrated community development to increase levels of participation and exchange, equity and social justice; concerted action and networking among LWF/DWS Haiti partner organizations to increase their institutional capacity in decision making processes; and advocacy around issues of human rights and the core values of justice, equity and dignity.

Web site of the LWF/DWS Caribbean/Haiti program.

Lutheran World Relief

The ELCA also works in Haiti through Lutheran World Relief (LWR). A trusted partner of the ELCA, LWR is a U.S.-based agency that works with community-based partners in 50 countries. ELCA World Hunger funds help support the work that works to:

• Increase the production of food for consumption and marketing, through improved cultivation techniques such as soil and water conservation, introduction of improved seeds and new crops, post-harvest storage, and operation of community-managed seed banks.
  
• Reduce maternal and child mortality by providing training to community members in how to recognize, treat and prevent major illnesses.
  
• Reduce childhood malnutrition through diversification of household diets and training of parents.
  
• Ensure consumption of potable water through the introduction of low-cost water filters.
  
• Generate income through support to women’s and farmers’ savings and credit systems.
  
• Build communities’ resilience to natural disasters through the development of community disaster preparedeness plans.

Church World Service

In addition, ELCA funds support Church World Service (CWS), which works in Haiti.  Supported by 36 denominations, including the ELCA, CWS is a U.S.-based ecumenical organization that works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world.