There are various social projects in Haiti which reflect the principles and concepts of the paradigm-shifting PROUT socio-economic system. It is rare to find however initiatives which directly address the root causes of the main social problems in the country and of humanity as a whole. Empowering local women which were oppressed or neglected for generations is certainly one of the strongest forces today to promote a positive and holistic social change.

Awakening the Anse Rouge Commune

The practical work of the NGOs AMURTEL and AEPA mobilizes the core issues sustaining or aggravating the current Haitian situation. Together they started a continuous leadership and community training program at perhaps the hardest of the environments in Haiti, the semi-desert area of the Anse Rouge Commune, at the Northwest of the Artibonite Department. This region, once a tourist paradise with natural hot water spa treatment and luxurious accommodations during colonial times, has reached extreme levels of degradation in various spheres: rampant environmental devastation and desertification, increasing regional emigration, lack or complete absence of minimum living necessities to the population, reaching the lowest levels further below the national average, not to mention the dire consequences of this long-term imbalance and derangement such as the natural disasters, erosion, floods, drought and collapse of social structures.

Determined to tackle these conditions even though governmental and non-governmental agencies have abandoned the zone, Proutists from Haiti and abroad have systematically worked within the community to awaken and support their own local potentialities.

The Blooming of Women’s Force

Here below we quote the impressions from Dinali Abeysekera, Women’s Empowerment Project Coordinator for AMURT/EL in Haiti:

“Just two years ago, not a single women’s organization existed in this commune. Today the women are not only marching together in solidarity, but they are working together in cooperative organizations to operate businesses, improve their health, and provide support to their families and children.”

Dinali describes the context in which these organizations were born, culminating with this years’ historical March 8th’s commemoration:

“34 AEPA women’s groups attended a weekend training and the parade in Ti Plas and Source Chaudes villages. All members of these 34 women’s groups (a minimum of 500 people) have been undergoing intensive AEPA training and monitoring weekly community meetings since June of 2008. These women’s groups decided they wanted to create small businesses based on their interests and community needs, and collectively invested their resources to make this happen. All of their businesses have already started, many of which are in their start-up phases.

Micro-credit cooperative

AMURTEL trained AEPA monitors in becoming trainers on regionally specific small business development and financial planning. The women’s groups have been taking this training over the month of February. AEPA and AMURTEL have now reached the phase of creating a cooperatively-run, micro-credit bank. The bank will serve AEPA women’s groups, by offering them small loans and further training to develop their own cooperatively run business to become profitable, sustainable, and able to assist the women to reach their long-term business/financial/personal goals. The events of International Women’s Day were held to not only celebrate and bring awareness to the rights of women, but also to celebrate the tremendous journey and vision of these 34 groups, and the beginning of a new phase and page in the local history, through the development of the area by the strength and leadership of the local women.”

For more information about AMURT/EL in Haiti, visit www.amurthaiti.org

Last Friday and yesterday we had the first seminars presented by the newly created ecological movement Ayiti Reyalite Vèt (“Green Reality of Haiti”). About 25 local leaders came to participate and create a chain of environmental consciousness to take proper care of the resources in the country.

The speakers displayed alarming information on the historical degradation and current environmental status of Haiti. Naturally, the data exposed fomented a dialogue on fundamental ecological concepts and their urgent importance for the sustainability and progress of the country. Topics such as Bio-economy, Inner and Outer Ecology, Mental Pollution and Strategies for Environmental Health were exhibited by the Ayiti Reyalite Vèt team. Practical examples on technologies which are in harmony with natural cycles of life were portrayed through videos and photographs from successful environmental projects in other countries, which in a few cases are currently being developed also in Haiti.

The seminar was incremented with various musical performances: from instrumental guitar improv to elevating songs in English and Kreyòl, touching issues such as the love and care for all beings and resources in this planet and the human fight for all-round liberation.

The participants requested for many more seminars to unfold much further the briefed topics. The Ayiti Reyalite Vèt team thus proposed the strategy for launching a cooperative ecological movement which includes training environmental agents to propagate ecological concepts and practices in schools and the development of practical and sustainable projects which break with vicious cycles of resources waste, pollution and socio-economico-environmental degradation.

Gostaríamos de compartilhar com vocês muitas boas notícias de um
treinamento de três dias sobre PROUT no Haiti que apenas terminou. Foi
uma ótima utilização do nosso tempo de carnaval!

De 23 a 25 de fevereiro 27 pessoas participaram do início ao fim em um
treinamento introdutório sobre PROUT, enquanto que mais dez convidados
vieram no último dia para assistir uma apresentação pública sobre
PROUT e um debate sobre “Qual é o melhor sistema socio-econômico –
capitalismo, comunismo, PROUT ou o que será?”

Espiritualidade Universal Proutista

O treinamento foi intensivo desde manhã cedo, incluindo horários
individuais e coletivos para práticas espirituais ao longo do dia. A
base espiritual de PROUT foi bastante destacada e quatro pessoas
receberam iniciação espiritual enquanto outros três tiveram revisão e
receberam lições mais avançadas de meditação. Uma formação em Práticas
de Yoga e Biopsicologia também aconteceu logo após o treinamento em
PROUT para capacitar novos instrutores de yoga.

Primeiro Dia, Introdução aos Fundamentos de PROUT e Oratória

Na primeira manhã tivemos duas classes sobre PROUT: Introdução a PROUT
e Neo-Humanismo e os Cinco Princípios Fundamentais de PROUT. Logo após
tivemos uma oficina sobre o tema Sentimentos e Unidade, com jogos e
interações de grupo para ajudar a compreender as qualidades
aprisionantes e liberadoras de sentimentos como geo-, socio-, humano,
anti-exploração, universal e devocional. Os participantes foram então
divididos em 3 grupos e prepararam-se para uma entrevista da imprensa
televisiva em que seriam convidados a apresentar PROUT. Compartilhamos
técnicas de oratória para desenvolver nossa prática em divulgar PROUT
através da mídia.

Segundo Dia, A visão abrangente de PROUT

No segundo dia nós passamos brevemente pela visão de PROUT em
diferentes setores da sociedade, como Educação, Cultura, Economia,
Política, Artes, Ciências e Mídia. A apresentação da percepção de
PROUT sobre esses temas estimulou um diálogo interessante sobre
identidades culturais locais, samaj, pranah dharma social,
cooperativismo genuíno, etc. Os participantes demonstraram imensa sede
por desenvolver soluções práticas de PROUT e apresentar as mesmas ao
público com a intenção de realizar muitos projetos proutistas no
Haiti. Logo então distribuímos um questionário para que todos os
participantes escrevessem suas idéias sobre quais seriam os principais
problemas sociais no Haiti e as prioridades para a propagação e
aplicação de PROUT. Discutimos então quais seriam as principais
qualidades de um líder completamente preparado, o sadvipra, e os
obstáculos para que líderes assim se desenvolvam na sociedade. A
última atividade do dia foi definir as atividades em que precisamos
trabalhar, as responsabilidades de cada proutista, as expectativas de
nossas funções, a seleção de membros em cada comitê de trabalho e a
determinação de um plano de ação para que cada programa se desenvolva
sistematicamente a partir deste momento.

Trabalho de Base, Plano de Ação e Convenção de PROUT no Haiti em
Setembro de 2009

Anexo a este e-mail está um arquivo com a lista de 30 programas que
juntos descrevemos como nossa agenda inicial para os meses que se
seguem, culminando com uma Convenção de PROUT no Haiti de 18 a 20 de
Setembro de 2009. Não apenas iremos comemorar entre nós os 50 anos da
primeira elaboração sobre PROUT mas também convidaremos proutistas de
todo o mundo para que venham ao Haiti, visitem várias iniciativas
sociais progressistas e se encontrem com outros proutistas para
compartilhar experiências e inspirações, desenvolver estratégias e
reforçar projetos que demonstrem a praticalidade de PROUT.

Terceiro Dia, Teste Dramático, Pesquisa Coletiva e Dança

No último dia do evento tivemos um debate teatral estimulante entre
três grupos com três membros cada. Os debatedores se dividiram entre
“o staus quo”, “os proutistas” e “o povo”. Através de um experimento
de troca de papéis todos se envolveram em uma discussão para encontrar
as fraquezas e forças de todos os sistemas sócio-econômicos à
disposição. O povo tinha o papel de julgar qual seria o melhor sistema
e a audiência faria perguntas e comentários através dos representantes
do povo. Os particpantes trocaram cadeiras e papéis para experimentar
as diferentes psicologias personificadas em cada grupo. Outros
convidados começaram a chegar ao evento para ouvir sobre PROUT pela
primeira vez e logo entraram no debate. A conclusão geral do público e
do povo foi de que PROUT mostra-se claramente como o melhor sistema a
ser encorajado, mas com ainda uma fraqueza: “Onde é que PROUT existe
concretamente? Não conhecemos ainda seus modelos práticos!” Na próxima
fase tivemos uma sessão para sugerir livre e coletivamente os
principais problemas sociais do Haiti e as soluções com as quais
devemos trabahar em uma plataforma PROUTista. Esse exercício
ajudou-nos a traçar um esboço de um programa Proutista completo para
ser desenvolvido e apresentado à população do Haiti. Quando estávamos
prestes a concluir o treinamento com kiirtana e meditação,
espontaneamente alguns participarem se levantaram e começaram a dançar
e cantar criando uma forte vibração positiva que permeava todo o
ambiente.

A jubilante arte social de Nandaniika

Para terminar este relatório com um aspecto do evento não menos
importante, o anoitecer de cada dia foi decorado com apresentações
culturais de Nandaniika, que é o braço artístico e cultural dentro de
Proutista Universal. Nandaniika tem como missão tocar os corações de
todos através de temas como anti-exploração, conscientização social e
ideologia universal. Tivemos coreografias de posturas de yoga, piadas
políticas, músicas compostas de improviso e performances coletivas
espontâneas baseadas em tópicos discutidos durante todo o treinamento.
Veja alguns momentos desses três dias nas fotos anexas.

Utilização e Cooperação Coordenada

É preciso destacar que este evento não teria sido possível se não
fosse o forte desejo entre os margiis e proutistas do Haiti por
realizá-lo. Tudo foi idealizado e organizado em menos de uma semana
com um orçamento total equivalente a menos do que R$ 200,00! Com
recursos escassos mas tendo a cooperação e coordenação de todos
pudemos bem receber praticamente 30 pessoas por quase 3 dias inteiros,
mais os visitantes e as crianças de rua que encontraram sua brecha
durante nossas refeições. Alguns particpantes trouxeram vegetais e
frutas de suas próprias hortas e pomares em troca por sua inscrição de
participação e assim tivemos deliciosas refeições vegetarianas à la
culinária haitiana.

O povo precisa de mais!

Como vocês podem ver no arquivo em anexo, um de nossos programas em
progresso é a organização de muitos mais eventos como esse por todo o
Haiti. Enquanto a equipe de proutistas do Haiti fortalece sua coesão,
buscamos estabelecer contatos com proutistas em todo o mundo para
criar um movimento sinérgico que preencha o vácuo ideológico
alastrando a sociedade hoje. Seu apoio em todas as diferentes formas
para que esses treinamentos sejam possíveis, apesar e por causa da
crise econômica, será muito apreciado. Como vocês puderam notar,
gerenciando cooperativamente o que para alguns são apenas trocados
podemos criar muitos rostos sorridentes, corações cheios de esperança
e mentes benevolentes e positivas que despertem a liderança consciente
de que tanto precisamos.

Você poderá acompanhar o presente desenvolvimento de PROUT no Haiti
através do novo blogue: www.proutayiti.wordpress.com. Gostaríamos de
agradecer AMURT/EL e AMSAI no Haiti por seu suporte e desejar a todos
uma bem-aventurado Jubileu de PROUT.”

Dear Proutists!

We wish to share with you many good news from a 3-day PROUT Seminar in Haiti which just finished yesterday. It was an incredible utilization of everyone’s carnival time!

From February 23 to 25th, 27 participants fully attended the seminar and introductory training on PROUT, whereas 10 more people came to the last day for a public presentation on PROUT and a debate on “Which is the best socio-economic system — capitalism, communism, PROUT or what?”

PROUTist Spirituality

The seminar was intensive since early morning including individual and collective time for spiritual practices throughout the day. The spiritual base of PROUT was very much emphasized. 4 brothers got spiritual initiation and 3 had their meditation lessons reviewed and upgraded.   

1st day, Introduction to PROUT Fundaments and Public Speaking

In the first morning we had 2 classes on PROUT: Introduction to PROUT and Neo-Humanism and The 5 Fundamental Principles of PROUT.  Following these we had a workshop on the theme of Sentiments and Unity, with games and group interactions to realize the binding and liberating qualities of sentiments such as geo-, socio-, human, anti-exploitation, universal and devotional. The participants were then divided in 3 groups and prepared for a TV interview to introduce PROUT. We shared techniques on public speaking to improve our presentation of PROUT through broadcasting media.

2nd day, The Comprehensive view of PROUT

On the second day we touched upon the vision of PROUT for different sectors of society, such as Education, Culture, Economy, Politics, Arts, Sciences and Media. The presentation on the Proutist view of those themes catalyzed an interesting discussion on local cultural identity, samaj, social pranah dharma, true cooperativism, etc. The participants expressed their thirst for practical solutions to present those views to the public and realize Proutist projects in Haiti. We then distributed a questionary to all participants to assess the main problems of Haiti in their view and the priorities for the propagation and application of PROUT. The last activity of the day was to define the activities we need to work on, individual responsibilities, tasks, the committee members for each working section and an action plan to develop those systematically starting from now. 

Ground Work, Action Plan and Haitian PROUT Convention on September, 2009

There are 27 programs which we outlined together as our agenda for the coming months, culminating with a PROUT Convention in Haiti on 18th to 20th of September. We will not only commemorate the 50 years of PROUT amongst us but also invite Proutists from the whole world to come to Haiti, visit various progressive social initiatives and meet together to inspire each other, develop strategies and reinforce projects which demonstrate the practicality of PROUT.  

3rd day, Dramatic Test, Collective Research and Dancing

In the last day of the seminar we had an exciting theatrical debate between three groups with three speakers each: the “status quo”, “the Proutists” and “the people”. Through a role-playing experiment we engaged everyone in a discussion to find out the weaknesses and strengths of all socio-economic systems available. The people had the role to judge which system is the best and the audience would put questions and comments through their representatives. We had the participants exchange seats and roles amongst them to experience the different psychologies personified in each group. Public visitors previously invited came to hear about PROUT for the first time and joined the debate. The general conclusion of the people was that PROUT was definitely the best system to be encouraged, but with one weakness: “Where is it established? We can’t see where are the practical models!” In the next phase we went though a brainstorming session on the main social problems of Haiti and the solutions we can work on through a PROUTistic platform. It helped us trace the initial scratch for us to develop and present a comprehensive PROUTistic program for Haiti. When we were closing the seminar with  kiirtana, a few participants spontaneously stood up to dance and sing and all followed to create a strong positive vibration which permeated the whole atmosphere.

The blissful social art of Nandaniika

Lastly but not least, the seminar evenings were decorated by the Nandaniika cultural performances. Nandaniika is the cultural and artistic branch within PROUTist Universal which touches the hearts of all through themes such as anti-exploitation, social consciousness and universal ideology. We had yogic asanas choreography, political jokes, music composed on the spot and freestyle collective performances based on the themes discussed throughout the seminar. 

Utilization and Coordinated Cooperation

I must emphasize that this seminar would not be possible if there was not such an urge amongst the margiis in Haiti to participate. It was all organized in less than a  week with a total budget of less than US$ 100! With a few resources and everyone’s cooperation and coordination we could receive almost 30 people for 3 days, including guests and children from the streets who found their way in during our meal time. Some participants brought vegetables, fruits and other local products from their own gardens as an exchange for their inscriptions and we had delicious vegetarian meals a la Haitian cuisine.

The people needs more!

One of our current programs is to organize many more seminars like this throughout Haiti. As the team of Proutists in Haiti builds cohesion, we wish to connect with Proutists in the whole world to create a synergic movement to fill up the ideological vacuum permeating society today. Your support in all different forms for these seminars to take place despite and because of the economic crisis will be greatly appreciated. As you can see, cooperatively managing a few bucks we can create many smiling faces, hopeful hearts and benevolent minds to unveil the leadership which we need so urgently.     

We would like to thank our supporters in Haiti for welcoming us to the seminar place and helping us with the use of office space. We wish all a blissful PROUT Jubilee.