Gran Sous is an impoverished community on the island of La Gonave. The population is mostly engaged in subsistence farming, and the number of people formally employed is very low - estimated to be 15%.

There is a serious lack of infrastructure and of adequate housing on the island. Almost all of the construction-related businesses in Haiti are located on the mainland, making the costs to build on La Gonave high.

The 2011 Roots Ride aims to raise $20,000. This will provide the community with the capital needed to buy a concrete block-making machine that will be part of a community-managed business initiative.
This will make it more affordable for residents to build homes and private businesses. It will stimulate the local economy by providing the government with the opportunity to purchase road-paving materials locally. And furthermore, the project will create employment opportunities for area residents.

Approximately 6,000 people live in the area of Gran Sous.
The vast majority of people in Gran Sous, and on La Gonave in general, live in severe economic poverty. There is a lack of access to healthcare and job opportunities, and as a result, residents continue to carry out environmentally-damaging practices to find a living.
Most, if not all of La Gonave is considered rural, meaning residents of La Gonave face even more challenges than their urban counterparts. Among rural Haitians only 10% have access to improved sanitation facilities and only 55 % of rural Haitians have access to a potable water source (in comparison to the world average of 87%). La Gonave lacks an electric grid, sanitation infrastructure, and has a poorly maintained network of unpaved roads.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

The business will initially provide 15 employed positions

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

2500 residents of Gran Sous will benefit from the increase of visitors to the area (to purchase blocks). They will also benefit from the increase in projects being carried out with profits brought in by the business