Why Zafen?
It's official! The Haiti microfinance pilot project, Zafen, is now open for business. Zafen in Haitian Creole for "It's our business". Please go to www.zafen.org to learn more about Vincentian Family efforts to support sustainable development in Haiti.
In his announcement of the 350th Anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent and St. Louise, Fr. Gregory Gay highlighted the need for a concerted effort to help the poor of Haiti. By pooling the resources of the international Vincentian Family and the Haitian Diaspora, real change can be effected in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.
At Zafen.org you can:
- Make micro-loans or donations as individuals
- Make micro-loans or donations as groups (as a community or parish, choir group, a class in school or any other organization)
- Give micro-credit as a gift (to a niece or nephew for their birthday, graduation or other occasion)
- Offer a year-long scholarship for a child's education (a donation of $50 will not only cover the full year but will also be matched by the Vincentian Family and thus send two children to school for a year!)
- Help Haiti toward re-forestation and agricultural sustainability by purchasing coffee plants and fruit trees
- Purchase Zafen items (T-shirts, buttons, coffee mugs and more!)