Supporting peasants in Café Lompré, Haiti, with a new food processing centre

In Café Lompré, Haiti, the congregation of the Petits Frères de Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus (Little Brothers of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus), in collaboration with the Roncalli International Foundation, have set up a food processing centre with a dual objective: to improve the food security of farming families and to generate sustainable income. The centre provides concrete support to small local producers, offering them agricultural processing services at affordable prices.

The Roncalli International Foundation supported the rehabilitation of the centre’s 585 m² main building, providing a budget of $30,896 to finance the necessary repairs. Following the 2010 earthquake, the building had suffered considerable damage, including cracked walls and a damaged tin roof. These repairs were crucial to restore the roof, repair all the walls and reinforce the structure by adding columns. The budget allowed these renovations to be carried out successfully. The work was supervised by a foreman renowned for his expertise in cyclone-resistant construction, under the watchful eye of the congregation’s members. Materials were purchased locally.

Thanks to these services, families not only have a lighter manual workload, but they are also increasing their production, consuming locally and selling processed products, which is providing an additional source of income.

Through this centre, Café Lompré is becoming a concrete example of a solidarity-based economy that is promoting sustainable rural development.