Six credit unions in Haiti devastated by an August 14 earthquake will soon be back and up running thanks to a $45,000 grant issued through Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Project Storm Break initiative.
The money will help the impacted credit unions set up emergency tents, IT equipment and other supplies needed to begin serving members as assessments on their damaged permanent structures continue. All six credit unions are located near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which struck in the southwest corner of Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula.
Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), will administer the grant to Association Nationale des Caisses Populaires Haitiennes (ANACAPH). A credit union-owned organization and affiliate member of WOCCU, ANACAPH provides representation, advocacy, governance, IT support, education, technical assistance and training to 86 credit unions serving more than one million members in Haiti.
ANACAPH will disburse the funds among the six impacted credit unions and provide updates on their progress to Worldwide Foundation. As assessments of the credit union damage in Haiti continue, Worldwide Foundation will work with ANACAPH to determine a long-range relief campaign through Project Storm Break.
“It is because of the generosity of credit union peers worldwide that we are able to partner with ANACAPH to get these six credit unions up and running again," said Mike Reuter, Executive Director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions. “Project Storm Break did its job of responding as quickly as possible post-earthquake in coordinating a short-term relief response with ANACAPH and its member credit unions.”
Along with providing relief from several natural disasters, Project Storm Break funds have also been utilized to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The Worldwide Foundation has worked with credit union associations around the world to deliver 70,000 masks and other types of personal protective equipment to credit unions in more than 30 countries.
Donations to replenish the Project Storm Break fund are appreciated and needed to sustain Worldwide Foundation's relief efforts. Visit Worldwide Foundation’s Project Storm Break page to make a generous contribution.
Earthquake damage at CAPOSUD Credit Union
Damage at Caisse Populaire Sainte-Rose de Maniche