PADF: The Pan American Development Foundation:

Over the last 8 years I’ve done quite a bit of work for The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), shooting for them in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Cuba, so I’m going to take this opportunity to highlight them in my blog today.

PADF is a non-government humanitarian aid organization that works to empower disadvantaged people and communities in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve sustainable economic and social progress, strengthen their communities and civil society, and prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other humanitarian crises.

Haiti is the poorest country in this hemisphere and being so close to the USA, one would think we would hear more about it than we do. In Haiti, PADF does everything from promoting agricultural development, to building rural infrastructure, implementing soil conservation, and supporting agro-forestry and improved watershed management. They also work to improve public sanitation, and have a program designed to improve border relations with the Dominican Republic. In April PADF received a $1.1 million dollar grant to expand their work there.

In Colombia PADF has two primary areas of focus; internally displaced persons and former coca growers. PADF provides humanitarian assistance, job training and placement, and related services including health, education, and basic sanitation. Here’s a short slideshow I made about their program to help incenitivize coca farmers to grow non-illicit crops.

A diverse organization with great people and great programs, PADF is one of those organizations that doesn’t get enough attention in the media, so I’m hoping you take the time to check them out, and perhaps pass this info along.

Saludos,

Karl