MADISON, Wis.—A $45,000 grant issued through the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Project Storm Break program helped six Haitian credit unions get back to serving their members despite an August earthquake that caused major damage to their permanent structures, according to the World Council of Credit Unions.
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of WOCCU, administered the grant to Association Nationale des Caisses Populaires Haitiennes (ANACAPH), an affiliate member of WOCCU that represents 86 credit unions serving more than one million members in Haiti.
According to WOCCU, ANACAPH used the money to purchase, transport and distribute emergency tents, IT supplies and other operational equipment to the six credit unions located near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which struck August 21 in the southwest corner of Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula.
Caisse Populaire Sainte Rose de Maniche (CPSRM), which lost four members in the earthquake and suffered major damage to its building, was able to restart operations soon after receiving the equipment from ANACAPH, WOCCU reported.
‘Operating in a Tent’
“We are operating in a tent on a school playground about 50 feet from our damaged building,” said Pierre Leon Etienne, General Manager of CPSRM. “Our members have expressed a tremendous amount of gratitude that we are able to provide services to them during this crisis.”
The CPSRM building is being evaluated for its structural integrity and relocation plans are underway, WOCCU added.
“All the credit unions helped by this Project Storm Break grant have a long way to go before they fully recover from the earthquake, but we are thankful our efforts have helped them get back to the business of serving their members,” said Mike Reuter, executive director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions. “As assessments of the damage in Haiti continue, Worldwide Foundation will work with ANACAPH to determine a long-range relief campaign through Project Storm Break."
Additional Assistance
Along with providing relief from several natural disasters, WOCCU reported Project Storm Break funds have also been utilized to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The Worldwide Foundation said it 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 can be made on the Project Storm Break page.