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Haiti Moringa Project

Research Trip

September 5, 2011

Pierre Payen & Port-au-Prince

Haiti

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The Moringa investigation team used the last half day in

Pierre Payen to talk with nursery manager Joel about future

plans for the intensive cultivation experiment. It will be

divided into four growing areas with a total of 1600

seedling, and it is expected that small-scale production of

Moringa leaf powder can begin within two months. In one

year, the nursery could produce up to 100,000 Moringa

seedlings to give to people interested in growing Moringa.

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Joel runs

Michaelle’s family

business. He is

typically very

willing to spend

money and energy

for the common

good.

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Volunteers and

local villagers

carefully

prepare the soil

in anticipation

of the intensive

cultivation

experiment.

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Brother Patrick

explains how to

use different

growth methods in

order to research

growth rate and

production.

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Breaking up the fertilizer

Top-quality soilNormal soil

Volunteers learn

how to prepare

soil and natural

fertilizer (dried

animal

excrement) for

the seedlings.

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Michaelle is

recording a

documentary

about the

Moringa nursery

for Tzu Chi as a

historical record.

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The volunteers bid farewell to the beautiful Pierre Payen

and returned to Port-au-Prince. At the same time, the Haiti

team was already preparing for two events today. The first

is an 11 am Tree Planting activity at the ROCA school.

The children will plant Moringa seeds in recycled plastic

bottles. The second one will be the Spread the Seeds of

Love and Moringa promotion event at the Saint Alexandra

Church at 3 pm.

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Back-to-School

project students

and parents

warmly greet the

Tzu Chi

volunteers’

arrival.

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In the previous

school year, Tzu

Chi helped 229

students attend

school, at

approximately $14

USD per student

per month.

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Brother Jean Denis,

who oversees the

Back-to-School

project, explains the

importance of

education and being

environmentally

friendly.

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Brothers Lesly

and Patrick

introduce today’s

tree planting

activity and

encourage parents

to participate as

well.

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Volunteers lead

the students to

the streets

around the

school to gather

numerous

discarded plastic

bottles.

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Within a few

short minutes,

everyone has

returned with

a plastic

bottle.

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Volunteers help

the students cut

off the tops of

the bottles and

cut small holes

into the bottoms.

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The students all

prepare to grow

Moringa seeds in

their own plastic

bottles.

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The volunteers

put a mix of

fertilizer and soil

and two Moringa

seeds into each

bottle.

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The volunteers reminded the children to take good care of

their seeds, speaking good words to them every day. The

children very happily took their future new sprouts home.

This fun and educational tree planting activity has already

planted the seeds of care for the environment into their

hearts. The volunteers immediately headed to Saint

Alexandra Church to prepare for the afternoon Spread the

Seeds of Love activity.

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Brother Dodin,

who has farming

experience,

takes the

Moringa

seedlings over to

the church.

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The volunteers

arrange the

Moringa

seedlings in the

church entrance

as a gift for

attendees.

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The priest

brought another

group of Back-

to- School

children to

today’s Spread

the Seeds of

Love and

Moringa

promotion event.

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Volunteers and

guests perform

three bows,

following either

the Buddhist

way or their own

religions.

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Brother Austin

introduces Tzu

Chi’s origins, the

story of the

South African

volunteers, and

‘The Power of

Five’.

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Brother Patrick

says that a small

bottle of Moringa

powder costs $15

USD in the USA,

but fresh Moringa

leaves are readily

available in Haiti.

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Testimony

from

those who

have used

Moringa

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Volunteers

respect-

fully give

Moringa

seedlings.

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US and

Haitian

volunteers

give

Moringa

seedlings

to new

volunteers

.

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Over these past few days, we found that many Haitians

have tasted Moringa leaves before but most people did

not know the miraculous nutrition value of Moringa. In

the future, Tzu Chi volunteers will continue to hold

Spread the Seeds of Love and Moringa promotion

events all over Haiti to let many people taste and grow

Moringa. Perhaps Haitians will one day associate

Moringa with Tzu Chi.

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Even though there are many NGO organizations providing

food in Haiti, this is usually limited to rice, beans, and

flour. Though this can help poor people feel full, it is

lacking in nutrition. If Moringa powder can supplement

these foods, this can go a long way toward decreasing

developmental problems and diseases. If Tzu Chi actively

promotes Moringa in Haiti, it will benefit millions.

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感恩 上人

恭祝 上人

法體安康

常住世間

法輪常轉

慈濟海地全體靜思弟子

恭敬頂禮