FBB Picks Unique Beneficiary for Hurricane Matthew Drive

Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB) has launched a Humanist Disaster Recovery Drive to aid the people affected by Hurricane Matthew, and we have chosen Lambi Fund of Haiti (LFH) as our beneficiary. Hurricane Matthew has already caused over 1000 deaths in Haiti, displaced thousands, and destroyed homes. Cholera, already a problem in Haiti, is becoming a concern.

Lambi Fund of Haiti has previous experience working in disaster recovery – they set up an emergency fund to help those affected by Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. This organization has been recommended to Foundation Beyond Belief by one of our previous beneficiaries who works in Haiti and is also on several top lists of organizations to fund in Haiti. LFH is a local organization run by Haitians, women-led and using community-based practices in their work.

These are important considerations for FBB. First, locally run organizations are always best suited to handle recovery, especially in the long-term. Second, during the recovery process, research suggests women will likely face unique and more severe needs. This issue has been researched in a number of countries around the world following all manners of disasters and generated similar results. Women face three areas of increased need that are interrelated; women's health, an increase in gender-based violence, and economic strain.

Founded jointly in 1994 by Haitians and Americans, the Lambi Fund of Haiti is a unique, women-led, grassroots organization whose mission is to assist the popular, democratic movement in Haiti. Its goal is to help strengthen civil society in Haiti as a necessary foundation for democracy and development.

"Foundation Beyond Belief is proud to support Lambi fund of Haiti and confident that donors to this disaster drive will understand why we chose them," says Noelle George, Executive Director of Foundation Beyond Belief. "Women are central to disaster recovery, and instead of treating half the population as victims we need to empower them to help take the lead in recovery efforts."

Foundation Beyond Belief thanks the American Humanist Association for being a partner in our Drive effort. You can still donate to the HDR Drive to benefit the Lambi Fund of Haiti here.

More information about Foundation Beyond Belief's Disaster Recovery Programs can be found here.