Explore the "Reciprocitas Model of Change," a straightforward yet profound approach for enacting meaningful transformations, in this compelling blog post showing how interconnection and mutual influence create lasting progress.
RECIPROCITAS
Supporting community-centered mutual aid groups in Haiti
Mission
Creating a Sustainable Society, One Village at a Time
We are a non-profit organization with a tripartite mission consisting of, first, encouraging the creation of local Mutual Aid groups, second, raising and broadening the skills level of the Mutual Aid Group members and, third, increasing civic engagement, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens.
What are we doing?
Over the next three years, our goal is to create in each Communal Section of Haiti, among populations aged 15 to 64 living in conditions of poverty and social exclusion, up to 30 Mutual Aid Groups, each composed of 5, 7 or 9 people ready to work in the area of basic human needs. Each Mutual Aid Group member will provide 20 hours of work per week to carry out common interest work in their communal Section of residence. In return, each Mutual Aid Group member will receive 10 hours of training per week and a monthly participation incentive of US$100.
Why do we use this approach?
More than half of the population lives below the poverty line, and several million live below the extreme poverty line. The harsh reality is that many more families are unable to meet their most basic needs. As a result, these people lack the energy to sustain life itself, let alone invest in projects of common interest, despite the social good that can be derived from such civic engagement.
A participation incentive to encourage the creation of Mutual Aid Groups to fuel and sustain civic engagement, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens is eminently desirable as a very first step.
Our Principles and Core Values
Our overarching principles and core values are reciprocity, integrity, solidarity and respect.
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Plan
Mutual Aid Groups Working as Farmworkers, Livestock farmers, Fishery and aquaculture workers, Fruit tree planters, Garbage collectors, Water well drillers, Stormwater basin workers, Livestock barns and shelters builders, Cyclone-resistant house builders, Earthquake resistant house builders, Toilet installation service workers, and Apprentices in a wide range of trade to Create a more Sustainable Society in Haiti.
Unemployed people aged 15 to 64 living in conditions of poverty and social exclusion, who:
A weekly report is required for each Mutual Aid Group and each Mutual Aid Group Facilitator before receiving the monthly participation incentive, which is made available via an electronic money transfer company or their mobile phone.
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- Self-organize in Mutual Aid Groups of 5, 7, or 9 people;
- Select and establish a location for regular group meetings; and
- Agree to:
- Provide 20 hours of work per week to their mutual aid group or to a local organization for carrying out common-interest work in the communal section where they reside;
- Keep their children at school;
- Continue to be actively looking for a job; and
- Live the fundamental principles and values of reciprocity, integrity, solidarity and respect;
- Will receive:
- 10 hours of training per week, provided by the Mutual Aid Groups Facilitators or a Partnering Organization to raise and broaden the skill levels of the mutual aid group members; and,
- A monthly participation incentive of US$100 for up to 18 months or until the group members find a job or create a small business, whichever comes first.
A weekly report is required for each Mutual Aid Group and each Mutual Aid Group Facilitator before receiving the monthly participation incentive, which is made available via an electronic money transfer company or their mobile phone.
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Sponsor
Creating a Sustainable Society, One Village at a Time
- create several Mutual Aid Groups
- sponsor several Mutual Aid Groups
- sponsor several Mutual Aid Group Facilitators
A Mutual Aid Group Facilitator is also chosen in the Communal Section among the unemployed aged 15 to 64 living in poverty and social exclusion conditions. A Mutual Aid Group facilitator supervises several Mutual Aid Groups. They must have at least a high school diploma. A Mutual Aid Group facilitator receives a monthly participation incentive of US$120 for the first Mutual Aid Group and an increase in the participation incentive of US$20 for each additional Mutual Aid Group they supervise up to a maximum of 10 mutual aid groups.
The Mutual Aid Group Facilitator provides 20 hours of work for carrying common interest work in the Communal Section and receives 10 hours of training per week. The Mutual Aid Group facilitator does on-site supervision visits to monitor the work of the Mutual Aid Groups. They provide training to Mutual Aid Group members, receive weekly training, find new partnering organizations and businesses, and maintain a working relationship with existing local partnering organizations.
Sponsor A Mutual Aid Group Facilitator
Enhanced Partnership With Local Organizations
A Mutual Aid Group, partly or in its entirety, can be assigned to work with a partnering organization operating in a Communal Section to acquire on-the-job skills while carrying out common interest work. Each member of the Mutual Aid Group will give 20 hours of work per week to the partnering organization and will receive 10 hours of training per week from that partnering organization. And Reciprocitas will provide the monthly participation incentive of US$100.
To become a partnering organization, click on: Partnering Organizations Registration
Donate
Creating a Sustainable Society, One Village at a Time
Donate in ways that profoundly change people's lives.
Donate in ways that empower them to break out of the poverty cycles, making them not beneficiaries but partners and decision-makers in transforming their living conditions, enabling them to become self-reliant and thereby positioning them for sustained progress.
The donation amount required to sponsor a Mutual Aid Group for 18 months is:
Donate in ways that empower them to break out of the poverty cycles, making them not beneficiaries but partners and decision-makers in transforming their living conditions, enabling them to become self-reliant and thereby positioning them for sustained progress.
The donation amount required to sponsor a Mutual Aid Group for 18 months is:
- US$9,000 for a mutual aid group of 5 people
- US$12,600 for a mutual aid group of 7 people
- US$16,200 for a mutual aid group of 9 people
- US$2,160 to facilitate the work of one group, and
- US$5,400 to facilitate the work of 10 mutual aid groups.
C$50
Priorities
With more than 90 percent of the population at risk, Haiti is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Usually, after each natural disaster, non-cyclone-resistant houses and animal shelters are rebuilt, the fragile agriculture reorganized, and the livestock repopulated. Repeated cyclone after cyclone, this devastating pattern is simply at the antipodes of building up a sustainable society, which has been long-awaited and so ardently desired.
Crop Production
Making Farm Workers Available Food Security Personal and Financial Security
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Fruit Tree Planting and Home Gardening
More Reforestation Workers Food Security Protection From the Elements
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Livestock and Poultry Farming
More Livestock Farmers Available Food Security Personal and Financial Security
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Fishery and Aquaculture Production
Capture and Farming Food Security Personal and Financial Security
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Access to Clean Water
Water Well Drilling and Rainwater Harvesting Basic Water Needs Health and Comfort
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Flood Prevention
Stormwater Retention and Detention Basins Protection From the Elements Protection from Natural Disasters
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Cyclone- and Earthquake- Resistant Houses
Reinforcing Existing Houses Protection From the Elements And Natural Disasters
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Cyclone- and Earthquake Resistant Animal Shelters
Reinforcing Animal Shelters Protection From the Elements And Natural Disasters
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Apprenticeship Training
Learning A Trade Starting A Business/Self-reliance Personal and Financial Security
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Creating a Sustainable Society One Village at a Time
Values
Creating a Sustainable Society, One Village at a Time
This principle refers to a human need and the tendency to give something back when something is received. The idea is that one party will return a positive action in response to a positive action received.
INTEGRITY
Having integrity means being completely honest in all aspects of life. It is acting according to one's moral beliefs at all times, in all things, and all places. It is doing the right thing wherever one may be, no matter who is watching, and even when no one is watching you.
SOLIDARITY
Solidarity is a social bond of mutual commitment and dependence among a group sharing a common destiny, cause, belief, situation, or circumstance, with the added awareness and willingness to assume and share the benefits and the risks fully and entirely.
RESPECT
Respect refers to the ability to value another person, both their words and actions, even if we don't approve or share everything they say or do. It is not trying to change the other person, not judging them by their attitudes, behaviors, or thoughts. Often, one shows respect in caring for things, both material and immaterial.
POLICY ON PREVENTION OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
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Blog
This blog post discusses the key focus areas for mutual aid groups in disaster-prone regions. Emphasizing flood prevention methods, the post explores sustainable strategies for mitigating water damage. Additionally, it highlights the importance of constructing cyclone-resistant houses and shelters designed to protect both inhabitants and livestock from severe weather events. Learn how communities can collaborate effectively to enhance resilience against natural disasters.
To prevent financial assistance from going to those who do not need it, it is appropriate to relax the universality principle by offering a monthly Basic Income specifically to unemployed individuals aged eighteen and older.
Training
Mutual aid group members will receive 10 hours of training each week for 18 months, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and civic and moral education.
Join us
Creating a Sustainable Society, One Village at a Time
- Gatineau, Québec, Canada
Supporting Mutual Aid Groups in Haiti with a monthly participation incentive