Local Nonprofit Youthaiti Is Giving a ‘Crap’ at Haitifest

MILWAUKEE, WI: When natural disasters devastate Haiti, it dominates the news cycle. But what happens in the poorest nation in the Americas between those disasters? Well, life goes on. But it’s not easy. Most people don’t have electricity or running water or toilets. That is why we at Youthaiti give a crap.

On Sunday June 9, 2019 from 2:00-6:00 PM, Youthaiti is raising funds to support community-led sustainable toilet building in Haiti with its inaugural Haitifest at the Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park.

The event will feature Haitian culture, art, food and music. Centered on the whole family, there will be activities for kids and adults to enjoy. It’s free to the public with a suggested donation of $10 a person or $25 a family.

“People in rural Haiti lack so much we take for granted,” said Gigi Pomerantz, Founder and Executive Director. “For us at Youthaiti, it starts with prevention. Eighty-five percent of the rural population in our community don’t have access to a toilet.”

Disease and water contamination are spread rapidly and abundantly when people don’t have a safe place to defecate. Toilets make all the difference. In Haiti, toilets are saving lives.

With 13 staff members – all local Haitians on-the-ground – Youthaiti is making an outsized impact. Ten years in, the organization has built 31 community toilets and 450 household toilets. They have also planted trees and community gardens using compost from the toilets. Education in sanitation and hygiene to students in 20 local schools is integral to the community-based approach.

Youthaiti needs your help. “We work on a tight budget to raise $80,000 each year, most of it from individuals like you.”

To support Youthaiti and register for Haitifest, visit www.youthaiti.org. To volunteer email info@youthaiti.org. Come on out on June 9 and meet our Haitian director, “Junior” Pierre Oreus, and our board!

About Youthaiti

Youthaiti is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2008 to help and encourage Haitian young people in their development of ecological projects in sanitation and water source protection, community gardening and reforestation in their own communities. The organization partners with local leaders to build sustainable toilets that compost material.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.