More than 20,000 people perished yesterday from extreme poverty in the developing world. A further 20,000 will perish today. The numbers are staggering but there is hope. Dr. Jeffrey Sachs has developed a feasible plan to end extreme poverty in our lifetime.
"Our generations challenge is to help the poorest of the poor to escape the misery of extreme poverty so that they may begin their own ascent up the ladder of economic development." ~ Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
In global markets, we seek out emerging markets to profit by. With Hedge Against Poverty, we are applying the same principles and skills used in assessing favorite trades to find favorite charities operating in developing nations.
Hedge Against Poverty's recipient charities are selected with a markets based approach - due diligence, on the ground research and careful performance based analysis. This year, all monies raised will go to charities working on top down economic policy and bottom up development initiatives in Haiti.
Why Haiti?
Conscience - Haiti is a mere 90 minutes by plane from Miami but holds the unwanted title of "poorest nation in the western hemisphere". The daily life of a typical Haitian child is a struggle for survival: One in five children will die of a preventable disease or illness before reaching their 5th birthday, 50% of the population has no access to clean water, and life expectancy is a mere 50 years while 80% of the population live on less than a dollar a day.
Window of Opportunity - Haiti is at a turning point. After a series of corrupt governments and a period of no government since the last political crisis in 2004, there is now a forward thinking, democratically elected president in Mr. René Préval. President Préval has appealed to the global community and Dr. Sachs for help. With a population of just 8 million people, change is possible. Read more...
A Feasible Plan - Haiti has been selected by Dr Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth institute at Columbia University, as a candidate for a Millennium Village. Millennium Villages are based on a single powerful idea already a proven success in Africa: impoverished villages can transform themselves and meet Millennium Development Goals if they are empowered with proven, powerful, practical technologies. Read more...
Hope - Festival Film Jakmel brings hope and optimism to the people of Haiti through it’s biennial celebration of contemporary world cinema held in the southern coastal town of Jakmel. FFJ offers an unprecedented opportunity for discovery, exchange and visibility through the power of film and the diverse world it captures. Through cinema and integrated educational and cultural programming, the Festival goal is to entertain, educate and empower the Haitian people while promoting national cinema and arts, creating jobs, stimulating the regional economy, increasing tourism and sharing insights for sustainable long term development.
PLAY A HAND FOR HAITI AND HELP THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE GET OUT OF A VICIOUS CYCLE OF EXTREME POVERTY AND ONTO THE LADDER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.