Dear Friends of Lazil:

Chè Zanmi Lazil (Azilwa)

How amazing and patriotic can it be when people can get together to do something for their community, town, country…! Few years ago, the idea of writing a book “to promote the development of Lazil” came to my mind, and I did share that idea with local members of “A.D.A”, the regional Association for the Development of l’Asile.

Kijan sa ka fè moun kontan, e fè w santi w patriyotik lè moun kapab jwenn ansanm pou fè yon bagay pou kominote, vil, peyi yo…! Kèk ane de sa, ide pou ekri yon liv «pou pwomote devlopman Lazil» te vin nan tèt mwen, epi mwen te pataje ide a avèk manm «A.D.A», Asosyasyon pou Devlopman l’Asile.

Due to all the problems that Haiti has been facing in the past, many Haitians from all over the country have been trying to go abroad in search of a better life. We can’t blame them either when looking for survival somewhere else. That vast emigration wave of countrymen (from the late 1970’s, under the Duvalier’s dictatorship, and up to the twenty first century) has given birth to what’s called “The Haitian Diaspora”.

Akoz tout pwoblèm Ayiti ap konfwonte nan ane pase yo, anpil Ayisyen ki sot tribòbabò nan peyi a ap eseye ale aletranje dèyè lavi miyò. Nou pa ka blame yo nonplis lè y al dèyè lavi miyò lòt kote. Gwo vag emigrasyon konpatriyòt sa a (soti ane 1970 yo, sou diktati Duvalier a, e jis pou rive nan venteyinyèm syèk) pote non «Dyaspora Ayisyen».

This Diaspora did not take long to become the “economic backbone” of the mother country, Haiti when Haitians abroad have been sending many thousands of dollars daily to their love ones back home to support them.

Dyaspora sa a pa t pran lontan pou l te vin tounen «kolòn vètebral manman peyi a, Ayiti lè Ayisyen ki aletranje» ap voye plizyè milye dola bay pwòch yo chak jou ki lakay pou sipòte yo.

But also, this same Diaspora has been dreaming of a better tomorrow for the mother country in order for Haitians there to have a better life in the near future despite of the “fragile young democracy” that has sprung some twenty years ago.

Men tou, menm Dyaspora sa a ap reve yon demen miyò pou manman peyi a dekwa pou Ayisyen la kapab gen yon lavi miyò demen malgre «jèn demokrasi frajil la» k ap boujonnen yon ventèn ane de sa.

Many Haitians in Diaspora are also dreaming of going back home someday, either for their retirement to enjoy the good tropical weather or to help their country somehow.

Anpil Ayisyen nan Dyaspora ap reve retounen lakay yon lè, swa pou pran retrèt yo pou pwofite bon jan tanperati twopik la oubyen pou ede peyi a yon fason yon lòt.

This dream has given birth to many “regional associations” in the late 1980’s after the collapse of the Duvalier’s Dynasty (lasted for almost three decades).

Rèv sa a bay nesans a anpil «asosyasyon rejyonal» ta nan ane 1980 yo, apre chit Dinasti Duvalier a (ki dire prèske twa deseni ou trantan).

This writing project can help with fund-raising to help that commune somehow. We can’t do fund-raising by just asking people money, and don’t give them anything in return. So, every day, we can think of better ways to do things, and to be successful doing them also. 

Pwojè ekri sa a kapab ede nan ranmase fon pou ede komin sa a yon fason. Nou pa kapab ranmase fon pou n jis mande moun lajan, epi pou n pa ba yo anyen an retou. Donk, chak jou, nou kapab panse pi bon fason nou kapab fè bagay yo, epi pou nou gen siksè tou.

For this project, I would like to collect “interviews” (that are centered on development), “articles”, “history of the coummune”, “how people from Lazil see its development” and it’s surrounding areas, and most of all, spreading the idea of “working together” for a common cause and for the benefit of an entire community.

Pou pwojè sa a, mwen ta renmen kolekte «entèvyou» (ki santre sou devlopman), «atik», «istwa komin nan», «kijan  moun ki sot Lazil wè devlopman l», e zòn ozalantou l, e pi patikilyèman, simaye ide «travay ansanm» nan pou yon koz komen e pou benefis tout yon kominote.

With the age of technology nowadays (e.g, internet, facebook, cell phone, etc.), so much can be done in a wink of time when many of us have access to long distance “communication” to share  positive ideas to work together, to help others, and our native country also.

Nan epòk teknoloji a jounen jodiya (e.g, entènèt, facebook, telefòn selilè, elt.), anpil bagay kapab reyalize trapde lè anpil nan nou gen aksè a «kominikasyon» long distans pou pataje ide pozitif pou travay ansanm, pou ede lòt, e ede peyi natif-natal nou tou.

Going back to Lazil, let’s take a quick look at what’s needed to be done: for example, bridges on some the rivers (Despins, Mahot, Serpent) that have already caused lots of problems when overflooded; the importance of the “16 kilometers road” connecting Vieux-Bourg and Lazil that’s needed to be done; agricultural pwoblèms and irrigation; educating the people on how to protect their environment; reforestation strategies (by looking examples of some other countries); how taxes collected in Lazil can be used for its development (local tax reform); health care issues and support for Lazil new hospital that has been providing care for people from far away; volunteer works that can be done by people from different areas and by students (on Fridays. See article entitled “Haiti: for a practical education on Fridays”), etc. 

Retounen sou Lazil, ann jete yon koudèy rapid sou sa ki bezwen fèt: pa egzanp, pon sou kèk rivyè (Despins, Mahot, Serpent) ki koze anpil pwoblèm deja lè yo debòde; wout «wout 16 kilomèt ki konekte Vieux-Bourg (Vyebouk) ak Lazil» ki bezwen fèt; pwoblèm agrikilti e irigasyon; edike moun sou kijan pou pwoteje anviwonnman an; estrateji pou rebwaze (lè n gade egzanp kèk lòt peyi); kijan enpo ki kolekte Lazil kapab itilize nan devlopman l (refòm enpo lokal); kesyon sante, e sipò pou nouvo lopital Lazil la ki bay swen deja a moun ki soti lwen; travay volontè moun zòn nan ka fè /moun ki soti ozalantou nan plizyè zòn. Wè atik «Ayiti : Pou yon edikasyon pratik lè vandredi» elt.

I am targeting anything that can be centered on development, and that can lead to “local tourism” (such as attracting Haitians from other areas in Haiti to visit lazil) to stimulate local economy. 

Sib mwen branche sou nenpòt bagay ki santre sou devlopman, e ki ka mennen a «touris lokal» (tèlke pou atire Ayisyen ki soti nan lòt zòn Ayiti  pou vin vizite Lazil) pou fè ekonomi lokal mache.

Talking about “visit”, tourists need to visit many things, and enjoy their time. They also need a place to stay. I count on you to help the way you can so that this project can be a successful one to help with Lazil’s development. 

An palan de «vizit», touris bezwen vizite anpil bagay, epi pase yon bon moman. Yo bezwen yon kote pou desann tou. Mwen konte sou èd ou nan fason ou kapab dekwa pou pwojè sa a gen siksè pou ede nan devlopman Lazil.

Thank you in advance for your contribution. Please forward the message to friends, people from Lazil, to encourage them to participate in the development of their native commune. 

Mèsi davans pou kontribisyon ou. Souple, pase mesaj la bay zanmi, moun ki soti Lazil, pou ankouraje yo patisipe nan devlopman komin natif yo.

Even if you are not from Lazil, or Haiti, your contribution will also be appreciated. You can contribute financially to the publication of this project since we’ll need money to print copies of the book after final editing. 

Menm si ou pa soti Lazil, oubyen Ayiti, n ap apresye kontribisyon ou. Ou ka kontribye finansyèman nan piblikasyon pwojè sa a paske nou pral bezwen lajan pou enprime kopi liv la apre edisyon final.

Many hands, the burden is light

:

Men anpil, chay pa lou.