Mountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti – Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works, Volume I
$16.99eBook: $7.99
Author:
Series: Mountain Majesty, Book 1
Genres: Haiti, History, Sustainable Development
Tags: Haiti, Recommended Books
Publisher: Dudley Court Press
Publication Year: 2016
Length: 208 pages
ASIN: 1940013216
ISBN: 9781940013213

Poverty is everywhere in Haiti. Rural children go barefoot and suffer from malnutrition. High unemployment, lack of infrastructure and political instability take their toll. In the mountains, the land lays barren, the soil is depleted. When Haitian plant food, the new plants wash away in the rains.

Mountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works tells the story of an inspiring sustainable agricultural development project that began with the recognition by Jack Hanna that the solution to poverty in Haiti’s Cormier Valley region lay in addressing the entire watershed, not just a few local gardens. CODEP Haiti, during its 25-year history, has championed reforestation and soil erosion control along with creative solutions to engaging locals and, ultimately, converting a church subsidized development program into a self-sustaining, locally managed enterprise.

Buy now!
About the Book

Is it possible to change the world through sustainable agricultural development?

Mountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works takes an in-depth look at a unique organization that has improved the lives of thousands of rural Haitians through sustainable agricultural development.

Together, Jack and Evelyn Hanna embarked on their dream retirement. They outfitted a boat to cruise the Caribbean islands and planned to do volunteer work where they could. But a chance encounter with a desperate Barbadian woman challenged their assumptions and ultimately changed the course of countless lives from another island in the region.

Rural Haitian kids often go hungry. They wear tattered clothing and have no shoes. Many people suffer from malnutrition and severe poverty. Hurricanes, floods, deforestation and soil erosion, coupled with political instability, high unemployment and a lack of infrastructure conspire to prevent them from being able to grow enough food to feed their families.

In Haiti’s Cormier Valley, Jack saw the terrain – “huge patches of completely barren land—no trees, huge gullies, no soil—incapable of sustaining life, plant or animal” – and recognized that the only way to help the people of the Cormier Valley was to address the whole watershed area through sustainable agriculture.

CODEP was brought to life by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), working with local Haitians and NGOs. They embarked on an ambitious reforestation and erosion control project to ultimately improve the economic conditions for rural Haitians in the Cormier Valley.

Sustainable agricultural development is challenging work, but locals saw first-hand just what it could do for their community. They dug ditches and bolstered mountainsides. They germinated, grew and planted trees. They overcame interference from goats, insects and embargos. They upgraded infrastructure and slowly secured additional land for planting.

CODEP has encouraged responsible ecological stewardship and reaping the benefits of long-term rewards. Their project solutions are more attractive than the common practice of cutting down trees for charcoal and some quick cash. As a result, CODEP is one of the more successful agricultural development projects in Haiti, and possibly in the world.

Nowadays, beautiful fruit trees grow in the forest shade and the people of Cormier Valley are healthier than ever before.

Mountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works documents this fascinating change from environmental degradation to habitat redemption, where environmental rehabilitation led to the restoration of human dignity.

A deeply personal story, Mountain Majesty profiles leaders and participants like the Haitians Edvy and Nwèl and project architects Jack and Rodney, exploring their lives, motivations and actions.

It also addresses the management issues that non-profits and church mission projects often face.

  1. How can we really help the people we want to help?
  2. How do we secure more funding?
  3. How do we ensure stakeholder participation?
  4. How can we identify and develop local leaders?
  5. How do we adequately set goals and measure progress?
  6. How can we keep donors happy?
  7. How do we balance competing interests?
  8. How do we keep moving forward when the founder leaves?
  9. How do we ensure sustainability?

These are some of the questions that keep nonprofits awake at night, and some of the lessons offered by this book.

Mountain Majesty: A History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works is a fascinating look at what it takes to change the world.

About the Author
John V. Winings

John Winings came to his role as executive director of Haiti Fund, Inc. following a successful 25-year career in industry. His broad skills in science, marketing, manufacturing, technology transfer and top management uniquely qualify him to provide the kind of insights evident in this book.

After receiving his BS and MBA from the University of Illinois, John worked for Occidental Petroleum Corporation and The BOC Group before moving to North Carolina in 1990. Here he has been a turnaround specialist for venture capital firms with portfolio companies needing strong leadership and has served as a consultant to individuals and organizations needing renewed energy and focus.

A life-long Presbyterian, John has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1978. He was a charter member of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church and is a Commissioned Ruling Elder who served two churches in New Hope Presbytery (North Eastern North Carolina), Butner Presbyterian Church and Clayton New Church Development. John was interim executive of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic of the PCUSA from 2007–2008.
John was commissioned as the Executive Director of Haiti Fund, Inc. in 2005. Haiti Fund is a validated ministry of the Presbytery of New Hope.

Following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, John and his wife Debbie moved to Haiti where John took on the additional position of director of CODEP while continuing his Haiti Fund work. Since 2012, he has served with two Haitians (Edvy Durandice and Clement Tercelin) in the Office of the Director of CODEP, where the three of them share responsibilities as CEO.

John and Debbie live in Wake Forest, NC, and have three children and five
grandchildren.

Connect with John at www.JohnWinings.com

Go to John V. Winings's Media Kit

Look Inside
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."