So often in development we hear stories of one side throwing money at the other, who can only use it for a project that they never really wanted (or needed). Unlike this one-sided relationship, The Quixote Center’s entire mission is centered on equal relationship with our partners. Over the New Year we learned of a program that has been ongoing in the northwest of Haiti. About 8 years ago, community members founded a network of “Green Schools” – schools dedicated to reforestation. Each school must apply to be in the network, which now boasts over 60 schools. The requirements to be a Green School include teachers attending environmental training sessions, including reforestation within the curriculum, and allocating land for a forest that the students will help plant. Acknowledging that some peoples’ livelihoods depend on cutting down trees, the schools share parts of the forest with the community members. The community owns 30% while the school owns 70% - and those who need to can cut down trees from their portion. However, seeing the positive effects of these new forests and learning about reforestation as students spread their knowledge, many people who used to make charcoal now look for alternative sources of income – like selling the fruit that the new trees bear. Within the schools, each grade takes turns watering and weeding, or has its own section of the forest to tend. At the end of the year the grade that did the best work wins a prize. In the broader network, the schools with the most progress win prizes, like last year’s solar lights. The network has gotten so big and so successful that Haiti’s Ministry of Education has taken notice and wants in! Many schools within the network find the saplings for their forests at the Grepin Center’s tree nursery, one of the important projects you help fund with the Quixote Center. Consider making a donation today to help provide the resources for Haitian-led initiatives like these Green Schools. The Green Schools Network was an idea sparked and carried out by Haitians – and it is an ongoing success. Your donation will help provide our partners the resources they need to make their own quixotic dreams come true!