Many Hands Make the Load Light: “Men Anpil Chay Pa Lou”
If you grew up in Thomazeau and left, whether for school, work, family, or a better chance at life, you know the feeling. Wherever you are, a part of you is still there. You think about the streets you walked, the fields, the people you grew up with. You may even picture the day you go back.
When you do, what do you hope to see?
A Responsibility We Share
Those of us who have had the chance to build a life abroad did not get here alone. Thomazeau shaped us. Its people raised us, taught us, and sent us off with their hopes. Giving back is not charity. It is how we honor where we come from.
It is also how we make sure the Haiti we return to is better than the one we left. The people who still live in Thomazeau are not waiting for a miracle. They are farming, raising children, and carrying their community through hard times. What they need is partners who believe in them and are willing to invest in what they are already doing.
Good Intentions Need a Trustworthy Vehicle
Most of us already want to help. The hard part is knowing that our money will reach the people and projects it is meant for. Many of us have sent funds home with the best intentions and wondered afterward what became of them.
That is why OCIPAT exists. We are people from Thomazeau, and we have shown what we can do: 113 trees planted, a canal that waters hundreds of farms cleared and restored, downtown streets and canals cleaned, and educational trainings for the community. You can see the work on our Projects page, with photos and video.
Local Hands, Shared Plans
Every project we carry out starts as a conversation. We work hand in hand with a local team in Thomazeau, and we plan each project together. They know the land, the needs, and the people. We bring the resources, the organization, and the commitment to follow through. The local team then carries out the work on the ground, so the money goes where it is needed and the community has a hand in its own progress.
As the Haitian proverb says, men anpil, chay pa lou: many hands make the load light.
What You Can Do
You do not have to do everything. You only have to start. A one-time gift or a small monthly contribution adds up, especially when it is combined with those of others who share your love for Thomazeau.
Entrust OCIPAT with your support, and let us put it to work for the community we all come from. When you go back one day, you will see the difference your gift helped make.
