My Nonprofit Reviews

Two Mules for Haiti is a scrappy little non-profit that gets it. After the earthquake in 2010, Haiti was brought to its knees – tens of thousands homeless, Port au Prince in rubble, water contaminated, the country paralyzed. Volunteers poured out their hearts, their time, and their money. Now, 12 years later, the country is again in chaos. Violent gangs blockade major transportation corridors sending a grand political message, but for Haitian families the consequences are devastating; markets are inaccessible, food is scarce and priced beyond reach. How best to help? Check out Two Mules!

Two Mules gets it. Charitable donations are good, but they don’t often solve problems long-term, and they can encourage a culture of dependency. For improvements in education, healthcare, and agriculture to be sustained, the change must come from those whose lives are affected. American NGOs can intervene with technological improvements that are effective, but they are not likely to be maintained unless Haitians understand, create, and own them. An independent farmer has little time or incentive to fix a broken pump or chlorinator donated by a foreign NGO. That is why Two Mules assists Haitians who are interested in developing their own market-based solutions, vocational training programs, and local service industries to provide economic opportunities for women and youth as well as men.

Partnering with Haitians to solve problems, many of which are created by developed countries, is a two-way avenue of learning, and Two Mules gets that. That’s why Two Mules is sponsoring graduate student researchers to develop climate-sensitive technologies and educational programs that foster local understanding and a sense of global participation. Creating opportunities for Haitian families is the goal, but in creating opportunities Two Mules partners with the brightest young minds in public health, environmental engineering, agriculture, and forestry to develop long-term solutions with the least negative global impacts. This outfit lives into its motto: working together!