I am Andrew Coco, a Sustainable Development Intern with SOIL this summer. I studied Environmental Studies concentrating in Sustainability at the University of Vermont and have been friends with SOIL for the past four years. My official title is Konsiltan Agrikilti (Agricultural Consultant) and I am....
What is SOIL’s ecological footprint? We know that turning wastes into compost adds much-needed topsoil to Haiti’s eroding hillsides, and that it keeps the nutrients (not to mention the pathogens) from poop out of fresh water, but does it have ecological benefits in terms of reducing climate change....
There's no escaping the fact that Cité Soleil has a reputation. Poor. Dirty. Violent. Googling the name turns up headlines like "The Most Dangerous Place on Earth" relating stories of horrifying gang violence during the 2004 coup that deposed President Aristide. The residents of Cité Soleil know all....
TedX Traverse City is an annual event that brings together "the most innovative and inspiring minds... innovators who have passion, curiosity, creativity and adaptability to change the world with revolutionary ideas." Sasha and SOIL were honored to be a part of this wonderful event on May 13, 2014....
[lead] SOIL Letters is a blog series featuring some of the beautiful letters we've received over the years in support of the work we're doing in Haiti.[/lead] A few months ago, Tim Myers, the Co-Founder of the Haiti School Project, reached out to SOIL for help. Tim and HSP work with Foyer Divin....
A few weeks ago, I wrote about SOIL's progress in developing a working model for a sustainable sanitation business in Haiti. As I mentioned, we've had some really exciting successes, but also some serious challenges - like our cover material. If you've ever used a composting toilet, you know the....
World Cup fever has hit Haiti, and futbol is the subject of conversation everywhere you go. SOIL decided on a recent Friday afternoon to get it in on the fun! It was a match to remember: the SOIL staff against the local champions from the town of Dubout. The field was ready and the teams were chosen....
Dear friends and fellow explorers, This is a special week in Washington as National Geographic celebrates the 2014 class of the Emerging Explorer's Program, which honored SOIL’s work in 2011. Following the example of National Geographic the SOIL team would like to use this month’s newsletter to....
This is a special week in Washington as National Geographic celebrates the 2014 class of Emerging Explorers. SOIL’s work was honored in 2011 when SOIL Co-founder and Executive Director Sasha Kramer was recognized for our team’s groundbreaking work in waste transformation. The Emerging Explorers....
Her name is Joachim Gracius Philomene, but everyone knows her as Madame Bwa, or just Manman (the Creole word for "mother"). But no matter what you call her, the Ambasadris of SOIL North Haiti plays a crucial role in our work. Since the inception of SOIL in 2006, she has been spreading the word and....