Carmen Paraison

Hi All!

So you’re probably wondering what why this post is entitled chickens. Well, it turns out that one of the social businesses in which YSB has invested, a poultry farm, is having its grand opening this Saturday, October 26th, in Mirebalais. This social business is really awesome in that it is not only producing Haitian grown chicken (which is mainly imported from the Dominican Republic) and creating 16 jobs, but it is using its profits to cover operating costs for a local school, which 200 students will be attending! This business was also partly funded by USAID and will also be part of the celebration. There are two more poultry farms that will have their grand openings in the next coming weeks in Leogane and Lagonave. It’s so exciting to see our social business endeavors bearing fruit (or chickens in this case)!

I’ll be sure to post pictures after the event. Take a look at the invitation.

Pics from the event!

Hi All!

I’ve reached the mid-point of my experience here in Haiti and at YSB! Time is going by pretty fast so far, but I am enjoying myself from all fronts.

Internship: I am gradually becoming more and more familiar with financial modeling and terms, using logic and calculations to validate assumptions, and how to properly communicate complex ideas.

Family: I can’t get enough of this time that I’m able to spend with my family whom I rarely get to see.

Social Life: Besides frequenting the beach several times, I’ve met plenty of family friends, been to a huge music festival, ate at delicious restaurants, and out dancing.

Here at YSB we have been very busy looking into businesses and in the next weeks I will be assisting with the management of our growing portfolio.

Until my next update!!!

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Calling all entrepreneurs in Haiti!

Hi All,

I came across a refreshing article in the New York Times the other day about an Italian photojournalist, Paolo Woods, who travelled to Haiti to incite more questions through his photos than provide answers. His project nor the article are about the poverty of the country, however they don’t ignore said reality. Instead, Mr. Woods shows you images “that add up to a layered portrait of a complicated place,” in addition to touching on the general failure of projects undertaken by NGOs, the “ neocolonialist mentality” of missionaries, and the audacity of Haitian businessmen.

Please take a few minutes to read it, you won’t be disappointed! (click on the quote below)

“I have enormous respect for someone who wants to be a businessman in Haiti,” Mr. Woods said. “They can do what so many others did and move to Miami and live a comfortable life. But being an entrepreneur in Haiti is not easy. You have to love your country enormously.”

Today marked a significant day in my social business internship! A social business I have been working on since I joined YSB, involving job creation and castor oil, was presented (by myself and my colleagues) to be considered for investment. The turn around has been impressive and the business is poised to create hundreds of jobs. This week I will be given a new business for which I will start the due diligence process. Due diligence is particularly interesting in that you learn a social business inside and out to ensure its sustainability and social benefit. We therefore look at a business’ financial framework, business model, and impact on society.

I couldn’t be happier to contribute to the development on Haiti in the capacity I am! I am also able to get to know my country more as well. I was able to travel to one of the provinces thanks to the aforementioned business, and have met more interesting people along the way.

Tips for students interested in consulting work or becoming an analyst:

• Make Microsoft Office (especially Excel) your best friend!
• Be a generalist – knowing a little about everything goes a really long way
• Become a great note taker
• Be flexible – whether you’re in a developing country or not, your bosses will appreciate this
• Become a great communicator – whether in writing or in person, cultivating how to communicate will save you a lot of time explaining later on

A tres bientôt!

Improving the lives of others through business is a concept I see come to fruition as I read business proposals at the YSB office. During this process I become more convinced that international development organizations should veer toward this path as opposed to giving foreign aid. It my eyes, these social entrepreneurs are killing two birds with one stone. Attacking a social problem that governments cannot wrap their hand around, i.e. waste management, and creating jobs that can lift people out of poverty.

My role as a social business consultant intern is to conduct due diligence for the businesses that petition for funding from YSB. As I learned from the FMS training, “you must trust but verify.” I verify general assumptions and figures to ensure that social impact will occur.

Haiti is constantly and consistently labeled as the “poorest country in the Western Hemisphere” in the media and that automatically leaves a picture in your mind, and subconsciously you think there would be no way you would visit that country. But let me assure you, in every poor country there are many many people that live very very well. As you are driving past the Porches, Toyota Land Cruisers, Honda CRVs on the streets of Petion Ville, you can find your malls, fancy Lebanese restaurants, chic boutiques, bakeries, book stores, banks (with ATMS), and 2-story grocery stores with brands you can find in the States.

This past weekend I went to Club Indigo, formally known as Club Med. This beautiful resort was donned with two pools, a buffet with gourmet foods, volleyball nets, jet skis and boats, and multiple buildings with room suites. Among the guests were Haitians, the French, Dominicans and Brazilian UN soldiers who work under the name of MINUSTAH (the UN’s stabilization mission in the country) .

I concede that Haiti has a long way to go in terms of development across sectors. As of late, its sectors are finally receiving investment. Since the 2010 earthquake, one of Haiti’s largest investments came in the form of telecommunications through a partnership between Natcom, a subsidiary of the Vietnamese army, and the Haitian government. Haiti is now the driving force in the mobile phone growth rate in the Caribbean. As I pass my one month mark in Haiti, I can attest that where there is a need for development in a country, there is a market for social business.