{"product_id":"9781940013213","title":"Mountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works","description":"\u003ch4\u003eIs It Possible to Change the World, or At Least Some Part of It?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works\u003c\/em\u003e takes an in-depth look at a unique organization that has improved the lives of thousands of rural Haitians through sustainable agricultural development.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTogether, Jack and Evelyn Hanna embarked on their dream retirement. They outfitted a boat to cruise the Caribbean islands and planned to do volunteer work where they could. But a chance encounter with a desperate Barbadian woman challenged their assumptions and ultimately changed the course of countless lives from another island in the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRural Haitian kids often go hungry. They wear tattered clothing and have no shoes. Many people suffer from malnutrition and severe poverty. Hurricanes, floods, deforestation and soil erosion, coupled with political instability, high unemployment and a lack of infrastructure conspire to prevent them from being able to grow enough food to feed their families.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Haiti's Cormier Valley, Jack saw the terrain - \"huge patches of completely barren land-no trees, huge gullies, no soil-incapable of sustaining life, plant or animal\" - and recognized that the only way to help the people of the Cormier Valley was to address the whole watershed area through sustainable agriculture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCODEP was brought to life by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), working with local Haitians and NGOs. They embarked on an ambitious reforestation and erosion control project to ultimately improve the economic conditions for rural Haitians in the Cormier Valley.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSustainable agricultural development is challenging work, but locals saw first-hand just what it could do for their community. They dug ditches and bolstered mountainsides. They germinated, grew and planted trees. They overcame interference from goats, insects and embargos. They upgraded infrastructure and slowly secured additional land for planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCODEP has encouraged responsible ecological stewardship and reaping the benefits of long-term rewards. Their project solutions are more attractive than the common practice of cutting down trees for charcoal and some quick cash. As a result, CODEP is one of the more successful agricultural development projects in Haiti, and possibly in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNowadays, beautiful fruit trees grow in the forest shade and the people of Cormier Valley are healthier than ever before.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMountain Majesty: The History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works\u003c\/em\u003e documents this fascinating change from environmental degradation to habitat redemption, where environmental rehabilitation led to the restoration of human dignity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA deeply personal story, \u003cem\u003eMountain Majesty\u003c\/em\u003e profiles leaders and participants like the Haitians Edvy and Nwèl and project architects Jack and Rodney, exploring their lives, motivations and actions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also addresses the management issues that non-profits and church mission projects often face.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow can we really help the people we want to help?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do we secure more funding?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do we ensure stakeholder participation?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow can we identify and develop local leaders?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do we adequately set goals and measure progress?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow can we keep donors happy?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do we balance competing interests?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do we keep moving forward when the founder leaves?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do we ensure sustainability?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese are some of the questions that keep nonprofits awake at night, and some of the lessons offered by this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMountain Majesty: A History of CODEP Haiti Where Sustainable Agricultural Development Works\u003c\/em\u003e is a fascinating look at what it takes to change the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dudley Court Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47063689003248,"sku":"9781940013213","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781940013213_p0.jpg?v=1763666230","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781940013213","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}