Brandon & Jessica

Outside The Bowl (Outsidethebowl.org)

Simply stated, the purpose of Outside the Bowl (OTB) is feeding people in parts of the world where extreme hunger is a significant problem, especially with children. In order to achieve this purpose OTB will be engaged in the creation of self sustaining food production facilities or Food Centers. The purpose of these Food Centers is to provide large quantities of prepared meals to the poor and underprivileged in the community in which each facility is located.¹

Currently, Outside the Bowl is partnering with North West Haiti Christian Mission (www.nwhcm.org) in the Port-de-Paix area of Haiti to refurbish an existing structure (a former orphanage) into a food production facility. 

The Republic of Haiti was established following a successful slave revolt in 1804, from France, making it, at the time, the second sovereign nation in the western hemisphere following the United States.  90-95% of Haitians are of predominately African decent³.  Haiti has been plagued with political violence for most of its history.  This lends it to be the poorest nation in the western Hemisphere.

            80% of Haiti’s population lives on less that $2 a day, 50% on less than a dollar.   Haiti ranks 203 out of 228 countries in GDP per capita at $1,300 a year.  Comparatively, GDP per capita in the US is $46,400² (10^th in the index, $127 a day).

            The two official languages of Haiti are French and Creole.  French is spoken by most educated Haitians and is spoken in schools and throughout the government.   Creole is spoken by the entire population.  Haitian Creole is French based and contains influences from tribal African languages and Spanish.  Of persons 15 and older 53% can read and write³. 

            80% of Haitians claim to be Catholic, 16% claim to be Protestant but over half the population practices Haitian Vodou³.  Haitian Vodou is polytheistic with Roman Catholic and African influences.  Veneration of the dead (ancestral worship) is practiced as part of Vodou³.  In simple terms, “Haiti is 80% Catholic, 20% Protestant and 100% Vodou.”

            Port-de-Paix is a city in Northern Haiti with a population of 250,000.  It is a large exporter of bananas and Coffee³.  OTB’s primary partner organization, North West Haiti Christian Mission, operates primary schools, orphanages, medical clinics and many other programs in the area. 

We are partnering with OTB to be the representatives for the Food Distribution Center in Port-de-Paix Haiti.  Our primary job will be to identify and asses potential partner organizations that are interested in using the food prepared at the food center to augment their current ministry.