The Journées Vertes (Green Days) Forever!

In Many countries, May 1st is recognized as Agriculture Day & Labour Day. Over the northern & southern regions of the Island of Haiti, it was a great day.  We had two successful Journées Vertes (Green Day) events so far, on this May 1st 2025.

 In the north, the Cadeau Vert Cap team is rejoicing for a job well done. School children are embracing the mindset of integrating tree planting into the culture. They totally welcomed the task of growing their own trees. In addition to all the school’s staff, the local government authority was invited to participate in the opening presentation for Journée Verte.

Snacks and beverages were served after the agronomists concluded their presentation.

The whole community stood amazed as they watched 2,200 school children parading out of the school in Pillatre; each student with a tree at hand proudly heading out to go plant the tree.

A sizeable group of the older school children were led to a barren mountain at high altitude called Do Pitimi (literary translated “Top of Millet Grain”), to plant their trees. The leaders of Cadeau Vert set lines and distances where all the trees were to be planted. Three local farmers were engaged to help in digging the holes for each tree, and watering each of the newly planted trees. They will also be monitoring the trees and area in the following month. The remaining younger students were tasked with planting their tree in their own neighborhood.

May typically brings a lot of rain; this May 1st came with a mixture of sunshine and short periods of rain showers as special blessings from the Lord!

 The children loved and enjoyed every bit of the activities planned for the day. They grew many fruit tree seedlings like orange, cherry, mango, avocado, almond & soursop. Among other trees, they planted some fast-growing trees like white wood.

Many expressed a lot of optimism: One student said, “I planted an avocado tree because avocado is good for one’s health”. Another one said: “By the time I reach 7th grade, I’ll be able to eat cherries from my tree”

Another one said, “when I get married, I might be able to use some of the wood to make my own furniture”.

In the Grande Savanne area in the south of Haiti, it was a beautiful and festive day for the school children to participate in Cadeau Vert’s first Journée Verte.

Despite the looming perilous situation over the country for far too long, the school leaders along with some had deemed that participating in the Journée Verte was an act of survivorship for the country. A group of 189 students along with the staff and 2 agronomists of the area planted 144 trees in their own schoolyard and in some other areas nearby including a barren local church yard.

 As it was done in the North, snacks and beverages were served after the agronomists concluded their presentation. The children were very happy with all the activities planned for the Journée Verte, which ended with swimming in the local river called Guirand.