Batey Relief Alliance Presents CGI Commitment to Action to Empower Haitian Women

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) became a member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in April 2011 and is excited to present its Commitment to Action (CTA) at the CGI 2011 Annual Meeting to take place September 20-22 in New York City.

CGI is a collaboration between the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other global leaders to effectively confront the world's most pressing issues. "BRA is delighted and proud to receive an invitation to this important meeting, which is recognition of its achievements in the area of social development in Haiti and the Dominican Republic," said Ulrick Gaillard, BRA's CEO.

"Our mission is to address the socio-economic and health needs of children and their families severely affected by extreme poverty, disease and hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are honored to join the CGI, and the commitment we are presenting will further contribute to advancing that mission," added Gaillard

Since 1997, BRA served more than 1 million vulnerable and impoverished people living inside Dominican's sugarcane plantations rural communities known as "bateyes" and Haiti's border regions through health and HIV/AIDS prevention and (ARV) treatment, food security and agricultural development, women economic empowerment and microcredit, preventive health education, water and sanitation and child's care and deworming programs.

BRA announces the following Commitment to Action:

Workforce Development Training for 150 Haitian Women: The Batey Relief Association (BRA) commits to expanding its women's empowerment activities to an additional 150 Haitian women in three communes of Haiti's Southeast Department (Anse-a-Pitres, Thiotte and Grand Gozier). BRA will focus on three major areas of capacity development: trainings on leadership, gender-based violence and organizational strengthening; workforce development through small-scale agriculture, trainings on marketing and retail, and cooperative sales practices; and microcredit. Over a one-year period, the 150 women will engage in sustainable economic and agricultural development initiatives that will lead to improvements in household income, better employment opportunities and access to trade markets – thus improving the quality of their lives.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion.

This year, CGI also convened CGI America, a meeting focused on developing ideas for driving economic growth in the United States. The CGI community also includes CGI U, which hosts an annual meeting for undergraduate and graduate students, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young CGI members for leadership development and collective commitment-making. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

SOURCE Batey Relief Alliance