Canadian Aid is NOT Reaching the People of Haiti: Vancouver-Based Organization Uses a New Approach

1. Canadian Aid is NOT Reaching the People of Haiti: Vancouver-Based Organization Uses a New Approach Sawa Global www.sawaglobal.org Sawa Global travelled to Haiti in April. They filmed 3 local heroes (Sawa Heroes) that found their own solutions to rebuild their communities. Haitian Heroes want to partner directly with the world! Quotes from Haitian Heroes “ We have not been approached by aid organizations and asked what we need. Most Haitians don't know what aid organizations are doing to help. We already have the leadership and solutions. What we need is partnerships that work together with us” (Joseph Philippe, Sawa Hero Haiti) “ Sawa Global is the only international organization that has ever approached us with respect and asked us about our local answers and ways to rebuild Haiti” (Eder Romeus, Sawa Hero Haiti) “ The Sawa Team has given us energy, courage and motivation to continue our own leadership to help the people of Haiti “ (Marie Lucie Mentor, Sawa Hero Haiti ) May 17 -2010. For Immediate Release -30-

2. Local Heroes in Haiti Found their Own Solutions: Canadians Can Directly Connect and Help Facts Connect Video (click photo or link) Handicapped since the age of 3. Using art, he has transformed the lives of close to 200 people living with disabilities in his community. Eder wants to connect with organizations that support income opportunities for disabled youth and adults. He lives in a small shack with no running water or electricity and helped over 70 handicapped people after the earthquake. Sawa Hero - Haiti Eder Romeus http://sawaglobal.org/users/eder-romeus

3. Local Heroes in Haiti Found their Own Solutions: Canadians Can Directly Connect and Help Sawa Hero - Haiti Marie Lucie Mentor Facts Connect Video (click photo or link) Has supported over 800 families that are living with HIV/ AIDS through education and support programs. People with HIV/ AIDS from Haiti are disenfranchised from the community . Marie Lucie is looking for help to lease a large piece of land . She wants to relocate 120 people that are HIV postive that live in the tent camps as a result of the earthquake. Young girls from the age of 8 are being gang raped in the camps. http://sawaglobal.org/users/marie-lucie-mentor

4. Local Heroes in Haiti Found their Own Solutions: Canadians Can Directly Connect and Help Sawa Hero - Haiti Joseph Philippe Facts Connect Video (click photo or link) http://sawaglobal.org/users/joseph-philippe Empowered over 200,000 people in rural Haiti and planted half a million trees. He is also the Founder of a microcredit bank with 70,000 members and 42 branches in Haiti. 95% are women borrowers. Joseph is looking for volunteer structural engineers to help design safe structures for a medical clinic and schools. All the buildings that he constructed in the last 23 years where destroyed in the earthquake.

5. Sawa Global in Haiti Contact for interviews Sawa Global Amber Robinson: Media Relations Email : [email_address] Phone: 778 888 7292 Vancouver, B.C.