The Aid and Orphanage program was birthed in the heart of Nicholas Burtner, Director of the School of Permaculture, with the belief that permaculture and holistic practices truly help and empower the dis-empowered and needy. School of Permaculture provides aid to orphanages, children's homes, women’s shelters, and struggling agricultural farms (called "aid sites") by redesigning their environments and providing local training and site design. Regenerative sustainability is key to providing a consistent income, food source, and stable housing for these struggling communities. We work to get aid sites off of the IV of funding and into real world self-reliance where they are:

• Providing their own clean water via effiecient permaculture strategies
• Growing and creating nutrient-dense foods for their inhabitants
• Building and living in off-grid, super energy-efficient housing that also treats its own septic
• Thriving in an "abundance" mentality as opposed to coming from a place of lack. Residents can start believing in themselves, having confidence that there is an abundant future for them

Each aid site has unique needs, but our overall goal is to provide the necessary training, which is usually a 12 day course, as well as offer hands-on assistance with site development. Any funds raised for the site go toward helping with the installation of the project(s). The School of Permaculture's mission is to be of service to those in need, and for all parties to feel confident in the work accomplished, all while having a great time together. 

WHY HAITI? 
School of Permaculture is thrilled to launch our first Aid & Orphanage campaign for La Gonave, Haiti. Our hearts are to love and help as many people as possible through permaculture. What better way?

In February of this year, School of Permaculture traveled to La Gonave, the largest island off of Haiti. While there, we visited the orphanage site, the elderly home, and the land that so desperately needs regeneration. We met farmers, who invited us to come and are excited for us to come back and expand their knowledge of permaculture practices. What an amazing opportunity!

So, this October, we’d like you to be a part of this mission. Our goal is to raise $15,000, to contribute to the following projects/supplies:

• Cement
• Pond liner(s)
• Pond covering(s)
• Drip irrigation
• Seeds
• Seedlings/trees
• Organic matter
• Fencing
• Hand tools/equipment
• Monies for PDC facility/location, class materials, food for students (local & foreign), payment for labor, transportation costs and translator costs (if needed)
• Any possible labor costs

These funds will assist the locals and especially farmers of La Gonave, in getting off the IV of funding through integrating transferable real-life permaculture solutions into their lives. The locals are eager and ready to get started, and so are we, and we need your help. You can join with the School of Permaculture to change lives by participating with your hands, by funding this project, or by sharing this message!