

In Concern Worldwide's latest blog post on the Haiti quake the charity reports that distribution of food, clothing, hygiene kits and shelters are only a fraction of the solution to the problem.
Following discussions with local women in focus groups it was made clear that jobs and security of future work is paramount.
One Haitian lady said: “If you work, you can have a house and not depend on others…you can eat regularly…Without work you are still a slave.”
Last week teams from Concern went out to locate some of the most poor and vulnerable women in order to offer a cash-for-work clean-up scheme which will pay $5 a day - money they desperately need.
Concern hopes to recruit 7000 workers under the scheme in the future weeks. As well as the cash-for-work initiative it's reall great that Concern are also giving $75 to women to help them restart lost businesses.
Adopting new technology Concern have also been making use of mobile phones to make cash transfers. This is a system they are already experienced with in Kenya, where cash distribution in risky in some very impoverished slum areas.
If you would like to support Concern, their online gift shop is worth a look.