AID grant to the Florida Association of Voluntary Agencies for Caribbean Action, Inc. for a program to coordinate the voluntary and donated resources from Florida with identified needs in Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean

(FAVA/CA) for a program to coordinate PVO and other volunteer resources from Florida with identified needs in Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean. FAVA/CA"s activities will focus in particular on enhancing educational programs (graduate and undergraduate) for Haitian health professionals. FAVA/CA will: (1) strengthen the capabilities of its members by implementing a volunteer skills bank/network and a resource center; (2) expand and formalize information exchange among FAVA/CA members and increase the general public"s awareness of members" activities in the Caribbean, by conducting periodic fora, developing a speakers" bureau, etc.; (3) broaden members" expertise in specific areas of development and volunteer utilization/management by providing TA and specialized quarterly seminars; (4) develop a system for matching volunteers and voluntary resources with specific needs; and (5) conduct a variety of activities to enhance the education of Haitian health professionals, including, inter alia: funding two Haitian graduate students at a Florida University, scheduling continuing education programs, providing educational materials, and funding technical assistance.