Heritage

Formerly known as the Gingerbread Project, FOKAL's Heritage Program continues to focus on raising awareness of our urban architectural heritage. In 2009, HELP (Haitian Education Leadership Program) and FOKAL facilitated the listing of Gingerbread houses in Port-au-Prince on the World Monuments Fund list of endangered monuments. The preservation of these houses has been registered in 2010 and renewed in 2012. This recognition helps to sensitize professionals worldwide and international institutions to the urgency of supporting the rehabilitation and conservation of this Haitian architectural heritage. After the earthquake of 12 January 2010, these houses have proved, in addition to their elegance and cachet, a great solidity.

This project, in collaboration with ISPAN and other partner organizations, has set itself several objectives:

• better document this heritage;
• develop know-how useful for the rehabilitation of houses by creating a vocational school for young masons and carpenters in partnership with the Institute of the Patrimoine Wallon (IPW) and with the funding of Wallonie Bruxelles International;
• Create a more pleasant environment and embellish this district in agreement with the competent authorities and the local residents.

The World Monuments Fund provided methodological and technical support to FOKAL to document this process, restore houses and conduct targeted studies on the neighborhood.

It is possible to download the 2010 World Monument Fund mission report by clicking here