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CDi - Community Development International
Based in New York City and in Virginia Beach, CDi is a registered 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization that was created by a group of creative, globally-minded and socially-conscious young professionals from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds. CDi aims to promote sustainable socio-economic development and to support small pre-identified communities in the application of related programs and eco-friendly practices that serve to improve access to services and income-generation opportunities while minimizing resource depletion and facilitating environmental preservation and restoration. Target communities may include remote, vulnerable or marginalized groups both domestically and internationally. CDi devises innovative and participatory projects with the goal of improving living conditions while simultaneously creating a sense of community and collaboration. Our six core inter-related focal areas include civic & environmental education, health & sanitation, organic agriculture, clean energy, eco-enterprise and environmental protection.

Individual programming varies widely as per location and is dependent on the location's particular needs, existing infrastructure and the individual cultural, geographical, medical, social and political conditions. The inclusion of the beneficiary community in the planning and execution of projects is upheld through consultation and collaborative work agreements, training, workshops, and feedback processes. CDi ultimately envisions communities to take ownership and pride in the implementation of projects and to generate an invigorated sense of vision and empowerment.

current CDi's international pilot program is located in the rural town of Seguin, Haiti. Seguin, like many other rural communities in Haiti, is struggling to meet its current and future socio-economic development needs as most humanitarian relief and development aid is directed towards the larger metropolitan areas. The Seguin Plateau is strategically located between the capital of Port-au-Prince and the Southern shores of Jacmel. Home to the last remaining natural forest cover at Parque National La Visite and site of an important watershed, the region is also one of the country’s potential breadbaskets. However, with lack of access to financial and technical assistance, mismanagement of natural resources, inadequate sanitation, health care, infrastructure and education, the area remains not only under-developed but subject to environmental degradation at unprecedented rates rendering the area and the country at large increasingly vulnerable to natural catastrophes such as floods and landslides.

Partnerships and personal relationships with local organizations and community leaders are at the core of CDi’s strategy to sustain programmatic efforts. Extensive demographic research in the Seguin area was completed in July/August 2010, which informs current and future program development and seeks to integrate the community in the design and execution of any intervention. CDi is constantly exploring opportunities for other programs and projects which will combine to assist the community in improving living conditions, increasing access to services and commerce, and restoring environmental health. Domestically, CDi created a small organic community garden to the benefit of a New York inner-city group of Latin American immigrants (2011), and is currently working on the creation of an educational and organic farm in Virginia Beach, VA. CDi is also active in advocacy and in long-term fund raising for environmental restoration programs through its Miles of Trees initiative.

http://www.cd-international.org/about.html