OUR
WORK
Our PROGRAMS.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria ViequesLove worked side by side with community leaders, church groups, NGOs, schools and government officials. We continue to develop these partnerships and plan for an efficient response to a disaster. We have representation on infrastructure projects to harden the power and water systems and advocate for the community’s voice to be heard in decisions affecting future sustainability .
Disaster Preparedness
#ViequesNombraSusCalles
Disasters come in many forms. Some are inflicted by nature, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, or pandemics. Others are manmade and include everything from infrastructure failures and major accidents to terrorist attacks. In the extreme, preparation can mean the difference between life and death. In less severe events, the amount of damage and human suffering is greatly affected by the level of community-wide preparedness. ViequesLove works year-round for community-wide preparedness and to mitigate potential risks to the community by establishing programs focused on the root of the problem.
Community
Resilience
The island of Vieques is isolated from government support and vulnerable to both severe infrastructure damage and physical harm to the residents during any disaster. Resiliency demands preparation. Our efforts include advocacy for hardening island infrastructure, and organizational capacity building to strengthen the community’s self-reliance. The goal of our participation with, and connection to, other relief organizations is survivability; but in the long-term, it becomes sustainability.
Advocacy &
Representation
Having less than .3% of the population of Puerto Rico, Vieques citizens suffer from a critical lack of representation in government. Targeted advocacy is an imperative to raising awareness leading to the allocation of funds, the construction of infrastructure, the development of the local economy, and the provision of necessary resources from both government and nongovernment sources. We continue to carry our message to all levels of government, from the municipality to DOE and Congress.