Sister Cities Essex Haiti was created in June 2010 by a group of dedicated residents in the Town of Essex with the support of the Selectmen. It serves as a portal through which people who are interested in making a positive, measurable impact on a community in Haiti can do so while developing relationships with the people in that community.

The relationship is fostered by two boards: Sister Cities Essex Haiti, Inc., located in Essex, Connecticut, and Organization Pour Development Economique et Social (Organization for Economic and Social Development “ODES”), located in Deschapelles, Haiti. ODES was organized in 2007 by volunteers in Deschapelles, Haiti to improve their community. Together, we work on projects that will benefit the people of Deschapelles.