We Have Been Working in Haiti Since 2010
As we sat with the rest of the world watching the horror taking place following the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, we knew we had to help. By January 15th, we had coordinated a volunteer medical team, five private planes, and 20,000 pounds of donated medical supplies. On January 16th, we were on our way to Haiti. Our incredible team worked alongside medical volunteers from around the world at what was left of Haitian Community Hospital in Port-au-Prince. Their work was life saving and had a huge impact.
Before finding our place to work in Port-au-Prince, we visited Jacmel. It was there that we made connections with long-time missionaries to Haiti. This part of the trip was a catalyst for what we do now.
We Are the World 25 for Haiti
aired at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympics. Members of our medical team can be seen in the video helping unload supplies from a jet at the airport in Jacmel.
We operate and provide support for Kenbe Fem, our children's home. The children who live in the home have either lost their parents or were rescued from an abusive situation. For some children, both situations existed. With the love and support provided by house parents, the children growing up in the home thrive.
Because severe poverty is so rampant in Haiti and because there is no free public school system, perhaps our greatest impact comes through our schools. We have built and operate an elementary school and a high school on our property in Raymond.
What We Do in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. At least 75% of Haitian households lack running water. Three quarters of the population lives on $2 (USD) or less per day. More than 2/3 of the labor force do not have jobs. Less than 50% of Haitians go to school at all. Half of those that do don't go beyond elementary school. More than half of Haitians suffer from malnutrition. Haiti does not have a free public school system. Families must be able to pay tuition to send their children to school.
A woman living in Haiti's mountains.
January 2010 Medical Team
We operate and provide support for Kenbe Fem, our children's home. The children who live in the home have either lost their parents or were rescued from an abusive situation. For some children, both situations existed. With the love and support provided by house parents, the children growing up in the home thrive.
We made beds from cardboard to lay on the floor. These makeshift beds lines the hallways, as there just weren't enough actual beds for the patients.
Aftershocks following the initial earthquake continued for two weeks. Gripped by the fear that more buildings would collapse, many patients refused to go inside the hospital building. So makeshift tents and shelters were set up on the hospital grounds. To the left is one of our team's nurses taking care of a patient outside in a cardboard shelter.
The picture on the right is a collapsed building in Port-au-Prince.
