A young girl receives help to wash her hands to help prevent cholera in Haiti. Photo: Paul Jeffrey, ACT.
Providing tent classrooms in Leogane so children can resume their education. Photo: Paul Jeffrey, ACT.
This woman has a small shop in a tent camp in Haiti. Photo: Paul Jeffrey, ACT.
Building hope through constructing homes and transitional shelter in Haiti. Photo: Paul Jeffrey, ACT.
A girl participates in a dance program in Port au Prince. Photo: Paul Jeffrey, ACT.
Despite the tragedies the people of Haiti faced in 2010—a massive earthquake, Hurricane Tomas, an outbreak of cholera plus the ongoing challenges that continue to arise—hope still abounds in Haiti. PWS&D’s relief efforts are helping families rebuild their homes and lives.
Since the earthquake on 12 January 2010, churches and individuals raised over $1.6 million—almost all of which PWS&D has invested through the ACT Alliance, Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) and Canadian Churches in Action (CCA)—to provide transitional houses, food, clean water, health care, seeds, tools, schools, income generating initiatives, psychosocial and art therapy programs, and support for communities affected by cholera.
Your generous gifts have been instrumental in providing:
- Seeds, tools, fertilizers and agricultural training to over 6,000 farming families.
- Transitional shelter that is earthquake- and hurricane-resistant to 800 families in Leogane with an additional 400 slated for construction.
- Mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets to 12,000 families.
- Cash grants to start small businesses, attend counseling, and repair homes for 600 people living with disabilities.
- Boreholes, shallow wells, water tanks and water delivery systems in order to provide clean water for thousands of people every day. (In two areas of Port au Prince alone, around 400,000 litres of clean water are delivered each day to camps and other locations.)
- 240 temporary and semi-permanent classrooms in Leogane, Gressier and Petit Goave with additional classrooms slated for construction.
- Water purification tablets, soap, hygiene kits, oral rehydration solutions and jerry cans to around 35,000 families to prevent the spread of cholera.
- Art and dance therapy programs to help children recover from trauma.
“I Was in Agony”
Yolande Fequiere was at home with her newborn baby when the earthquake struck and her house collapsed. Trapped under the rubble for many days, Yolande’s baby died. In addition, one of Yolande’s legs was crushed and was dangerously infected. When she was finally rescued, the doctor had to amputate the limb. “I was in agony,” Yolande says of that dark time. “The pain of losing the only child I ever had, the shock of losing everything I owned and the grief of losing my leg was unbearable.”
A local ACT Alliance member encouraged Yolande to attend a PWS&D-supported social support program where Yolande received counseling and a cash grant for people living with disabilities. With the funds, Yolande started a vending business and attended school. She says she will soon have a house through the program and is grateful for all the help she received. “I say thank you very much to you all.”
Building Hope Through Homes
PWS&D partner and ACT Alliance member, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), is building transitional houses in Leogane for people whose homes were destroyed by the earthquake. Their 5-minute video shares the stories of Reginald Francois and Madame Fortune Pierre who are overjoyed to own their new homes. Watch the video.
The Road Ahead
PWS&D is supporting the people of Haiti as they reestablish homes and livelihoods. The road ahead is long, but a tangible difference is being made thanks to Presbyterians in Canada continuing to pray for the people of Haiti and making financial contributions to PWS&D. Through your dedicated support, people like Yolande are learning how to overcome tremendous loss and rebuild their lives.
Please continue to support recovery efforts in Haiti by making a donation to PWS&D through your church, mailing a cheque to the office, donating online or calling PWS&D at 1-800-619-7301 ext. 291. Please mark all donations “Haiti.”
Visit the Haiti page for the latest news and resources.
With files from ACT Alliance.
Presbyterian World Service & Development is the development and relief agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Visit the PWS&D Facebook page.
