Haiti Children & Youth Project: striving to bring hope
By Terri Sutton
Striving to bring Hope through Education and Emergency Relief
Similar to other parts for the developing world, the past year has been extremely difficult in the Caribbean island country of Haiti where Rose Charities’ Haiti Children & Youth Project partners with the Haitian NGO “Source d’Espoir Communautaire” in the south of the country. The Haiti Children & Youth Project continues to provide hope and practical support amidst long school closures and increased economic hardship.
Due to political unrest and violent protests in 2019, Haitian schools did not open for the 2019 – 2020 academic year until December 2019. Then the Corona Virus reached Haiti and schools closed again in March 2020 when the country locked down to prevent the spread of the threatening virus. Thankfully the cases of COVID-19 in Haiti have been low so schools were re-opened in July 2020 to complete the 2019-2020 year by the end of November. The 2020-2021 academic year started this month, December 2020.
Haiti Children & Youth Project education support (summer 2018)
Although the annual August Soccer Camp was cancelled this year due to COVID-19, the project will again provide bursaries to help orphans and students from low-income, vulnerable families pay for their 2020-2021 school fees.
The Corona Virus lock down in Haiti, which significantly limited the operating hours of outdoor markets, caused huge financial hardship for the majority of the population who depend on selling agricultural products and other items on the street or in the outdoor markets. During the lock down, the Haiti Children & Youth Project provided three separate food and soap distributions to more than 100 vulnerable households: seniors, single parent families, and families with adults or children with disabilities. Some of the youth who participate in the annual spring Youth Retreat and the summer Soccer Camp assisted with these distributions, learning to “give back” and develop leadership skills.
COVID-19 Food & Soap distribution Haiti
COVID-19 Food & Soap distribution Haiti
Recipients of COVID-19 Food & Soap distribution Haiti (February 2020)
Community members have testified how encouraged they are by the active presence of the “Source d’Espoir Communautaire” and Rose Haiti Children & Youth Project in the Lavalee area. Their input, and the needs of the community, continue to spur the project leaders and volunteers to carry on the same work and more.