Haiti Children & Youth Project: Youth Retreat & Kids Club 2020

By Terri Sutton

Youth Retreat 2020, Kids Club & Amazing Volunteers

Youth Retreat

At the end of February this year, just before the Corona Virus spread to Canada and many other countries than Haiti, Rose Haiti Children & Youth Project sponsored another Youth Retreat in Lavalee, Haiti. The leaders and incredible volunteers of our partner Haitian NGO, ‘Source d’Espoir Communautaire’, helped make this 5 day event a success.

Similar to previous youth camps the teens enjoyed games, music and singing, crafts, soccer matches, three nutritious meals per day, and educational sessions with a guest speaker.

A group of nine women, all volunteers, cheerfully worked long hours in the kitchen cooking the delicious meals.

The project leaders had prepared for 50 participants but an average of 36 attended (30-43 per day). The attendance was lower this year since some schools in the area did not close during the ‘Karnival’ school break, so some students did not have time off. The reason some schools continued classes during the usual school break was due to months of political unrest last year, schools in Haiti started more than 3 months late and not until December 2019.

Kids Club

During the time of the Youth Retreat, the project held “Kids Club” for 50 – 60 children age 6 to 12 on two separate afternoons. The program was organized and directed by two youth leaders. The kids sang, heard a short story, drew or colored pictures and decorated photo frames on the second afternoon. Each afternoon ended with a nutritious snack.

Neither of these events, or any of the Haiti Children & Youth Project activities, would be possible without the faithful work of the all the volunteers: the project leaders (see photo below), youth leaders, kitchen workers, building maintenance workers & guest speakers.

Thank you for all your support! Your donation has a direct impact on these children’s lives, please help us continue our work this year!