Haiti
PRAY FOR HAITI
June 2024:
The situation in Haiti continues to be serious, with gangs controlling most of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. They control all points of entry into the city, demanding payment to enter and to move from one area to another.
Although the two international airports in Haiti have reopened, letters are still impeded due to limited delivery services and the difficulty of movement within the country.
The crisis is taking an emotional and financial toll on everyone in the country.
The OneChild office and most OneChild Hope Centers in Haiti are in the north where gang activity is less severe, and they are open for regular activities. Child Champions provide a sense of stability to children and are helping desperate families with food, medical care, and school fees in the face of scarcity and drastically soaring prices.
Our two Hope Centers in or near Port-au-Prince are opening as they are able when the leaders deem it safe for children to come.* Child Champions also stay in touch with families by phone and help with urgent needs.
Our Haiti Country Director expressed his team’s deep gratitude for the faithful support and prayers of sponsors that help us stand with our local partners. They send their blessings in the name of Jesus.
Please pray:
- for protection of children, families, and Child Champions.
- that God would provide wise and godly people to lead the country.
- for peace to return to Haiti as people trust in Him.
* Sponsors of children at those Hope Centers will be contacted directly with an update.
To help kids around the world in times of crisis, donate to the CHILDREN’S CRISIS FUND.
Haiti is a country in the Caribbean Sea that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The terrain is typically mountainous and boasts long stretches of beach along with a year-round warm climate. The country is subject to bouts of drought and flooding and is plagued by destructive hurricanes and earthquakes. These environmental factors have caused serious challenges for Haiti’s water supply and sanitation system and have contributed to the country’s chronic poverty. An explosion of gang violence also has challenged Haitian families, and kids are the most vulnerable. That’s why our global community of Child Champions is here, working in the hard places to bring help and hope to children.
CHILD RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT IN Haiti
CHALLENGES FOR KIDS AND HOW CHILD CHAMPIONS HELP
Disasters and Food Insecurity
Haiti has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world due to a number of factors including natural disasters like hurricanes, drought, and earthquakes, which wipe out crops. Nearly half of the population doesn’t have enough to eat. Many of the most vulnerable children are stunted and malnourished. One-third of the women and children in Haiti are anemic.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Haiti
Through OneChild’s Children’s Crisis Fund, families receive disaster relief including emergency food relief supplies, and families who are struggling day-to-day receive vitamins, supplies, and food baskets. At their Hope Centers, children regularly receive nutritious meals and snacks.
Read an inspirational story from Latin America: Love and Care After the Fire
BE INSPIREDLack of Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
About 75% of Haitian households lack clean, running water and sanitation facilities such as sinks and toilets. Because of this, 80% of all diseases in Haiti are waterborne, such as cholera and typhoid, which can be deadly.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Haiti
At Hope Centers, kids and their families have access to clean, running water. In addition, children learn how to take care of their bodies, avoid high-risk behaviors, and protect themselves from illness through simple and effective hygiene habits.
Read an inspirational story from Latin America: An Extraordinary Gift of a Toilet
BE INSPIREDWeak Health Care and School Systems
Impoverished children in Haiti, especially those in rural areas, don’t have access to regular health care or schools that offer high-quality education.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Haiti
Children receive health screenings at their Hope Centers and medicines and care when needed. Generous supporters of OneChild’s Children’s Crisis Fund also donate for surgeries and care that go beyond day-to-day health needs. Also, many Hope Centers are schools. At these locations, children are instructed in a range of subjects and skills. In communities where schools are in place, Hope Centers provide tutoring services to help children with their studies and encourage them in their education.
Read an inspirational story from Latin America: A Graduate in Haiti Defies Poverty With Hope
BE INSPIREDGang Violence
An explosion of gang violence, particularly in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, has subjected women, girls, and boys to sexual violence, kidnapping, and killing. Gangs also block roads, hijack trucks, and steal relief supplies that are supposed to go to those in need.
How Child Champions Are Helping Children in Poverty in Haiti
Child Champions teach children about God’s plan for their lives and provide safe activities, so they are not alone in the neighborhood while their parents work long hours. Child development and youth development are crucial for kids at risk and so supporters’ generous donations also equip Child Champions to help growing kids with career guidance, vocational training, even scholarships and beyond.
Read an inspirational story
from Latin America: How God Used a Hope Center
in Haiti to Restore a Family
