Our Haitian staff, Jeanne and Jules, have been in regular contact with our partners, including their quarterly visit to all four communities in December. These visits are a real encouragement to the church and community leaders in each village. They are able to share local news and activities, and also any current needs from their neighbors. For instance, in Plain Matin, Jeanne and Jules heard from the farmers that they had a good crop of yams, but were not able to deliver them to the markets in Port-au-Prince due to the rise in kidnapping on the roads in that direction. So, Haiti H2O partnered with PIP Haiti to purchase the yams from the farmers and give them to our four church partners to distribute to families dealing with extreme food shortages in each area. We were able to include locally purchased rice, beans, oil, and corn flour as well in the 250 food kits that were distributed.  

These visits are also a time for planning future projects and giving updates on current ones.  Jules and Jeanne received information from the leaders in St. Martin that the home shown below is nearly complete, and also found out that funds from the Corn Grinder Micro-business in Bassin Caiman was able to provide for local teacher’s salaries.  

Pastor Pharyl in Plain Matin assembled a building team to repair the community’s church after the earthquake in August. With funds from their denomination they were able to complete construction at the end of the year and recently hosted a large wedding celebration for several couples in that community. It was wonderful for the community to be able to come together to celebrate!

We’re working with the building team to find a plan for replacing homes lost in the earthquake. One complication is the shortage and cost of obtaining concrete to make the homes that are normally constructed. The cost to build the typical home has quadrupled since before the earthquake. Gang violence and kidnappings are making it very difficult to get materials in the South.

Jeanne was also able to work with Dr. Sony’s medical team to organize a mobile medical clinic in Plain Matin and Bassin Caiman in December and January. (They send a big thank you to the members at Friendship and Fox Chapel Churches for funding these clinics!) The medical team has been caring for an average of 100 patients at these mobile clinics.  However, at the first clinic in Bassin Caiman, they saw 110 patients and Dr. Sony had to use his phone flashlight to fill out the last patient cards as the sun was setting and they had not used the generator to turn on the lights due to the fuel shortage.

We are so grateful for our staff and partners in Haiti who continue to work courageously under very difficult circumstances. And we are humbled to be able to partner with them in continuing to transform the hopes of rural Haitians into real opportunities.