Educate and Treat the Invisible Children of Haiti

Political Crisis in Haiti 

Throughout 2019, Haiti endured a political crisis that had lasting social and economic consequences. An increase in fuel prices subsequently led to widespread protests and civil unrest. Things quickly became violent, leading businesses, including health facilities and schools, to close down. In any crisis, the most vulnerable members of society, like Pazapa’s children with disabilities, are the first to feel the impact. 

Return to Normalcy.. 

In November of last year, it was deemed safe to reopen Pazapa’s schools. By the end of the year the Special Education School had 116 students enrolled while the School for the Deaf had 31 students attending. The cost of educating each student is approximately $300 per student. Thanks to a recent grant from the Trio Foundation of Colorado, safe motorized travel will be provided to students who live outside walking or easy motorcycle distance of Pazapa.

Regardless of the hardships, Pazapa staff has done it’s best to help provide some normalcy in the children’s lives. In December, due to the generosity of our British friends at Pazapa Church Stretton who donated $2,000, staff was able to organize a Christmas party for the kids and their parents. A few months later, in February, Pazapa led a float in the Carnival parade with a message of solidarity between people with disabilities and everyone else. Pazapa’s float was crowned by 14 year old, Keshna, who was one of the victims of Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010. 

COVID-19 Outbreak and Food Insecurity 

While it seemed like life was slowly returning to normal, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has left things uncertain. As of March 19th, the government of Haiti has declared a state of emergency after detecting the country’s first two cases of the Coronavirus. It is hard to be certain of how bad things might become, however, due to a lack of sanitation infrastructure and inadequate healthcare services, a disease outbreak in Haiti could be potentially disastrous.  

During the political crisis and subsequent lockdown, families experienced the impact of food and income insecurity. Because of the coronavirus there is a very real threat of this occurring again. Pazapa’s families are statistically speaking the poorest in the region and have less access to the small amount of basic resources, such as food and medicine, available. By supporting Pazapa, you can help to financially contribute to a family’s future and ensure that children living with disabilities are also able to access these recourses. 

You may have seen Haiti in the news lately, as unrest has gripped the country in response to corruption allegations, a complete lack of basic services, and skyrocketing inflation. Over 60% of the population lives in poverty and a quarter face extreme poverty — including the majority of Haitians with disabilities. According to a recent UN report, Haiti now has the highest rate of undernourishment (49.3%) in the region. Our team has been working tirelessly to make sure the Pazapa community has food and access to essential medicine despite the deepening humanitarian crisis. 

Dorestan is one of Pazapa’s own who has been deeply affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Dorestan is 7 years old and has been attending the Special Education School at Pazapa since 2016 because of a learning disability. She and her 3 other siblings live with their mother but have no fixed home and usually live with friends or family who willing to take them in.  Dorestan’s family is very poor and the current crisis in Haiti has rendered their situation even more vulnerable. The family that was helping them can no longer do so because they too are now struggling so Dorestan’s mother has had to make some drastic decisions in order to save her children. The children are no longer together, they have each been dropped off to a good Samaritan and the mother is begging for money in the streets of Jacmel. Dorestan is no longer in Jacmel. She is living in Orangers, an area plagued by gang violence. Her mother has lost all hope that things will improve but is simply asking for help because her children are all suffering enormously in these times. All donations will help children like Dorestan and their families have access to basic social services like food, clean water and medical care.