By Marie Wachinger | Project Manager
Dear supporters,
Haiti is facing an unprecedented crisis. Here are the latest update on the current situation in Haiti and on our efforts to sustain access to education despite the scale of destruction and violence.
Current Situation in Haiti
The crisis in Haiti grows dire. Gang violence, hunger, and a recent cholera outbreak threaten the lives of thousands of Haitians. Levels of gun shootings, sexual violence, and kidnappings are unprecedented. A record of 4.7 million people in Haiti face acute hunger and almost 19,000 people are enduring “catastrophic hunger”, meaning they are at the risk of starving to death, according to an October report from the UN World Food Program. In addition, cholera is spreading through Port-au-Prince and can be deadly – particularly for the malnourished. Heavily armed gangs continue to blockade the country’s principal port and fuel terminals, preventing access to humanitarian assistance. Ariel Henry, Haiti’s interim prime minister, called in October for an international military force to stop armed gangs from terrorizing the country, saying there was a risk of a major humanitarian crisis.
Emergency Aid for our Schools in Haiti
St. Nicolas and St. Emma are located in the largest slum in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince – Cité Soleil. The area is controlled by gangs and heavily affected by the ongoing violence. The fact that our partner schools St. Nicolas and St. Emma therefore were not be able to resume classes after summer vacation leaves us speechless. We want to do everything in our power to support our local partners and give the students the opportunity to continue their school education. The school committee of our local partner St. Luc has reacted and is now acting under the motto, "if the children cannot go to school under the circumstances, then the school will come to their homes". Various school supplies, pencils, writing pads, geo triangle, books etc. will be packed in a backpack and given to the students. This would equip them for the school year and allow them to continue learning at home when they are unable to come to school. In addition, different remote study groups have been formed via WhatsApp, connecting teachers and students from different districts. In these groups, teachers can provide teaching via voice messages, share documents, and provide and assess homework. Particular time slots such as weekends or when the security situation permits were used and will be used to bring the students into the school to hold classes in presence individual learning assessments.
Please support our local partner St. Luc in providing remote access to education to our students in Haiti: https://www.betterplace.org/en/projects/112982-emergency-aid-haiti-bringing-the-school-home
We continue to do everything in our power to support our students, families, and local partner organizations.
Thank you for your support!
Best wishes,
The entire team of PEN PAPER PEACE
By Marie Wachinger | Project Leader
By Inka Lange | managing director
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