Education Haiti Project #41076

Schools for Haiti

by PEN PAPER PEACE e. V.

Project Report | Aug 15, 2022
Update on current situation in Haiti

By Marie Wachinger | Project Leader

Dear supporters,

We hope this finds you well and that you are having a good summer! Here are the latest updates on PEN PAPER PEACE’s project Schools for Haiti:

1. Current situation in Haiti

Haiti’s capital has been increasingly racked by heavy fighting between gangs. More than 900 deaths, 650 injuries and 650 kidnappings have been registered in Haiti by the United Nations that directly correlate with gang warfare. About 20,000 people have fled their homes because of gang crime, according to the UN. Cité Soleil, the largest and poorest slum in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, has been the central location of the most violent gang warfare. Both our schools St. Emma and St. Nicolas are located in Cité Soleil. Most families have no access to food, water or medical care, fearing to be beaten or killed if they try to leave their homes. It is currently uncertain whether our schools can reopen in September to start the new academic year 2022/2023. We recognise that it is more important than ever before to create decent opportunities for young Haitians to earn a living and to invest in education as a sustainable path to reducing violence.

2. Food insecurity in Haiti

Haiti is further plagued by severe food insecurity. Haiti is depended on imports for 70% of its food provisions. Major import routes are controlled by armed gangs which restrict the import of food. This is particularly distressing regarding the concurrent inflation at 26% in Haiti. Especially the prices of food are rising immensely in Haiti. Our partner organisation nph Haiti are now providing increased food aid in the most affected neighbourhoods.

3. Medical support project

Despite the devastating situation in Haiti, we could successfully implement our medical support project. As part of the project, a team of doctors and medical assistants conducted regular health check-ups of our students and diagnosed as well as treated children’s illnesses. Furthermore, vaccinations against acute health risks such as yellow fever or typhoid were ensured. We further provided medical support to family members of our students who neither have the financial means for private medical examinations nor for the transport to health centres.

4. End of school year

We are proud to announce that despite the unrest in Haiti, 100% of the 6^th graders in St. Emma and 95% of the 6^th graders in St. Nicolas have graduated and received the recommendation and possibility to continue their studies at the secondary school Tabarrre of our partner organisation nph in Port-au-Prince.

5. Apprenticeship project

Together with our partners nph Haiti and St. Luke Foundation For Haiti we are currently designing a new apprenticeship scheme. This apprenticeship scheme would ensure young students who don’t have the opportunity for higher education a secure and sustainable path for a decent profession to make a living.

6. Writing competition in Haiti

Last year we successfully hosted a writing competition for young students (10 to 14 years) in all our project countries (Haiti, Honduras, Nambia, Germany and Italy). In the submissions we received from Haitian students, it is saddening to see how the violent unrest afflicts their everyday live as child and student. We are still in the process of translating the submissions and will publish a collection of letters this fall.

Things are always happening at PEN PAPER PEACE. If you would like to receive regular updates about our projects in Haiti, please sign up for our newsletter. You can simply fill in your name and email address at www.pen-paper-peace.org in the upper right corner. Also stay tuned on our Instagram (@penpaperpeace) or Facebook to get updated on what we’re currently working on.

The scale of violence and destruction in Haiti leaves us speechless. Nevertheless, we continue to support our students, families and the staff of St. Emma and St. Nicolas as much as we can.

Thank you for your support!

All our best,

The entire team of PEN PAPER PEACE

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Apr 21, 2022
Situation in Haiti and writing competition

By Inka Lange | managing director

Recent picture from the school St. Emma

Dear supporter,

Spring is in full swing and with that we want to bring you the newest updates on this project.

End of medical support project

Let us start with some good news first: The medical support project was successfully concluded and gives us an opportunity to take stock. As political unrest becomes more and more predominant in Haiti’s everyday life, the pandemic is clearly fading into the background. As part of the project, a team of doctors and medical assistants conducted regular health check-ups of our school children and diagnosed as well as treated children's illnesses. Vaccinations against acute dangers such as yellow fever or typhoid were administered and supplies with medicine ensured.

Final exams

After two school years with many disruptions in the form of lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as political instabilities, lessons are being taught regularly again. However, as the schools primary focus now is on catching up, the final exams in May and June as well as some learning control measures just before Easter put an enormous time pressure on students and teachers alike.

Political instability

Unfortunately, we have to follow up with some rather worrisome news: As we were already reporting back in January, the political atmosphere is ever tense. School children leave their uniforms at home for the fear of becoming the targets of violent attacks. The schools try to continue being a safe space for the kids to escape to but with growing unrest this becomes a goal increasingly difficult to attain. As a measure to minimize the safety risk, the school grounds have been equipped with solar-powered street lamps that provide light in the surrounding streets in the evening hours.This makes women and girls in particular feel safer on their way home.

Food crisis

The food situation is increasingly difficult. With Ukrainian wheat-exports now missing on the global market the situation is only worsening, as Haiti was importing around 66% of its wheat demand. An increased price level due to this gap on the world market combined with a growing inflation means that our focus remains ensuring food safety for the pupils of our two primary schools St. Emma and St. Nicolas in Haiti's largest slum, Cite Solei. Over 600 children in the most impoverished region of Port-au-Prince depend on the schools to provide them with regular meals. Thus, they count on our help to provide them with essential nutrition.

Writing competition

This year we want to encourage children and young people once more to write down their thoughts and feelings. Therefore, we are hosting our writing competition in collaboration with the Eckenroth Stiftung for already the third time. It will take place in all our project countries (Haiti, Honduras, Namibia, Germany and Italy). Children and young people from 10 to 14 years of age are called upon to send us their texts on the topic of sadness, anger, despair - happiness, courage, and gratitude.

If you would like to stay updated on all of our projects, we want to use this opportunity to also invite you to register for our newsletter. All updates from our project in Haiti as well as any other updates will regularly be covered so that you will never miss out on what is going on at PEN PAPER PEACE. Simply fill in your name and email address at www.pen-paper-peace.org in the upper right corner.

Thank you for your support!

With the kindest regards,

The entire team of PEN PAPER PEACE

Kids enjoying their lunch break

Medical support project

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Jan 25, 2022
Schools as a safe refuge in times of uncertainty

By Jana Gottschalk | Project Leader

Dear supporter,
We hope you could start the new year off right and are excited to share some news from the project in Haiti with you:

Haiti has been through a very turbulent year, and has demanded a great deal in terms of flexibility from the school teams, the children and their families. Throughout the year, our local partner ensured that lessons were still continuing, even if that meant higher precautions such as leaving the school outfit at home, guards at the school doors or changed routes for the approximately 600 children. Parents and staff members are doing everything in their power to ensure that the schools constitute a safe refuge for the kids despite the many crises that Haiti has to cope with. A place where they can still be children and learn and relax.

Food Crisis in Haiti

Due to high inflation, the earthquake and the ongoing political unrest food prices are increasing ever since 2019, making it ever harder to obtain a healthy nutrition. Unfortunately, the food situation for the children at our schools is thus worsening, which is why we are ever so thankful for your support.

Project Contest

We at PEN PAPER PEACE ourselves are starting off the new year with a contest aimed at all young people who want to make a change in this world. We welcome any creative ideas on how to make the world a little bit better. The contest is organized by the FutureLab, a group of young volunteers within PEN PAPER PEACE. If you have an idea for a project or know someone that would be interested in participating, we would be delighted to receive an application until the end of February. For further information please consult: https://www.pen-paper-peace.org/unterstuetzen/zeit-spenden/future-lab.html - the site will soon be updated.

New beginnings

We even have more great news to share: PEN PAPER PEACE officially welcomes a new Managing Director: We are beyond happy and excited to introduce to you Inka Lange who starts in February! Sadly, this also means that we will have to say goodbye to Jana Gottschalk, who deserves our utmost gratitude and respect for the fantastic job and unimaginable service she has rendered PPP in the past almost four years.

If you would like to stay updated on all of our projects, we cordially invite you to register for our newsletter. All updates from our project in Haiti as well as any other updates will regularly be covered so that you will never miss out on what is going on at PEN PAPER PEACE. Simply fill in your name and email address at www.pen-paper-peace.org in the upper right corner.

We are hopeful for a great year ahead and hope that you will be a part of it!

With the kindest regards,

The entire team of PEN PAPER PEACE

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