Schools for Haiti

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