Looking Ahead

On July 12th the media recognized the six months that had passed since a 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti. I recently read a blog by Lauren Marshall, FH Haiti CDP Volunteer, that points out the positive work being done by Food for the Hungry volunteers in Haiti. Since, like Lauren, I had noticed all the negativity portrayed in the news about the long journey reconstruction journey ahead, I wanted to share this excerpt to show exactly what I'm choosing to be a part of.

"...at FH Haiti we choose to live in hope- a hope based on a biblical vision for the people of this country. We are working with a definite goal in mind: a Haiti where children can lead happy, healthy lives and live up to their God-given potential. At FH we believe in partnering with local churches and community leaders in our work. In this way we are better able to identify those most in need of assistance and also invite the community to take ownership of earthquake recovery efforts. Here is a summary of those efforts:

Currently, FH Haiti is working within 65 sites in Port-au-Prince, areas around the city, and an area bordering the Dominican Republic.

Health:

• • Five international medical teams served for 1-2 weeks, providing mobile clinic health services.
• • Two Haitian health teams are currently providing mobile clinic services.
• • Medical supplies and pharmaceuticals provided to 5 hospitals and 2 health centers.
• • Training provided to 1,700 leader mothers every two weeks on treatment of diarrhea (transmission, care and treatment), proper hand washing, improved water sourcing and water purification, water treatment, conservation of water, feces disposal, good latrines, deworming, proper feeding of sick children, proper storage of food, breastfeeding, proper nutrition and Vitamin A. Each leader mother is providing training to 10 others so that 17,000 additional people are trained on basic health and hygiene.
• • 10,303 direct beneficiaries of the mobile clinics.

Distribution of items: tarps, hygiene kits and jerry cans provided to nearly 4,000 families.

Shelter: FH is in the process of building 800 transitional shelters. 320 have already been constructed in the community of Siloe.

Child Development Programs: 5,197 children registered and 2,521 sponsored.

Child Friendly Spaces: 65 Child Friendly Spaces serving nearly 10,000 children; nearly 1,300

workers trained in child protection.

Water and Sanitation: 52 latrines dug; 337 TippyTaps (hand washing stations) installed; 1,400

hygiene kits distributed.

Cash For Work: nearly 2,500 workers hired for rubble removal, 39% women.

Clearly we have reason to celebrate what God is doing in these communities, even in the midst of destruction and suffering. We look forward to continuing our partnership with local communities as we help Haitians rebuild."

*To read the full blog, check out Haiti: Six months later.