Hurricane Irma caused about $50 billion in damage and is the fifth-costliest storm to hit the continental U.S. since 1900. Here are some facts, FAQs, and how to help.
Why World Vision is in Haiti
Since 2004, U.N. peacekeeping forces have been helping Haiti stabilize widespread political unrest. They’re withdrawing from the country this year, leaving many wondering what the future of Haiti’s politics will be. Haiti is still recovering from the devastating effects of 2016’s Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane caused a humanitarian crisis throughout the country. Food production and agriculture, already precarious in Haiti, aren’t secure yet. A full half of Haiti’s population are malnourished, and over a million people don’t know where they’ll get their next meal. This food insecurity makes it hard for families to raise their own children—about 30,000 kids live in orphanages, but the majority of these have at least one living parent. Together we’re bringing hope to thousands of children in development programs and emergency response areas. Your support is helping us provide seeds and farming equipment so communities can experience long-term recovery. More neighborhoods and schools are getting access to clean water, and the country’s cholera rates have fallen sharply—six years ago the yearly cases numbered 350,000, but this year they were just over 10,000. We’re identifying and treating preventable illnesses so children can live healthy lives, as God intended.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Haiti ❯
Progress in Haiti
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- We established child protection clubs to teach children and youth about advocacy, civic responsibility, and community decision making.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- To protect kids from waterborne illnesses, we held informational sessions for children and families about the importance of handwashing. We also introduced handwashing stations called Tippy Taps that families could build themselves with water containers and branches.
- We worked with the Ministry of Public Health and local organizations to provide central locations in the community where parents can bring children to receive screening for malnutrition, anti-parasite treatments, and Vitamin A supplements for vision and immunity.
- To protect children and their families from health ailments caused by unclean water, we trained children and families on methods of proper water treatment, such as filters, boiling water, and using chlorine tablets to purify the water.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- We worked to improve children’s reading skills and comprehension through libraries, reading clubs, and reading camps. Each of these activities incorporated information on health and sanitation--such as providing children with books that teach the importance of handwashing.
Love of God and Neighbors
Children and families are growing spiritually, local churches are strengthened to demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways, and people are living at peace with their neighbors.
- We held reflection sessions for faith leaders to discuss the importance of the social mission of the church, such as their congregation's role in community development and ensuring child protection.
Prayer Requests from Haiti
World Vision's staff in Haiti are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
Our work to impact lives so the Haitian people can live in fullness.
Social, economical, and political stability in the country.
News from Haiti
From the Field
2017 Hurricane Maria: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
Families are still recovering from Hurricane Maria after the monster storm devastated Puerto Rico and much of the Caribbean last September.
From the Field
2010 Haiti earthquake: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was the most destructive natural disaster in the history of this poverty-stricken, disaster-prone country. Of the 3 million people affected, 1.5 million were left homeless. Haitians continue to recover and rebuild, despite recurring hazards, including hurricanes, and cholera.
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