Justice and Human Rights Haiti Project #2230

Children's Respite Home & Outreach Project, Haiti

by Hope Health Action

Project Report | May 24, 2017
Great progress for our newest resident

By Tim Holmes | Fundraising Coordinator

In our last report we told you about a little girl, just 6 years old, who was about to begin at the Respite Home (MdB). She was in desperate need of a stable and caring home and we were hopeful that we could provide that for her. 3 months on and here is what the staff in Haiti have to say about what's happened (her name has been changed to protect her identity):

'Jessica arrived at the MdB in late February. She is 6 years old and had been moving between a centre for child adoption and her home for years, experiencing neglect whilst at home that led to severe malnourishment. We worked with the adoption centre to get Jessica a place at the MdB, which she now attends Monday – Friday. We have also placed her with a foster mother who works as a carer at the MdB during the week. Staying at our respite home means that Jessica's mother is able to maintain contact with her if she wishes to, but that she is protected and maintains good health.

Since arriving at the MdB, Jessica has settled in well, she loves music and is able to follow and respond to sounds. Her foster placement has been a huge success, her foster mother has loved having Jessica under her care. Working alongside other parents that also work as foster carers means that she is able to share problems and discuss solutions with others who have had similar experiences. As always, having her foster mother as a woman already employed by the MdB has worked well, she already had the skill set to give Jessica a high level of care.'

Jessica's case is highly sensitive and has required bridge building and collaboration over several months to bring about the positive outcome's we're now seeing. Both the administration staff and care staff at the MdB are doing an amazing job to transform their lives of children live Jessica. The support you give is making this possible so thank you so much for what you are doing.

if you have been able to give one-off gifts to this project but are able to consider a regular gift, please do so if you can. Your regular support would mean so much to the long term future of the Respite Home everyone who attends it With your continued support, we can make sure more vulnerable children can live happy and fulfilling lives with the right care. Thank you once again.

Links:

HHA disability care

Permalink

Feb 28, 2017
One at a time...

By Tim Holmes | Fundraising Coordinator

Last month saw the 10 year anniversary celebrations of our hospital. We were prviliaged to be part of it and it was a joyful occassion for all. But one of the most moving moments was seeing a girl called Priscaille being part of the parade from a local church to the hospital. She attends the Respite Home and is cared for by loving foster parents. She was dressed beautifully in a red dress marching proudly in her wheelchair with her mother along with everyone else, a beaming smile across her face. This amazing site was in complete contrast with what was seen when HHA's founders first met this girl 10 years ago.

She had been abandoned in a hospital and was naked from the waste down lying in excrement and surrounded by flies. She had no name and had cerebral palsy. No one would care for her. Returning months later, she was still there and in the same state with no care. They couldn't stand by and do nothing so they found her a foster family and got her the care and love she needed. She became the inspiration for the Respite Home and since many more have found joy and independence in their young lives where before their chances were poor.

Just this month a young girl of 6 is about to start attending the Respite Home. She has had a turbulent life with her mother struggling to look after her. She becomes malnourished in her mother's care and so has been placed up for adoption with another organisation on a number of occasions.

Our staff at the Respite Home are working with the adoption organisation, who currently cares for her, and have made a plan to move her to our Respite Home 5 days a week. She will then spend the weekend with a newly found foster family. This arrangement will mean she will receive the physical and emotional support she needs, and a more positive future can be built for her. We have hope that this story will work out just as successfully as that of Priscaille. Maybe we'll see them both at our 20th Anniversary!

Links:

HHA disability care

Permalink

Dec 1, 2016
Wheelchairs transform lives

By Tm Holmes | Fundraising Coordinator

Many of the kids who attend the Respite Centre have physical disabilities making it impossible to walk. With appropriate wheelchairs often too expensive or simply not available in Haiti, many children we see have never had their own chair and spend their days sitting in a things like baby strollers, or just on the floor. Besides the obvious mobility restrictions, a child living in this way has other affects on their lives.

Kervens is a lovely boy of 8 years old who has been coming to the project for several years. His family of 7 live in a 1 room house in one of the poorest slums of Cap-Hatien. His disability is such that he cannot walk or talk but is still very aware and can communicate with his eyes. He loves being involved in activities and coming to the Respite Centre.

Kervens has always sat in an old baby stroller which meant he was nearly lying down and made him seem a lot younger and less aware of what was happening that was actually the case. Because of that he could easily be ignored or left out.

HHA work with the Walkabout Foundation to supply adapted wheelchairs to people with disabilities in Haiti, and last month, Kervens was finally able to receive his own chair. His older brother came in and was part of the fitting process so he can help out with the chair when at home. This simple bit of equipment will totally transform Kerven's life. He now sits upright in a full size chair which makes him much more noticeable. He will no longer be dismissed as a quiet 'baby' but seen as a happy 8 year old boy who happens to have a disability.

For us, providing a fitted wheelchair to a child does more than provide increased physical mobility - it allows them to take their rightful place in society and to be recognised for who they are. Kervens is a much loved child both at his home and at our respite centre so everything, including Kervens himself, is delighted that he now has his own wheelchair.

Your support is really making these positive outcomes possible so thank you so much from everyone at HHA!

Links:

HHA disability work

Permalink

‹ 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ... 21 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.