Children's Respite Home & Outreach Project, Haiti

In November, Carwyn Hill, our Co-Founder and CEO, was able to visit Haiti and the Maison to offer his support but also hear the struggles the families and staff have been facing, especially this year. Here's his account:

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to be in Haiti and visit Maison de Benediction - MdB (our respite centre for children with disabilities), where I had a team meeting with the incredible staff who run this centre.  They are a heroic, courageous and inspirational group of women, especially the 9 staff who’ve personally fostered some of the children, all with disabilities – including many profound disabilities, into their own homes.

I was left in tears sitting before the staff as I listened to their stories.  Tales of deep love for the children they’ve adopted into their homes and the indescribable sacrifices they’ve made in doing so, but also tales of great pain hearing the constant hurdles they face.  As one example, even accessing transport to come to our respite centre is an emotionally draining weekly struggle.  Standing at the side of the road for an hour, being rejected again and again by moto-taxis, unwilling to help a child with a disability.  Taken advantage of when they do get a ride, paying prices well over the local rate.  Dealing with the comments and verbal abuse from community members in a culture with deeply rooted stigma against persons with disabilities.  This year has also been harder for these heroic and humble women, with financial constraints meaning MdB has reduced its opening hours by 50% this year, meaning 50% less respite support for the 21 kids we’re actively supporting on the programme.

I started to cry as I grappled with these realities. Aside from the heart-breaking stories I was hearing, I was also acutely aware of the deep injustice and disparity between what I face as a father of a child with a disability in the UK and what these women are facing.  

My oldest son has Down’s Syndrome. Yet each day for school, he gets picked up by the school bus, a cheerful carer and a happy driver.  And in our street, most people know our son, and look out for him with warmth and love. The reality for these dear women at MdB, is something very different.  Whilst we have achieved so much in Haiti, there is a long way to go. My tears were also an outpouring of frustration and anger.  We need to do better for these women, for these children.  Living with a disability can be hard anywhere in the world, but in Haiti, Uganda and South Sudan, it’s a battle few of us can truly understand (myself included).  

As part of our response to these struggles, we are raising extra funds this Christmas for resources that can help the families and staff. For example we hope to be able to provide a dedicated transport service for some of the kids, relieveing pressure on the families who face prejudice on their journey.

It is also our deep hope that we can secure the funding to re-open the Maison to full time, so your continued support will help make this a reality. Thank you. 

Links:

• HHA Maison de Benediction Project