Children's Respite Home & Outreach Project, Haiti

Nicolas is an intelligent eight year old boy who has been coming to the Maison for several years. He is one of the higher functioning children of those that regularly attend the Maison, with mobility, good comprehension and limited but constantly improving speech. He loves participating in story time, singing and making crafts as well as helping out the caregivers when it comes to tidying up.

Seeing his potential, the Maison director suggested to his parents that they should enrol him in a school as he could flourish in an educational environment. At the beginning of the January term, Nicolas went with his mother to a local primary school where they met with the headteacher. Upon hearing Nicolas’ speech impediment, he was immediately denied entry to school, stating that he wasn’t capable of attending. Undeterred, Nicolas and his mother visited a second school where he actually spent the day in a class, however when his mum came to pick him up, she was told that they would be unable to accept him as a pupil after all because he was too distracting for the other children. They tried a couple of other schools but were turned away each time.

Sadly, this is a reality for many children with disabilities in Haiti, with people unable to see past their disability to their capabilities. Fortunately for Nicolas, even though he cannot go to school, he can still attend the Maison de Benediction three days a week where the motto is “disability not inability” and he is valued as an individual. Staff there recognise and celebrate his strengths and make an effort to engage him in stimulating activities so that he is able to grow in his abilities in the hope that one day, others too will see just how capable he is.

Thank you so much for supporting this amazing work. There's so much more that we can do to help children and families with disabilities, and challenge the stigma associated with disability in Haiti. Your continued support will help us grow this service and offer it to so many more families in desperate need of help. 

With much love and thanks,

All the HHA team

Links:

• Find out more about the Maison de Benediction