Making a Healthplan for Life for Haitian Children

Starting with Giving Tuesday and throughout December we saw great generosity from our donors and supporters and great courage from the children and staff in Haiti. Our partners in Haiti, Indiana, Connecticut and several other states formed a bond despite the distance that will carry our programs for the children in health, education and agriculture through the next full year. Although we had to cancel two trips over the last two months, we are scheduled to go to Titanyen in February. And while we are not running a medical clinic, we will be bringing much needed supplies that have become scarce as a result of the unrest and fuel shortages.

Our plan is to reconstruct the dormitories, showers and bathrooms that have been damaged by storms and normal deterioration in the harsh ocean climate, as well as introduce the new staff and Board members who will be stepping into the shoes of Father Charles, the founder and long term head of the foundation, who was recalled to Paris through his religious order. The various groups and individuals who have been supporting Fondation Montesinos for years have been able to respond to the absence of Father Charles by identifying excellent new staff, structuring a new, all volunteer, Board of Directors, and sorting through and filing necessary paperwork in support of a new future for Fondation Montesinos /St Dominques. In partnership with Food For The Poor, we have meetings scheduled with the well driller; the Government's Department that oversees child welfare (Institut du Bien Etre Social et des Recherches); our contractors; school and orphanage administrators, and attorneys.

Even while we were cancelling our recently planned trips and the children and staff at Fondation Montesinos huddled together texting us to stay calm when the rioting and unrest was bad, they still were able to go ahead with their holiday celebrations. They cooked a wonderful feast, baked cakes, dressed in all white with Santa hats and put on performances for each other. We are grateful for the gifts of children.

We have also been working to develop the final designs for the courtyard and shower that will be used for medical reasons, and hope that construction will start as soon as materials are available again and travel is safer. And our independent fundraiser to purchase menstrual supplies for the girls at the orphanage that are sustainable and enviornmentally sound, is progressing. 

SHH turned 10 last year and we are looking forward to our next dacade with the hope of constructing the health education wing of the Sho-Ping Chin Clinic for Healthcare and Education.

Happy New Year to all,

The Board of Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti

Miriam, Lyris, Cassie, Gerard, Margaret, Michelle, Ralph, Kathy, Lee, Carolyn

And our wonderful volunteers Anthony, Jim and Erez

• The Courtyard and Shower Plan (PDF)