Reunite 75 Exploited Children with their families

Dear valued donors and dedicated supporters:

We would like to share an update from these past few months.

Current state of Haiti

“Socially, life in Haiti is always troubled; people are living with anxiety and fear, and counting the days they are still alive.

• Large populations are dying of hunger while sitting on incredible natural wealth that we can’t benefit from due to poor leadership of the country.
• extreme increase in food instability in the country as inflation continues to rise
• increasing number of displaced families as gang violence and terror continues to spread in and around Port au Prince
• significant mental trauma due to exposure to videos and/ or direct witness of gang violence, including homes lit on fire, gunfire, murder, massacre, rape, and other crime
• LFBS being referred increased number of families in situations of extreme poverty (unable to afford to meet children’s basic needs, particularly struggling to eat each day and/ or afford medical care and education

Reunification

• 12 new highly vulnerable children identified: 5 girls & 7 boys
• We provided food and hygiene kits, but they also require longer term follow up such as business start up for parents and education support for children (not yet provided). 
• Our team is actively working with 224 children: 103 girls & 121 boys
• Currently, we only have one child in our transitional safehouse (1 boy, former street child, working towards reunification
• 5 former street children that were taken in after the street child meeting in June have all been reunited with their families. 
• Our youth mentor is working to secure a vocational training apprenticeship for a new youth: 17 year old former street child who has been reunited with his family only had a 3rd grade level of education and cannot write his name; we are seeking a professional mentor to work alongside him and teach him a manual skill.
• We have recently integrated 3 youth (boys) in mechanics apprenticeships, working alongside local mechanics to learn the trade. 

Education support

Schools opened in September and October. Our team was very busy making initial school payments (we pay tuition directly to the schools wherever the children are located), purchasing uniforms, school books, and backpacks. Although in Port au Prince many schools have been shut down due to gang activity and violence and many students have had to relocate for the same reason… in the South Department and Grande Anse, where LFBS primarily works, schools continued operating without issue. However, due to the extreme inflation and economic hardship in the country, more and more families are struggling to afford access to education.

Former street children we’ve been working with following the annual street children meeting we hosted in June:

• 8 street children are in school now 
• 2 older youth have been integrated in vocational training apprenticeships
• 1 is currently in the safehouse receiving literacy tutoring while we work towards reunification with his family

Like many other countries suffering from political unrest, our team in Haiti continues our work to support the at-risk and exploited children. We are extremely thankful for your ongoing donation and support so we can assist more children like these. 

NOTE: Giving Tuesday is November 28th and we welcome you to join our efforts in raising funds that day when GlobalGiving will match donations.

Until then, we wish you and your family well.

Sincerely,

Morgan Wienberg

Executive Director