Dear Friends,
Four years ago today, on August 14, 2021, a devastating earthquake struck southern Haiti — the very communities where we work and serve. The destruction was immense, and the road to recovery has been long and challenging. Yet, writing this letter from our office in southern Haiti today, I am reminded of something more powerful than the disaster itself: the unwavering perseverance, courage, and hope of our team, our partners, and the people who we serve in Haiti.
I am also profoundly inspired by the dedication of our 80+ member team in Haiti. In the immediate aftermath — even as many were grieving losses and repairing their own homes — they jumped into action to help their neighbors rebuild. Our doctors and nurses, despite the Infirmary St. Etienne sustaining heavy damage and flooding, reopened its doors just two days after the earthquake, ensuring that critical medical care was available when it was needed most. This spirit of service continues to define our work every single day.
We know that in the wake of disasters, trust is everything. That’s why from day one, we’ve been committed to transparency, accountability, and accounting for every single donation and every dollar spent. Whether it’s delivering emergency relief, rebuilding schools, or expanding access to healthcare, we track and report how your support is used so you can see the real-world impact you’ve made possible.
While the challenges persist, so does the daily impact of your generosity. This week alone, I’ve witnessed children, parents, and grandparents receiving quality healthcare and free medication at the Infirmary and through our mobile clinics in rural areas. I’ve seen students preparing to return to school this fall with the promise of a brighter future. I’ve met mothers starting small businesses through community-led Village Savings and Loan Associations, creating opportunities for their families. And I’ve seen households enjoying safe, clean drinking water from easy-to-use filtration systems that improve health and restore dignity.
I also want to acknowledge something important: the narrative you may see in the news about Haiti today is largely centered on the challenges in Port-au-Prince. While those challenges are real and urgent, they do not tell the full story of this country. Beyond the headlines, life and progress continue every single day. In southern Haiti, children are learning, families are working, and hope is alive. Your support fuels this work, and it matters now more than ever. The work continues — and so does the incredible strength of this community.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with the people of Haiti. With your continued partnership, we can ensure that perseverance turns into progress, and progress into lasting change. The road ahead will not be easy, but together — with transparency as our foundation and accountability as our guide — we will keep building a future where every child, parent, and grandparent has the opportunity to thrive.
With gratitude,
Skyler Badenoch, Hope for Haiti CEO
Progress Since The 2021 Earthquake
Here’s just some of what our team has completed since the 2021 earthquake with your support:
- Distributed upwards of $137 million in medication, vitamins, and personal protective equipment to patients at our Infirmary St. Etienne and mobile clinics and our 60+ in-country healthcare partners.
- Supported 7,336 students each year through our 24 partner schools, including school building construction and repairs, providing teacher training and school supplies, and providing college scholarships.
- Provided more than 437,977 patient consultations since 2021, marking a nearly 400% increase in annual patient load since before the earthquake.
- Held 1,332 mobile clinics in rural communities, providing life-altering access to medication and healthcare in communities without regular healthcare access.
- Provided more than $700,000 in unconditional cash assistance to support women heads of households, entrepreneurs, vetted farmers, community health workers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and others whose livelihoods were affected by the earthquake.
- Planted 22,377 seedlings in our partner communities, supporting reforestation efforts, sustainable agriculture, and families, farmers, and school lunch programs who rely on trees for food or income.
- Distributed more than 10,000 portable water filtration systems, which have now filtered more than 100 million gallons of water.
- Established 22 still-active Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), providing a safety net that enhances an individual’s capacity to save and borrow, and empowering women to be active participants in responding to financial planning and emergencies.
- And much more!
Without supporters like you, this work isn’t possible. Thank you so much for your years of support and the incredible impact you’ve helped make for families across Haiti.
Last year, we shared reflections from three of our team members about the earthquake and their experiences since then. You can read their stories here.
Thank You For Making a Difference
Immediately following the August 2021 earthquake, the number of our email subscribers and social media followers increased exponentially. Countless people saw a disaster strike and, rather than looking away, they dove into action. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to those who joined the Hope for Haiti community then and are still with us today. Thanks to your support, our programs serve more people than ever, and we have a larger audience than ever to spread the word about the life-altering work our team is still doing. Whether you donated to support disaster relief efforts, became a recurring donor, shared our profile on social media, or reported on Hope for Haiti in the media, we are so grateful. Mèsi anpil, thank you very much.
