Dear Hope for Haiti Family:
In this edition of our newsletter, we’re thrilled to express our heartfelt gratitude for the dedicated nurses who help us serve our 24 partner communities. We also highlight some exciting medication distribution efforts, announce our first essay contest winner, and introduce you to a remarkable woman from one of our Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups.
Read on for our latest program updates!
International Nurses Day 2023
“Our Nurses. Our Future.” was the theme for this year’s International Nurses Day, celebrated on May 12. Each year, this day recognizes the importance of nurses worldwide and the vital contributions they make to each of our lives.
At Hope for Haiti, our team members who are nurses treat, screen, evaluate, and educate children and parents in our 24 partner communities about nutrition, overall health, hygiene and sanitation, and more.
We’d like to share a very special ‘thank you’ to our phenomenal Hope for Haiti nurses, who make it possible for our Healthcare team to see an average of 600 patients per day and help improve public health and sanitation in rural southern Haiti. Their work changes lives!
Women’s Rights & Technology Essay Contest
This week, a panel of Hope for Haiti staff members judged our first-ever Les Cayes essay competition. In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8 (when the contest was initially announced), the essay topic was Women’s Rights and Technology.
Jenny, an 8th grader from Les Cayes, was declared the Les Cayes competition’s winner. As a prize, Jenny received a tablet, as well as a stylus, keyboard, and mouse. In the last sentence of her essay, Jenny writes, “Technology can help us build a modern society where boys and girls have the same rights.” Congratulations to Jenny on her fantastic essay!
The Education team will be holding two more award ceremonies where the winners of the Gris Gris and Aquin competitions will be announced.
Saving for the Future
Meet 81-year-old Vilna, a resident of the Ménard/Cavaillon region. Vilna joined one of the village savings and loans association (VSLA) groups that our Economic Development team set up in her area. Since then, she has learned how to save money in case of emergencies and feels more secure in case of a “rainy day.”
Financial empowerment, especially for marginalized groups, promotes economic growth and helps build a more inclusive and cohesive society.
Medication Distribution in Les Cayes
Our Gift-In-Kind team recently distributed 18 pallets of sodium chloride (used to treat cholera, diabetes, dehydration, and other ailments) to hospitals designated by the Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP). The pallets were generously provided by Americares, one of our trusted Gift-In-Kind partners. Our Healthcare team also received 2 pallets for patient use at our Infirmary St. Etienne in Les Cayes.
Celebrating Haitian Flag Day
May 18 is National Haitian Flag Day. Since the flag’s creation in 1803, it has become a symbol of pride, unity, and individual liberty. The Haitian flag has two horizontal bands – one blue and one red – with the Coat of Arms in the middle. The motto “L’Union Fait La Force,” which means “unity is strength,” is printed in the center, below the coat of arms.
Haitian Flag Day is typically celebrated with lively parades, dancing and music, family gatherings, and traditional cuisine – similar to how the United States celebrates the 4th of July.
Happy Haitian Flag Day from our team to you!
Introducing Pockets of Hope
Pockets of Hope is a new campaign by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation(WKKF) and partners to broaden support for local initiatives in Haiti that aim to provide long-term opportunities for Haitian children, families, and communities.
Hope for Haiti is proud to partner with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in multiple ways, including spreading awareness through this campaign to help change the narrative surrounding Haiti. We will continue highlighting the success stories coming out of our work in Haiti, as well as that of our partner organizations.
Read more about Pockets of Hope
Save the Date: NYC Celebration
This fall, join us once again in New York City as we celebrate the impact your support has made through our programs and continue this important work.
This year’s event will be on Friday, October 27, in Brooklyn, NYC. More details coming soon! We hope to see you there.
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