Rehabilitation Begins in Haiti

A grandmother smiles at her grandchild in Haiti.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance

Rehabilitation Begins in Haiti

Visit the Haiti homepage for the latest news and resources.

PWS&D is helping bring desperately needed relief to victims of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. Working through the ACT Alliance, food, clean water, hygiene kits and other essential supplies are reaching those in need.

Providing Water and Shelter

ACT Alliance members have set up water purification systems in the Belair and Petionville neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince, as well as in outlying quake-affected communities, Leogane and Jacmel. These systems are providing clean drinking water for around 20,000 people every day.

In Petionville, tented camps have been set up to provide shelter for those who lost their homes. Across the country, Haitians are working diligently to build makeshift homes, lift people’s spirits and help temporary communities feel more at home.

Helping Children Heal

Children dance capoeira as a form of therapy for emotional well-being.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance

Children in Belair are finding hope and emotional healing by dancing capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that has been turned into therapy for those affected by the earthquake. Dance instructor Flavio Soares says “Haitian children were submitted to a great deal of violence and children do not know how to express their emotions. Capoeira can help children get in touch with their emotions and learn to control them. Since the earthquake, capoeira has become a tool for mental recovery and a part of the relief work.” Through the work of ACT Alliance members, families in Belair received tents, water, psychosocial support and other essential items to begin rebuilding their lives.

PWS&D Committed to Long-term Rehabilitation in Haiti

PWS&D is committed to long-term efforts to help rebuild permanent homes, restore livelihoods, get children back in school and find the necessary support victims need to overcome from this disaster.

You Can Help

You can help support immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation in Haiti by making a donation to PWS&D by calling 1-800-619-7301 ext. 291, donating online, through your church or mailing a cheque to the office. Please mark all donations “Haiti Relief.”

The Canadian International Development Agency is matching donations from individual Canadians until February 12, 2010. For congregations sending PWS&D one cheque, please include a letter identifying the names and amounts of individual donations that make up the total to ensure these funds are eligible for matching.

Haiti Gift of Hope Cards

Make a donation to Haiti relief in someone's honour and we'll send them a Gift of Hope card featuring a picture from the emergency response in Haiti. Click here to learn more about Gift of Hope cards.

Haiti Video: ACT Alliance in Haiti

View a short video produced by the ACT Alliance highlighting our response in Haiti.

Presbyterian World Service & Development is the development and relief agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.