Posts Tagged ‘Haiti’
Posted on January 14, 2011
ONE-YEAR REPORT: SEE HOW YOUR SOLIDARITY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HAITI!
A few numbers:
- DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE receieved $20 million from the Canadian public for reconstruction in Haiti.
- $1 million came from schools and student fundraising.
- DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has been present in Haiti for over 40 years.
- With the Caritas Internationalis network, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE provided humanitarian assistance (food, water, tents, mobile clinics) to more than 2.3 million Haitian men and women, in the first 6 months.
- So far, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has spent $5 million on emergency and reconstruction projects with its 25 partners in Haiti and has committed an additional $10 million for the next three years.
Our reconstruction program with some concrete examples:
Support to our civil society partners so they can re-establish their activities:
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has helped its partners restart their activities by financing a solidarity fund that has enabled staff to get back to work and is also providing financial aid for rebuilding their offices and replacing essential equipment.
Reconstruction of houses in areas directly affected by the earthquake:
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, in partnership with Caritas Switzerland, is supporting local group Iteca in their program to rebuild 1,700 permanent houses in Gressier using local materials.
Getting children back in school:
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is helping children directly affected by the earthquake to return to school by financing school canteens, purchasing equipment and subsidizing teachers’ salaries;
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is collaborating with CECI in rebuilding a primary school for 850 students that is operated by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
Promoting the special needs and interests of women:
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is supporting women’s organizations that are taking action on the issue of protecting women and children in the IDP camps – security patrols in the camps, raising awareness about violence against women, supporting victims of violence – and are promoting the rights of women in Jacmel and Port-au-Prince.
Promoting food security, with a focus on food sovereignty through ecological and responsible agriculture in response to environmental degradation in the country:
With the support of DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, the Papaye Peasants’ Movement (MPP):
- Has distributed seeds to more than 20,500 farming families affected by the earthquake;
- Is implementing a major three-year program to strengthen the food security of farmers in the Central Plateau.
Monitoring human rights in the post-earthquake context:
The National Human Rights Defence Network (RNDDH) works on defending, promoting and protecting human rights in post-earthquake Haiti; it also promotes a state of law, has participated in election monitoring, etc.
Strengthening communications in order to ensure that the viewpoint of civil society is known to the public and to better inform communities about reconstruction and disaster-prevention issues:
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE supports two community radio associations in the country. REFRAKA, which produces women-oriented programming, and SAKS are both creating content adapted to the post-quake context for broadcast on member community radio stations across the country. They also offer their members technical training and journalism courses.
TO LEARN MORE and to send a MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY to the people of Haiti, click on the banner below!
Posted on January 11, 2011
Getting youth involved in the reconstruction of Haiti
JACHA, a youth organization in Jacmel, has long been working to improve the future of Haiti by looking after two of the country’s best resources: its youth and the environment.
The organization brings the two together by teaching youth about the importance of the country’s environment and by actively engaging them in preservation activities, such as tree planting and organizing awareness campaigns in their communities.
Jacmel was not spared by the January 12th earthquake. This cultural capital of Haiti lost many of its heritage buildings and a large portion of the city’s residents are now living in camp sites that dot the landscape of this coastal town.
With the city covered in rubble and people moving into the crowded tent cities, JACHA recognized an urgent need to ensure that these spaces did not quickly fill with rubbish and increase the potential for the spread of disease.
The organization quickly put together a cash-for-work program supported by DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE that mobilized over one hundred youth members of the organization and dispatched them to camps to organize clean-up committees and speak to residents on how to manage waste and keep their surroundings clean.
“Life in the camps is impossible. No one looks after us,” says Dayana Alexandre, 21, who lives with five other people in a tent. “At least with the activities from JACHA, I feel better and safer. They are helping me develop,” she says.
The importance of this kind of work in the camps became frighteningly evident with the rapid spread of cholera in the country.
As soon as news of the dissemination of the disease broke, JACHA asked its youth members to speak to residents on precautions they can take to prevent the spread of cholera. Although, there have been some cases in Jacmel, the city has mostly been spared from the disease.
In fact, disaster prevention has become a large part of JACHA’s work and when the hurricane season was approaching, members worked diligently in the camps to warn people of what and what not to do to remain safe.
“If people had known what to do in the earthquake, we would not have lost so many people. That is very sad. That is why we wanted to start a prevention program. Why we had to,” says Jackson Marcelin, one of the coordinator’s at JACHA.
JACHA, however, is also concerned with giving youth the opportunity to improve their future prospects so they can flourish. They organize a variety of classes for their youth members, who range in ages from 15 to 30.
The courtyard of the organization is always full of young faces chatting and laughing. Some are there for English or computers courses, while others gather for cooking classes. JACHA even organized a papier-mâché workshop for some local kids. It is an art form that Jacmel is renowned for, and despite the city losing some of its heritage in the earthquake, at least other forms are being preserved and appreciated by a new generation of Jacmelians.
Read more at: One Year of Solidarity with Haiti
Posted on January 11, 2011
On January 12, 2011, the world will be marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. This is an important time to take stock of the current situation in Haiti, to assess what has been done to support the Haitian population in recovering from this terrible disaster, and to reflect on the enormous challenges remaining to be met.
We are using this occasion to say thanks, once again, to all who so generously responded to our appeal on behalf of the people of Haiti, with donations of more than $20.5 million, and to acknowledge the tireless and determined work of our partners with whom we are participating in rebuilding this shaken country.
Development and Peace is launching a new special dedicated page on our Website, reporting on the first year of reconstruction activities and projects. We encourage you to visit our page and to share this link as widely as possible: http://support.devp.org/site/PageNavigator/Haiti
Two major Canadian daily newspapers – The Globe and Mail and La Presse – will be featuring a series of profiles of our work in Haiti, from Jan 11-13, featuring a different theme and perspective on the inspiring work of our Haitian partners in leading the recovery efforts. Check it out: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/partners/sif/dp/
Thank you to everyone who has helped in this campaign and for your continued generous support to our reconstruction program in Haiti. I am certain that you will share in the justified pride and inspiration that we all feel in learning of the work of our partners, as we join together in expressing our solidarity with our Haitian sisters and brothers.
Michael Casey, Development and Peace
Posted on May 21, 2010
On June 10th 2010 we will be hosting an evening of fun, awareness, and raise money for Haiti; all taking place at Lula Lounge – 1585 Dundas St W. in Toronto. Doors open at 8pm.
Our aim is to increase youth awareness about the work of
Development & Peace and to raise money for our emergency relief fund for Haiti – currently close to 20 Million dollars.
Dj Busty C.E.O of Bold Productions has offered to spin top 40 for us all night, with a guest performance by
Dubbs.
For the first time they will be performing their single written for Development and Peace called “We will never surrender”.
This all ages event (drinking for 19+) is going to be an awesome night for young people to come together and help make a change.
Come support Development and Peace, friends, family members, and even strangers are all welcome. Max capacity is 250 so make sure you are there early to ensure you get in. If you would like to confirm in advance I have 50 spots available on a guest list.
See you there!
Daniel
Posted on April 2, 2010
On the Ground Today
More than two months after the quake, the Haitian government is estimating the number of deaths at 222,517 and the number of injured at 310,928.
On February 28, more than 654,215 people were displaced from Port-au-Prince to other departments in search of safety, shelter or income prospects. It is now estimated that 1,301,491 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in makeshift or more organized camps in the areas affected by the disaster.
After two months, more than 4.3 million people have received food aid and 1.2 million have received daily rations of drinking water. More than 300,000 people, children and adults, have been vaccinated. About 56% of the 1.3 million people needing shelter assistance have had access to emergency shelter materials.
The main challenges currently being faced are supplying all temporary sites with clean water, installing sanitary facilities at the sites and providing transitional housing for displaced populations so they can face the rainy season in safety and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.
For the displaced populations, the rains, alongside stagnant pools of water and pools of waste water, represent a significant health risk and an increase in respiratory infections.
A recent needs assessment in emergency food security estimates that more than 50% of the population requires food aid in the earthquake-affected areas (70% in the camps for displaced persons). Seeds are currently being distributed to farmers and communities and this distribution will continue until the end of April.
Development and Peace Emergency Relief
Development and Peace, as well as its entire network in Canada, mobilized quickly and extensively in response to the earthquake in Haiti. The organization has raised over $19 million to date.
The campaign was launched on the morning of January 13 and media response was very positive. The campaign for Haiti was supported by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as by many dioceses all across Canada. Collections were organized quickly in the churches and the dioceses’ various Websites invited the public to make online donations to Development and Peace.
As of March 23, 67% of the funds raised ($12,889,185.27) were from the dioceses; close to a million dollars ($925,839) was collected in schools (330 schools participated) and the religious communities contributed $635,145;
More than $2 million came from individual donations (from the general public); the Haiti emergency has caused more than 8,000 new donors to put their trust in Development and Peace.
Development and Peace in Haiti
to be continued…
Have a blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter!
Posted on March 18, 2010
D and P Makes a Difference week is happening now!
In collaboration with Catholic Students’ Week, students at colleges and univeristry campsuses across Canada are inspiring their Catholic community to be informed, liturgical, and active witnesses on campus to the love of God and of neighbor.
Catholic Students’ Week ends on March 21st with Development and Peace’s Solidarity Sunday – when we join with the rest of the Canadian Church to share our resources with the poor in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Here is a list of all the Development and Peace Makes a Difference week events on campuses:
BC
Vancouver, Corpus Christi and St. Mark’s College at UBC
March 14, 11am: Mass and Soup lunch with Development and Peace guest speaker
AB
Edmonton, St. Joseph’s College
March 21, noon – 2pm: Development and Peace Talk followed by Sunday Brunch hosted by D&P and Campus Ministry
MB
Brandon, University of Brandon
March 14-15: 25 hour THINKfast!
ON
London, King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
March 21st: Solidarity Sunday Mass with Development and Peace presentation on agrofuels
Toronto, Ryerson University
March 21, 5 pm: Mass and Haitian Dinner in solidarity with the victims of the earthquake.
St. Michael’s Cathedral collecting donations for Development and Peace
NB
Fredericton, St. Thomas University
March 15, 10am – 1pm: Development and Peace Share Lent bake sale and card signing
March 16, 6:30pm: Development and Peace screening of Food, INC with pizza and card signing
Development and Peace THINKfast! during “D&P Makes a Difference week: March 14th – 21st
St Francis de Sales Parish
St Boniface Diocesan High School
Our Lady of the Scapular Parish
St. Patrick’s Church
St. Agnes Parish
Christ the King Parish
St Agnes Parish
Ecole J.M. Picard School
Notre Dame de Lorette
St Vincent Parish
Ste Anne-des-Chênes
City Wide St. John’s TF
St John the Divine Parish
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
St. Michael’s Parish
Immaculate Conception Parish
St Agustine & St Joseph Parish
Dauphin Ukranian UCY
and I am sure there are more out there!
Posted on February 19, 2010
Across the provinces men and women, young and old, of all ways of life and religion are coming together to reach out to the suffering in Haiti and provide what they can to the rehabilitation of an injured Haiti.
From coast to coast, Canadians are coming together to show their support for the Haitian people:
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In Fort McMurray, Alberta, St. Anne School has raised more than $6,000 in the past week through their “Walking to Haiti” initiative where students and staff alike spend their school breaks walking laps around school grounds in exchange for community pledges and donations towards the Haiti cause. The final goal is to complete an accumulated 5328.24 kilometers, the equivalent distance from Fort McMurray to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
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This same drive is shared by O’Gorman Intermediate Catholic School in Timmins, Ontario, where an Olympic connection is raising awareness and funds. Travelling to local elementary schools, Principal Weltz is offering students a chance to hold and take a picture with an Olympic torch for just $3 going to Development and Peace in Haiti, with a final fundraising goal of $4,000.
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Over in Alberta, the Haiti Association of Calgary organized a benefit concert series featuring singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell and Haitian musician Georges Gabriel amongst others. During the performance at St. Cecilia’s Church on January 28th, 2010, many large donations were made through Development and Peace for the Haiti emergency.
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Janis Power, an Ontario teacher led the cause at her school, Woodslee’s St. John the Evangelist elementary school, organizing student-produced bead bracelets throughout the school. At a minimum donation of $2 each, she found the community ordering 200 bracelets.
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Finally, one of the most powerful stories of selfless individuals reaching out to Haiti, is that of Sister Marguerite Laliberté’s initiative in Old Montreal’s Acceuil Bonneau homeless shelter. So far, the Grey Nuns have raised about $500 for the Haitian emergency, most of which was donated by those coming in for a hot meal. Laliberté tells of one man who collected tin cans every night for a week, then donated the full $150 proceeds to those suffering in Haiti.
James Dempsey, Toronto office intern
Posted on February 11, 2010
I want to share with you all the great news about Haiti fundraisers. We have 4 million raised and the cheques keep arriving. School boards across Canada have been doing amazing work. Everyday I hear of a new initiative for Haiti that makes me feel proud to be working with youth in Canada.
News of your fundraising ideas have been coming in by email, by newspapers, and through websites. Among other super school communities in Canada (hi Red Deer!), the Ottawa Catholic School Board got organized and had fundraisers in almost ALL their high school and elementary schools.
Their fundraising ideas were super smart and engaging. Here’s some highlights of great activities:
St. John the Apostle School
Students and staff held a HOPE for HAITI focus week, launched by a special prayer service. Members of School Council invited students to do some special chores around their homes or to give up their electronic gadgets for the week to collect donations from their parents/relatives/friends.
Holy Cross School
Students have been collecting ”Toonies for Haiti” every Thursday, and each donation allows the students to display their names on a paper toonie on a wall of dedication. Students have raised over $500 so far.
Pope John XXIII School
Students and staff raised over $1,150 in just one day, by making voluntary contributions in exchange for being allowed to chew gum all day long! Proceeds are being directed to Development and Peace.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee Catholic School
Students and staff wore Haiti’s official national colours – red and blue – and raised over $690 for Development and Peace.
St. Jerome School
Students held a Hope for Haiti liturgy, welcoming the entire school community, including parents and friends. Grade 6 students selflessly donated part of the funds they has already raised for a Montreal trip to Development and Peace as part of their “Walk for Justice.” The school has raised over $2,300 so far!
St. Francis Xavier High School
Students began collecting funds as soon as they could, and have raised over $4,000 so far for Development and Peace.
Send us news about your Haiti fundraising and we will be happy to share them here on our blog!
Posted on February 10, 2010
OUR STRENGTH: SUSTAINABLE AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT
If you made a donation to Development and Peace during our Haiti emergency campaign, we thank you for your solidarity. We would like to offer you the chance to do even more through our 2010 Share Lent campaign.
Ten percent of our annual Share Lent fundraising campaign is set aside for emergency relief. This means Development and Peace is able to provide immediate assistance when disaster strikes, as it did in Haiti on January 12, 2010.
The needs of the poorest throughout the Global South are plentiful, yet some stories will never appear on the front pages of our newspapers. ShareLent donation allows you to help those in the shadows participate fully in their own development.
The impact of your Share Lent donation will be multiplied through the long-term and participatory development practiced by our partners. This is the best protection people in the Global South can have against natural disasters!
Thanks from across the globe!
Posted on February 4, 2010
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