Background Info on Haiti
On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at approximately 16.53 hrs local time, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on the Richter Scale, and less than 10 km deep, was recorded off the coast of Haiti, and only 17 km from the capital, Port-au-Prince. Aftershocks were felt throughout the following days, measuring as large as 6.1 on the Richter scale.
The capital, Port-au-Prince was severely damaged as hospitals, homes, government and economic infrastructure collapsed. East of the city in Carrefor and Jacmel, up to 90% of buildings were flattened. There is still no official death toll but estimates range up to and over 200,000 people as bodies continue to be found in the wreckage. Over 3 million people are estimated to have been affected by the earthquake, whether through injuries, cut off access to food and water or being displaced from their homes.
Over 480,000 people have evacuated the Port-au-Prince area and are attempting to settle in “tent-cities” through the outlying areas. These IDP (internally displaced peoples) camps are makeshift shelters made of scrounged materials on any bare piece of land. There is no privacy, no washrooms and extremely limited access to food and water. These IDP camps are breeding grounds for malnutrition, dehydration and disease and place extreme pressure on any remaining infrastructure.
When we received notice of the earthquake in Haiti, Global Aid Network (GAiN) reacted quickly, conferencing with our 6 offices around the world and connecting with our on-the- ground partners in Haiti. GAiN had worked in Haiti since the 2004 hurricanes and because of this had a network on the ground in Haiti. The Saturday after the quake, GAiN staff and disaster specialists landed in Haiti and attempted to asses the situation on the ground. Over the last months, GAiN has mobilized shipments of food, medical supplies, water filters, baby formula and tents, as well as sending medical and trauma healing teams.
GAiN is committed to the rebuilding of Haiti and as such is formulating a long-term plan utilizing the vast array of skills and resources through the network of GAiN offices and partners. This network allows us to effectively distribute aid and enable the Haitian pastors and lay-leaders to reach their own population. As GAiN transitions from the emergency response phase into the long term relief and reconstruction effort, there are a lot of plans in the works. GAiN’s long-term plan includes not only the ongoing provision of food and medical care. GAiN has also committed to ongoing medical clinics and trauma counseling along with playing a crucial role in the rebuilding of the Ca-Ira orphanage project in Leogane.
The Ca-Ira orphanage, situated on the coast in Leogane, receives and cares for orphans and children in poverty and was established in 1988 by the “Church of God of the Prophecy” in Haiti. The two-story building that housed the living quarters for the children was completely destroyed in the earthquake, killing 5 orphans and 2 of the orphanage staff members. The school center and the church, which sheltered 220 pupils and 20 teachers, also collapsed in the quake.
Before and during the time when the reconstruction of the orphanage can take place, it is necessary to continue to feed, educate and care for the children who depend on the orphanage for their survival.
GAiN is excited about the rebuilding of the Ca-Ira Children’s Village. You and the other volunteers will play an integral part of the rebuilding process and also in working to change the mentality of the community, starting with the training and development of a new generation being raised at Ca-Ira. We have a chance to not only rebuild and change the lives of countless children as they live and learn at Ca-Ira but also to minister and bless the community through the school, church and medical clinics.
The Ca-Ira Children’s Village will be built to higher standards than are often seen in Haiti and will give children a fighting chance and opportunity to grow up in safety, receiving an education that will make them citizens of Haiti that can contribute to a nationwide change in mindset and lead their country in the future.
GAiN & Ca-Ira
GAiN`s mission is to demonstrate the love of God through word and deed to hurting and needy people around the world through relief and development projects.
Furthermore, children, especially young girls and orphans, are the most vulnerable to the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. By providing a safe environment for the children to grow up in, we have an opportunity to demonstrate Gods love. Through the provision of food, shelter and education, we not only give them a chance to live their lives in dignity but also to be the hope and future for tomorrow’s Haiti.
We are rebuilding, but more importantly we’re praying and trusting that as we work alongside our Haitian partners and encourage them in the difficult process of rebuilding their nation, we can change generations of mentalities that only harm Haitians, like attitudes of entitlement, a poor work ethic, hopelessness and thinking only of today and not for their future.
Prior to the earthquake, Haiti was a country of extreme poverty with up to 80% of the population living below the poverty line and 54% in extreme poverty. The 2010 earthquake killed over 220,000 people and left an estimated 100,000 children orphaned. More than 6,000 schools and hospitals collapsed as the earthquake destroyed the majority of Haiti’s infrastructure. Close to the epicentre in Leogane and Jacmel, the collapse of up to 90% of all buildings has exasperated the situation of the millions of Haitians who were living in poverty prior to the earthquake. In light of these challenges, there is a great urgency to support Haiti in the long term rebuilding process. This project aims to answer several ongoing needs in Haiti, in particular providing the Ca-Ira orphanage with the necessary framework and resources to foster the following results:
- To improve the living conditions of a minimum of 75 children
- To assure their education, spiritual and social formation
- To enable staff members to continue in their positions
- To rebuild the orphanage, staff homes and schools
- To assure the school can continue to function and give education to its 220 students
- To create a health centre for the service of the children and the inhabitants of Ca-Ira
- To create a professional centre for job-training
The project will have considerable positive effects in a country where children are extremely vulnerable and face many forms of discrimination. The direct beneficiaries are the orphans and poor children under the care of Ca-Ira who would be given hope for a better future. In addition, the city of Leogane will also benefit from this project, as the school is also open to students from the neighbourhood. Above all the Ca-Ira orphanage, school, church and health centre will contribute to the establishment of a social framework for children and help decrease the risk of juvenile delinquency, violence, prostitution and social inequalities within the community.
The project will be carried out in the village of Ca-Ira, which has 3,000 residents and is located in the district of Leogane.
