January 12 marked the fifth anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, killing an estimated 300,000 people and injuring 300,000 more.
The impact was overwhelming and ordinary life came to a standstill as the country’s infrastructure literally crumbled.
International child development organisation Compassion has been working in Haiti since 1968, partnering with local churches as they seek to meet the needs of the children in their community. It is not a relief organisation, but works through local people, and has built solid relationships over years of commitment with the local church, business and government.
When the earthquake hit, it was clear that a huge response was going to be needed to account for each child and ensure that they could continue to be provided for. Globally, Compassion raised $30 million that was used to rescue, rebuild and restore Haiti. Simple measures were put in place at first – canopies to provide shade where church buildings had collapsed, steel containers as offices. Then, when the immediate crisis was over, a long-term school building programme was started that will see 44 brand new earthquake-proof schools constructed in the worst hit regions of the country, thus providing safe schools for over 20,000 children.
Poorest country
Haiti remains the poorest country in the Western hemisphere with 60% of its population living in poverty and 24% of people living on less than a dollar a day. But there is hope rising from the rubble. Reconstruction is creating better housing and access to education; school attendance has risen from 79% to 90%. The infant mortality rate has fallen by 11% and maternal mortality by 23%.
