Haiti Relief Efforts

The world saw a tremendous outpouring of support in response to the earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010. World Connect contributed to these efforts through timely support to partners on the ground launching a range of programs that responded to critical needs through provision of medicines, medical supplies, equipment and logistical support to affected populations. Now, as the needs shift from the immediate emergency response to rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of those in Haiti, World Connect is excited to provide an update on its partnership with the Lafond School in Les Palmes.

Lafond School Reconstruction Partnership

In the wake of tragedy we find partnership and solidarity as the Lafond School project in Les Palmes moves forward with classroom reconstruction sponsored by World Connect. Found at 3500 feet in the mountains about eight miles south of the city of Petit-Goave, Haiti, the community in Les Palmes is working closely with World Connect, World Leadership School, the Meance family, Architecture for Humanity and CAPPANAMUR to rebuild the school destroyed by the January 2010 earthquake (photo). The goal of getting the kids out of tents and into durable structures that will protect them from the environment is becoming a reality.

The population of roughly 1500 people served by the Lafond School lives in a rural environment rich in culture yet extremely impoverished in terms of available resources. The school offers education and nutritional support to a student body of approximately 240 primary age students. Away from many of the urban problems found in larger cities such as Port au Prince, there is great beauty at the school site. However, there is also very limited access to healthcare and infrastructure. The one road that serves the area beginning in Petit-Goave with a paved surface quickly changes to rutted packed earth and further deteriorates as one nears Les Palmes. At the approach to the Lafond School the road is little more than a footpath. Two river crossings can make the road impassable after rains and during times of other high water events. By four-wheel drive, the trip requires more than two hours, making access and provision of materials a challenge, but one that World Connect and its partners are collectively committed to overcoming.

With your help World Connect’s partnership with the community of Lafond is now on the fast track to replacing the classrooms that were destroyed with durable structures that will last for generations to come. On the heels of a newly constructed kitchen provided through a World Connect Haiti Relief Grant to replace the one destroyed by the earthquake the school has already recommenced its school-feeding program to the nearly 250 students providing nutritious meals to kids of Lafond who have lost so much.

The next step is the construction of the four-classroom kindergarten sponsored by a World Connect Grant, which began with ground breaking (photo) on July 12 under the guidance of RI-based architect, entrepreneur and community servant Joseph Jenkins. We are extremely pleased to announce Joseph’s participation in this important project as he, working with the community and Meance Family, lays the groundwork for the upcoming World Leadership School faculty service project focused on rebuilding the school.

Joseph Jenkins attended the Rhode Island School of Design where he was awarded the prestigious AIA scholarship. In 1993 he received a Masters in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania through which he studied in Japan under a cooperative exchange with Waseda University in Tokyo. Several years ago after working in Boston and Providence, Joseph began to devote himself full time to establishing The En­Habit Project and submitted a patent application to the United States Patent Office for a mid-­rise numbers of housing units for low-income communities and those in need of disaster relief. His work has taken him around the world to such places as Delhi, India, Netaji Nagar, and Banda Aceh, Indonesia, where at the invitation of the government, he visited camps and devastated areas just a few months after the tsunami. Having received a patent in July 2009, Joseph Jenkins and his project specialize in earthquake reconstruction.

A work team from Denver, Colorado-based World Leadership School (WLS), will arrive in Les Palmes on July 20th to work with World Connect to complete a two-room pre-school building. WLS helps middle and high schools in the United States organize service learning and leadership trips to Africa and Latin America and this particular group is composed of teachers from schools around the United States. While their visit will focus initially on assisting with the rebuilding of the school, WLS is committed to a long lasting community relationship with the people of Les Palmes. WLS’ approach to working with on-the-ground leaders to accomplish goals each community has made for itself is in line with World Connect’s core values of Respect, Improve, Sustain, Empower (RISE), which build upon local capacity. Together World Connect and WLS are working in partnership drawing on local talent and experience and promoting sustainability.

The visits of Joseph and WLS follow a thorough site assessment conducted by Architecture for Humanity who has been a great collaborator committed to helping Haitian’s rebuild. World Connect is proud to be part of the work with the Lafond School and its many partners to assist in restoring buildings and livelihoods. We look forward to sharing the photos, videos and stories of the classrooms going up. The continued support of our donors is essential and appreciated. Phase two will involve further development of the site with additional classrooms, places for kids to play and a particular focus on water catchment and storage for the school and community.

World Connect's partnership with the Lafond School has been made possible with support from many individuals and a generous contribution from the Kwan family. If you would like to help the children of the Lafond School please consider making a donation today.

Thanks to all who have contributed to World Connect’s Haiti Relief Efforts thus far. If you would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

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