Overview
Concern has been working in Haiti since 1994, focusing on improving the health of those in need, preventing violence in the slums and fighting HIV and AIDS.
Concern is also providing credit for micro businesses, working to reduce deforestation and environmental erosion and improving the quality of water sources.
Heavy rains and floods
While 2007 was a largely peaceful year for Haiti, social tensions remain and the country is still extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. The 2007 hurricane season in 2007 was particularly tough, with Hurricane Dean in August, heavy rains and floods in October and November and an out-of-season tropical storm in December.
First to respond
Concern Worldwide was among the first agencies to respond to these emergencies, immediately distributing blankets, hygiene and kitchen kits to 1,450 families. Concern also continued its work on health, water, livelihoods and HIV and AIDS. In response to an EU request, Concern contributed to a new urban rehabilitation programme, providing conflict-management training to a dedicated core of 15 young people from destitute urban environments. This core group have so far trained more than 1,000 youth in at-risk neighbourhoods.
Working with communities in Haiti
Michael Londra is an Irish singer who performs around the world and now lives in New York. With the help of Concern’s American office, Michael went to Haiti to see some of the work being done there. This is a video of his experiences.
Some key achievements:
- More than 16,000 children benefited from Concern’s school health programme
- 12,230 benefited from new school infrastructure and equipment
- Concern’s health work improved the lives of 8,787 people, particularly women and children
- Thanks to a new maternity ward in Saut d’Eau, over 40% of deliveries were assisted by a trained traditional birth attendant or midwife in 2007, up from 15%
- 3,241 people have been provided better access to quality water resources
- Concern also created, restructured or trained 11 water management committees
- Concern Haiti’s HIV and AIDS work helped 46,633 people access treatment, testing and counselling
