“After the earthquake my school was completely collapsed and I was very worried about my future”, says David. “But here I am inside this very spacious classroom built by Plan Haiti. I have nothing to fear here. No earthquakes can worry me now and besides I have hopes for a bright future.”
David, 10 years old, is the eldest of a family of six children living in an area near to Croix-des-Bouquets. Four semi-permanent classrooms were built at his school after the 2010 earthquake which devastated vast swathes of the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The new classrooms provided by Plan are hurricane- and earthquake-proof and may last up to 15 years.
Fulfilling his dream
David’s teacher, Saint Surin Jean Jude, says a good learning environment influences the school results of a student. “The new classrooms have had a positive impact on students like David.” Saint Surin is impressed with David’s interest and good grades in biology and believes that he could fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor.
David explains, "In nine years I will finish with my secondary school and I dream of becoming a famous doctor. I want to participate in the reconstruction of my country. That’s the reason why I work so hard at school in order to achieve my goal.”
David’s story provides hope where, two years after the earthquake, there is a long way to go to recovery. There are still some 500,000 people living in temporary shelters among them many tens of thousands are children and young people.
“Haiti is a very young nation with around half of its population aged under 18. There are many vulnerable young people at risk if we allow this to become simply 2010’s forgotten crisis,” says Plan’s director in Haiti, John Chaloner. “Many young people in the camps lack the most basic of resources, proper support and protection. This resilient young generation needs continued support in quality education and employment to give them real hope for the future and the opportunities they deserve.”
Fulfilling responsibilities
Plan, like many NGOs, believes the Government of Haiti must fulfil its responsibility and take leadership on shelter, healthcare, education and economic growth. Progress has been made with almost half the rubble cleared, agricultural production up and spending by agencies on livelihoods up by some 30% - with a move to helping people move away from aid dependency towards a more sustainable economic growth and development plan. The government must take responsibility & be supported in rebuilding the country. In particular, the access to land for new homes is mainly in their hands.
Since the earthquake, Plan has:
- Helped over 31,000 children return to school
- Built 257 semi-permanent classrooms in Jacmel and Croix-des-Bouquets
- Provided access to psychosocial support to over 14,000 people (including 12,000 children)
- Provided work for over 36,000 people to strengthen the economic coping capacity of families
- Provided over 22,000 people with tents and basic living provisions in the direct aftermath of the earthquake. Plan Haiti partnered with the Irish NGO Haven to provide 100 small wooden houses to mothers with young children who’d lost their husbands during the earthquake
- Reached more than 400,000 people in emergency cholera response work.
We are now concentrating on three areas:
- Safe, quality education and opportunities for young people
- Full social participation for Haitian girls - this includes campaigns targeting education, gender-based violence, youth pregnancy and work rights
- Birth registration – to enable young people to participate and benefit from services such as education, as well as helping to reduce child trafficking and tackle child abuse.
Mr Chaloner says, “If Haiti is to rebuild from this terrible disaster as a self-sustaining, successful country, its young people need strong child protection systems and access to quality health care and education and we remain optimistic that can be achieved.”