Haiti
The only French-speaking republic in the Americas, Haiti occupies the western region of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, with the Dominican Republic taking up the eastern region. Haiti has a tropical climate with mild temperatures, and it is generally warm and sunny year-round with rainy seasons from April to May and August to October.
Stories in Haiti
“This situation is really overwhelming," Barbara admits. "Even if you have a plan or goals, you can’t really reach them. It’s like you are no longer sure of yourself, what you have planned, what you want to become.”
In response to the pandemic, Plan has constructed handwashing stations, educated communities on the importance of good hygiene practices and distributed hygiene and food kits. We’re also working to protect girls, who are among the most vulnerable during a crisis, by working against harmful practices like child marriage, trafficking and gender-based violence.
As assistant secretary of Plan International’s Youth Advisory Council, Barbara has received training on leadership and community participation. “The times we live in are extremely difficult and sensitive. Our needs should be considered, including our sexual and reproductive health and psychological support. Children experiencing this kind of situation for the first time need more help. They need this virus to be explained to them, to be told about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their lives as well than on their families.”
"This is not the first time I have heard about these matters, but this is the first time I have good information," Angeline said. “Unfortunately, I was not given this information either by my family or at my school."
In Haiti, girls are typically the ones responsible for gathering water. The burden of collecting water falls on girls in Haiti. Not only does the long journey take hours each day, it is also dangerous, with risks of injury and assault along the way.
Access to clean and safe water is crucial to child and community development. Plan educates communities on the importance of clean water and provides water points to hundreds of thousands of households every year. In December 2018, Sandelyne’s life was transformed when a new clean drinking water supply system was built in her community. A water management committee comprised of local residents ensure the water system is maintained and repairs are carried out when required.
Although Sandelyne still bears the responsibility of collecting water for her family, she no longer has to walk long distances to get to the nearest water supply. With three water points conveniently located in the community, she can get to one quickly. "I’m very happy, one of the three water points is close to my house, so now I can get to school on time."
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in Haiti since 1973.
:01 (OPENING SLATE) MEET STEPHANIE, A PLAN INTERNATIONAL SPONSORED CHILD FROM HAITI WHERE YOUR SPONSORED CHILD LIVES. WE GAVE HER A CAMERA TO SHOW US A DAY IN HER LIFE. <br /> :07 My name is Stephanie, I am from Haiti. <br /> :10 I have been sponsored by Plan International for two years. <br /> :12 I am 13 years old. <br /> :14 This is my house. <br /> :15 This is my bedroom. <br /> This is where I sleep. <br /> :18 This is where we eat. <br /> :20 This is my family. <br /> :23 My father is a driver. He drives a truck to deliver sand, gravel and stones. <br /> :32 My mother is a merchant, purchasing and selling items nearby. <br /> :38 I am in the sixth grade. <br /> :42 I like school very much. <br /> :44 My favourite subject is mathematics. <br /> :47 Even at home, I use chalk and spend my time doing some exercises just for fun. <br /> :57 (TEXT) IN HAITI, THERE ARE STILL MANY REASONS WHY YOUR SUPPORT IS CRITICAL <br /> 1:02 More than half of the population are living in extreme poverty. <br /> 1:06 At least one in four children suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition. <br /> 1:10 We used to have water issues. There was only one bucket of water where we would wash our hands. <br /> 1:16 Sometimes, children would even drink from there too. <br /> 1:22 But thanks to Plan International, and sponsors like you, <br /> 1:25 we now have separate water to drink and for us to wash. <br /> 1:29 Here is the sanitary block that Plan International gave us. <br /> 1:32 The problem before this sanitary block was that <br /> 1:35 there were only two holes for all us children. <br /> 1:37 But thanks to Plan International, now we have a nice sanitary block <br /> 1:41 girls latrines on one side, <br /> 1:42 and boys latrines on the other. <br /> 1:44 It’s very comfortable for us. <br /> 1:48 I think sponsorship is important for it makes children move forward with their life and education. <br /> 1:53 Even though the children are living far, in hard to access areas, the facilitators make big efforts, <br /> 1:58 leaving their vehicle downhill and bringing sponsors letters to children all the way uphill. <br /> 2:02 That pleases me a lot! <br /> 2:06 When I grow up, my dream is to be a nurse and care for my community. <br /> 2:11 Adults and children, especially the poor. <br /> 2:14 I’d like to help my community move forward just like Plan International is doing it. <br /> 2:19 Thank you sponsor! Thank you for sponsoring a child through Plan International. <br /> 2:23 Children in Haiti thank you!
Plan stats in Haiti
Office & operations
Plan Haiti’s project offices are located in Port-Au-Prince, Ouest, Sud-Est and Nord-Est.
Technical areas
Plan Haiti focuses on the following program areas: education, health, gender equality, humanitarian response and protection.
Number of sponsored children
As of June 30, 2020, people like you sponsor 22,935 children in Haiti through Plan International.
When you sponsor a child through through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send her birthday gifts and cards.
Give her special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe her to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
— Visit her (when travel restrictions are lifted), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor