Mother’s Day is coming up. Use our link and Amazon will donate to Haitian Families First for every purchase you make!
You may have noticed over the last nine months that all communication from Haitian Families First, including newsletters, emails, and social media, went silent. We are writing to you today to assure you that the silence was by design and necessary, and thatthe activities of Haitian Families First on the ground in Haiti never went silent, never took a break, never stopped helping keep families together, keeping children educated and healthy, and changing lives for the better.
As you may be aware, HFF had been working closely with LUMOS, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s nonprofit organization, which works to end the orphanage culture in countries that could instead benefit from social services – such as foster care and family based support – in place of institutional care. LUMOS, like HFF, has a goal of seeing families stay together, or, in cases where children cannot remain with their families, see them placed in a loving home rather than an institution like an orphanage.
The situation in Haiti became dangerous for us when it was publicized that LUMOS began work in Haiti, as there are many orphanages and their owners and stakeholders who are highly motivated to remain in operation rather than be shut down by a government working with LUMOS and organizations like HFF. After discussing the situation with LUMOS we decided that we would remove ourselves, physically, from Haiti until our safety could be assured. After nine months, we feel we have reached that point and therefore can resume communications regarding our ongoing operations in Haiti. Although the situation concerning this work in Haiti could change at any time, it is currently stable enough for Ali to travel to visit many of the 120 HFF families and meet with our partners in Haiti. We are excited that Ali is arriving in Haiti as you are reading this!
Our employees never stopped working and the children and families in our program saw no interruption in our services to them. Unfortunately, our required silence meant we were unable to raise necessary funds to see our operations continue past early January of 2016. HFF is changing Haiti. The LUMOS plan for Haiti aims to see the last orphanage closed by 2030. We are proud to have identified an ally this powerful and well-aligned with HFF’s mission. In order to carry out our part in this vast 15-year plan, we need your help now. Please consider a tax deductible end-of-year donation to Haitian Families First so that we may continue to keep families together. So that we can continue our collaboration with partner organizations. So that we can change Haiti and the lives of their most at-risk families forever.
You can donate now by visiting www.HaitianFamiliesFirst.org.
Thank you,
Jamie and Ali, on behalf of the entire board of HFF
Originally distributed as a newsletter Nov 2015
An annual carnival celebration—leading up to Mardi Gras—is a big event in many places around the world.
Haiti is no exception!
In Montrouis, Haiti, we were part of an exciting Kanaval story this year.
We learned from some of our students who attend school together that they would not be having a kanaval party this year. That they are one of many schools that cannot afford to throw a party each year.
You see, in order to hold a kanaval party, school administration ask each parent to contribute a small amount to the cost of the party, and to ensure that their child has a kanaval style outfit/costume to wear to the party.
For $80, HFF was able to cover costs for a drink and small snack for each student at the school—512 kids total—and supplies for each student to decorate a kanaval mask!
The students and parents pitched in to plan what music would be played, who would perform, and to choreograph a group dance.
Everyone agreed that the suggested attire would be anything at all, removing the pressure for the students to dress up in a kanaval costume, which can be expensive.
The outcome was amazing and many of the students said it was the best party they have ever been a part of.
We received a letter from the school director this week thanking us for the contribution, which made it possible to give these kids a special day that they all deserved so much.
It was the first year since the earthquake in 2010 that this school was able to celebrate kanaval.
While it is true that most of our days are filled with desperate parents, scary sicknesses, and frustrating situations, sometimes we are able to bring remarkable happiness to the children we love.
This brings us the joy and encouragement to continue our work every day.
We have the incredible opportunity to continue to bring happiness and joy to the families we serve because you support us.
We can not do this without you.
Thank you.