The Restavek Freedom Foundation Blog

Latest Updates from Haiti part 7

Update on Restavek Freedom’s staff and children:

We wanted to provide you with an update from Joan Conn, Executive Director of Restavek Freedom, who is on the scene in Port au Prince. Here are some quick update bullet points:

• We did purchase a truck today that will give us more capacity to help those in need on the ground in Port au Prince, Haiti.
• We have connected with a man named Joel, who has been an enormous help to us as well as other connected Haitians in finding needed resources. We are continuing to build relationships and key connections to aid us in the relief efforts of our children and schools.
• We went to check on Sr. Martha and she is very tired.  She had no money and no food, so we gave her food and cash for her staff and children.  She told us over 100 of her children are dead and two monitors.  This area was hit very hard! You can still buy some things here, but the prices have doubled.
• We went to see our school in Carrefour and it is completely gone we had a lot of our kids in there(no accurate count at this time) and believe no one survived.
• We went to check on Pastor Shiba and he is living on the street as his house is badly damaged.  We promised to help rebuild the school once we have the capacity to do so.  
• Edward, our child advocate had just left and was with the kids before the quake hit.  He is alive and out today with all the staff delivering food, blankets and limited medical supplies.  Our staff is so amazing!  They’re working hard for each child.  I am so proud of them.  We are all a little tired but healthy and still strong. 
• Please let everyone know that it is difficult to accept volunteers at this time as there is nowhere for them to stay.  We have been struggling with that issue ourselves as our apartment was destroyed along with many other hotels.  The hotels standing are filled with media and we cannot find accommodations for additional volunteers at this time.  Fuel is very limited and so is our capacity to move people around.  Please let others know how much we appreciate their wish to help and let them know that we will need their help soon, but we have to find places for them to stay and make sure their efforts are not wasted. 
• The outpouring of support is amazing and we will have much work to do in the coming months.  We will need architects to do design for schools and builders, teachers etc.  But it is too early for that.  We don’t need water purification now but will need later. 
• Thank u all so much for everything you are doing to support us!

As you can see things are moving forward and YOU are helping to make it happen! Please continue to help us in any way you can. See the last post for more ways to help.

Best Regards,

The Restavek Freedom Team