Haiti

Keeping Children Safe

Over nine months have passed since the devastating earthquake took the lives of 220,000 people in Haiti. While development efforts have progressed, many children and youth have been severely traumatized by the disaster and are highly vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation due to the lack of safe environments.  Agencies with experience implementing critical and sustainable child-centered programs are more necessary than ever before in Haiti’s history.

During the past nine months, War Child has set up offices in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel and has created an urgently needed program that focuses on rehabilitation activities providing hope and opportunities to highly vulnerable children and youth. War Child has worked with local communities to set up three Community Protection Centres for children in earthquake-affected areas. These currently provide safe spaces for 1,027 children where they can participate in educational and recreational activities and access psychological support under the guidance of qualified staff. Within the next two months the number of children attending the centres will reach 4,840.

Over the next 12 months, War Child plans to establish four additional Centers and community members will also be trained on issues of child protection, especially with regards to issues of gender based violence.

With the help of our generous donors, the overall protection, security and well-being of children living in earthquake-affected areas in Haiti will continue to be much improved. By providing community-based safe environments for children, the risks they face from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect will continue to be minimized and they will have a place to learn and play where they can feel comfortable and safe.