HFI Continues to Rebuild in Earthquake-stricken Haiti

We have much to be grateful for in Hope Force International as we look back at year 2013 in Haiti. We are celebrating the fact that 20 homes were built in Sous Savanne and Babay ? adding to the 18 built last year. Three latrines were also constructed, with two more starting.  A well with hand pump was established in Babay, and HFI was instrumental in building the bridge linking Sous Savanne and Marechal, which includes the access road to and from the bridge and the road to Babay.

HFI has also been busy hosting teams throughout the year. In total, 11 teams came to Haiti, including 93 volunteers who logged 5,265 volunteer hours and a total of 682 overnight stays. Activities ranged from construction and painting, to Bible and health education in schools, to health care and optical clinics. Teams also visited orphanages and helped with food distribution for the Child Sponsorship Program.

Other highlights include:

• Houses of Hope qualifying classes ? implementing a greater participation program for candidates for a home.
• The first leadership seminar in Sous Savanne with 60+ participants from eight communities.
• The change in the Child Sponsorship Program from mostly food distribution to an educational focus with support for school fees, uniforms, plus school books and materials.
• An optical clinic where glasses were distributed, along with the health clinic conducted by the Family Worship Center team from Lansdale, PA.
• The first seven houses built in neighboring Babay, and the tremendous effort and sweat equity earned by the community by having to transport materials personally.
• The first well dug in Babay, providing clean water for 54 families who only had river water before.

You can read more about the progress and wells in Babay, here.