Request Magazine



   Request Catalogue

Home
























The Presidential Palace and Cathedral are still in ruins, without any obvious work going on.



















Touring Port-au-Prince; I saw many areas of uncleard rubble, with bodies left buried until no longer a health risk.






















Everyone told me that people have got tired of waiting for the government or NGO's to rebuild, and realise they need to do it for themselves.





















Lots of people live in camps with tents or plastic sheets. Some have water and sanitation, others not.



















Some camps are clearly self-arranged and haphazard, with people living under plastic sheets on the pavement.




















Yet Port au Prince is bustling; every pavement full of people selling whatever they have...























... bananas and other fruit, second hand clothing.





















I had heard reports of dangers of Haiti yet, while guns and knives plentiful, I never felt threatened.






















While I saw modern clothes, smart sunglasses, hair nicely done, good trainers, an iPod...





















... others are very poorly dressed. The cost of living on la Gonave is very high; resource such as food and clothing are in short supply.





















In short, Haiti is vibrant and colourful, but getting around is a challenge best surmounted with verve.




















Reaching la Gonave island required a 50 minute journey on modern but very crowded ferry.





















There are also small motor 'fly boats' which carry up to 25 people when sufficient demand, such as obtaining goods from mainland markets.





















Roads in Haiti and la Gonave are mainly stoney tracks. Our partners are able to borrow vehicles, mainly 4x4's of some vintage.


















Pastor Luckner and his ministry are deeply in the heart of these communities; every hour, people wanted to ask his advice or help.





















In the quake aftermath, WorldShare projects included shipping containers of vital foodstuffs which are always in short supply.


















Education is perceived as the most chronic need on la Gonave and mainland Haiti. We plan to help develop improved schooling.





















Garbage poses a serious health risk and our partners are launching a waste removal project.





















Our partners also plan to acquire land for agricultural projects. There remains the need of good water supply, in villages and project sites.

Haiti - the need in pictures


In June 2010, John Rose (Chief Executive, WorldShare) visited Haiti to see the work of our partners following January's devastating earthquake.

John visited Port-au-Prince and the island of La Gonave where the focus of our projects in Haiti has been, prior to and since the quake. He met and travelled with ministry director Pastor Luckner Stimphil, along with other pastors and leaders including new teams who are being trained to develop effective, longer-term projects to bring both practical and spiritual hope to La Gonave.