By Karen Wienberg | Chair, Board of Directors
As the school year drew to a close, many students proudly completed their first year of school -ever! One of the children we reunited with his family last fall was one of them. His enthusiastic dedication to his opportunity to attend school resulted in him excelling in all subjects. As a special surprise to acknowledge his great work, we brought him (and his family) sheep – they live in a rural area and our agronomist has been working with them toward self-sufficiency.
Now, the new school year already approaches! Our team has already started with school preparations as time goes by so quickly and there is so much to be done. We have uniforms being sewn, schoolbooks being purchased and even some school payments being made. Along with the many children who experienced their very first schooling last year, it was amazing to see several students graduate from secondary school as well! Many are hoping to go to post-secondary school, and we will assist to make that possible where we are able.
LFBS staff assisted local Child Protection Authorities providing training workshops on Children's Rights and Violence Prevention in numerous local schools, including many rural communities. We also worked with MSPP (Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health) to provide a youth workshop on Personal Hygiene and STI. Knowledge has the power to change and save lives. Our collaboration with, and support for, local authorities in these awareness initiatives makes reaching many youth possible.
Photo below shows some of the members of our Youth Leadership group and LFBS staff ready to go to church together. We had special t-shirts made with LFBS logo on the front and “Jen se Developman msen kapab, ou kapab nou tout kapab” – “Youth are Development. I’m capable, you’re capable, we’re all capable”. A powerful message from youth to youth.
We were able to bring HAPPI (Healing Arts Peace Projects Organization) to Les Cayes. These highly skilled professionals provided training for our staff team in trauma informed care and arts therapy intervention, as well as holding arts therapy groups with a number of LFBS children and youth, and an outreach project with street children.
More parents entering LFBS small business set-up program! We now have 107 people involved in their own small businesses! Our staff members provide a training to participants (in groups of 10 - 15) regarding business management and the program. Following their initial training, we provide them with a business capital. They repay a portion of the funds each month. We store those funds for them in a bank account, and once they have fully repaid the business capital we give it back to them so they can reinforce and continue to grow their business. A partner organisation called Haven Partnership International also provides weekly training to groups on subjects including entrepreneurship, marketing, human rights, health, personal relations, self-esteem, etc. We continue to work with the individuals regularly and encourage networking amongst them to share successes, problem solve and build each other’s confidence and capacity. An example of the success of this program includes a single mother that sells dishes and laundry bins. She is on her second cycle of the program now and is able to care for all of her and her child’s needs. Another great collaborative situation is where one family’s business is to harvest salt in Haiti’s salt flats area in the Artibonite (east-central) Region, is a supplier to a LFBS entrepreneur in the southern peninsula!
So wonderful to so clearly see the difference that you have made in a child’s life – and to see the root of why Little Footprints Big Steps was founded. When Morgan first met this little fellow in 2011, he was an abused and traumatized 2 year old boy living in an abusive orphanage. He was beaten with fists and sticks; deprived of water, food and attention. This was the year LFBS was formed. Today he is a happy healthy boy, living with his family in his rural community. He attends school and the LFBS Agronomist works with his family growing their vegetable crops.
With determination and perseverance, and overcoming seemingly unsurmountable obstacles – and your love and support - he and over 220 children have been rescued and reunited with their families. YOU did this! Amazing!
Thank you so much.
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