One month on: call for Haitian quake children to shape their own future

A girl speaks out through a Plan youth media project in Haiti

11 February 2010: Children must be central to the rebuilding of Haiti to lessen the impact of future disasters, leading development charity Plan urges.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) stresses that young people will be vital to recovery efforts in a country where nearly half the population is under the age of 18.

Tomorrow (Fri) marks one month on from the devastating quake that left up to 230,000 dead and over one million homeless.

Resilient, creative and effective

Plan’s Director of Disasters and Humanitarian Response, Roger Yates said:  “Children and young people have been hit particularly hard by the earthquake in Haiti. However, they are often seen simply as victims in disasters whereas they can actually be as or even more resilient, creative and effective in coping with change as adults.

“They also have great social and communication networks which could be key to not only getting this young nation back on its feet but preventing and minimising the impact of future disasters.

“There is actually an opportunity to build better for the future of Haiti, but unless we listen to young people and actively involve them in protecting their homes and communities, then no significant change is going to be made.”

Involving children

Plan is now campaigning hard for children to be involved in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process set-up by the Haitian government.

Work will include:

• Consulting children on the impact of the earthquake and future risks
• Promoting children’s views on Haitian radio stations
• Presenting a report on data collected from children to the PDNA team
• Initiating children’s groups to take action to reduce future risks.
  

After last September’s Indonesian earthquake, Plan found that issues affecting children, from education to child protection projects, did not feature sufficiently in reconstruction efforts.

The charity is working to ensure that Haiti’s PDNA, with responsibility for a multi-billion dollar rebuilding project, will take on-board the needs of children and young people.

Vital contribution

Studies have shown that children make positive contributions to reducing future risk, while Plan has worked successfully with children in El Salvador and the Philippines to help lessen a disaster’s aftermath.

In the Philippines province of Southern Leyte, for example, children were instrumental in the relocation of their school away from the site of life-threatening landslides.

As the lead NGO on helping combat child-trafficking in Haiti, Plan has launched radio and poster campaigns warning of the dangers.

One particular risk is of children being abducted for a life in domestic servitude if they travel alone to seek medical treatment.

Children speak out

“I want rights of children to be respected and all children to know what their rights are. I also want everyone to have access to education,” says quake survivor Daphmika, 15, in Port-au-Prince.

“It’s important that the reconstruction process in Haiti not only concentrates on Port-au-Prince,” says 17-year-old Meite.

“Otherwise people from other towns will keep on coming here and there will be more and more slums.

“Schools, universities and industries should be built in the provinces so that people in other towns can find work or go to school there.”

The PDNA will pull together the physical, economic and human impact of the quake, as well as the early and long-term recovery needs and priorities.
   
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have the right to participate in decisions that ultimately affect them – including disaster preparedness.

A Plan coordinator will work with other organisations that have extensive experience on the ground, to actively mobilise Haiti’s children and young people for the PDNA process.

Notes for editors
Plan staff are available for comment in Haiti but access to satellite communications is limited. For requests, please contact:

In Haiti:
Press Manager Steve Theobald +1 41 656 86 525
Steve.theobald@plan-international.org

Plan International HQ, Head of Press, Stuart Coles
+44 7500 066 891
Stuart.coles@plan-international.org

Plan has operated in Haiti for 37 years and currently has projects in the following areas: Beudet , Cayes-Jacmel , Croix-des-Bouquets , Dolney , Fort-Liberté , Frères , Jacmel , Lavallée, Ouanaminthe, Trou-du-Nord.

Plan International has raised nearly $30,000,000 globally for its Haiti appeal.

Plan’s Haiti response includes:

• food aid distribution
• water and sanitation projects
• temporary schools
• anti-trafficking projects