Plan has built 50 earthquake-resistant classrooms in Jacmel

Haiti’s South-east attracts a lot of tourists for its natural beauty and beaches. Jacmel, the historical capital of the area, dates back to 1698, and many of the historic buildings were badly damaged in the 2010 earthquake. 

Plan has worked in the area since 1975 and since the earthquake, our emergency programmes have stretched to Bainet and Cotes-de-Fer, 2 severely affected communes.

Quality education

Plan has established 5 early childhood care and development centres that serve 350 children including those who were affected or displaced by earthquake. We also support pre-schools with teacher training and education, nutrition, health and psychosocial - or emotional first-aid - support.

We have built 50 hurricane and earthquake resistant classrooms to help school activities resume after the earthquake and trained teachers in psychosocial support, disaster risk reduction, child protection, health and hygiene promotion. 

We also make parents aware of the importance of afterschool programmes that help boost their children’s academic performance. The programme currently benefits 1,200 children. Learn more about our education work.

Health and cholera response 

After the cholera outbreak in October 2010, Plan launched a large prevention campaign and established treatment for communities in hard-to-reach areas. We teach community members, many in the displacement camps, how to identify the symptoms of cholera, locate oral rehydration points and how to practice good hygiene. 

We have also trained brigades to disinfect latrines and houses of families with suspect cases of cholera, and provide education to camp beneficiaries on cholera prevention.  

Plan works with local partners to improve water and sanitation in the region. We aim to reduce future cholera risk, reduce general diarrhoea mortality rates, end open defecation and improve sanitation in schools. 

Child protection 

Plan has focused on strengthening the child protection system by running child-friendly spaces and developing child protection committees. 

We have trained members of the community to identify children in need of protection and support the safe reintegration of children in their families or communities. We also support 6 residential care centres by training staff and management.

Support for vulnerable children 

Plan works in partnership with Pazapa, a Haitian non-profit organisation, to support the treatment, education and development of children with disabilities and to integrate them into the community.

Following the earthquake, Plan has helped Pazapa continue their work under transitional tents and we will be helping them to rebuild their permanent space. 

Household economic security 

Boys making bracelets on a youth economic empowerment project

We supported the Haitian microfinance institution Fonkoze* to open a branch in the hard-to-reach town of Anse-a-Pitres. Locals, who once had to make a dangerous sea crossing to Jacmel, can now complete their transactions locally. Women are able to access microcredit to start small businesses to better support their families. 

Youth entrepreneurship

Plan runs a youth economic empowerment project which supports young people to work and receive business training. The current project is working to create 25,000 bracelets. A specialist teaches the young people how to produce the bracelets, and they are given tools and materials for production. 

The young people are paid 2,000 Gourdes (US$50) bi-monthly and receive training on marketing, business management and enterprise creation. We hope to continue similar projects and create an entrepreneurial centre for young people. 

Disaster risk reduction 

Plan’s disaster risk reduction training programmes reduce the impact of natural disaster on the communities, and trains community members in shelter installation and distribution of emergency kits.

Youth media clubs

Plan supports children’s and youth media clubs which produce film and radio programming that spreads important messages about child rights and cholera prevention.

Watch video produced by youth on Plan Haiti's YouTube channel.

In February 2011 youths from these clubs were invited by the Haitian government to speak on a panel at the Forum for the Decentralisation of Haiti.

Thiotte: HIV and AIDS support

In Thiotte, Plan Haiti opened a satellite office in January 2007 on behalf of a major Global Fund project, which serves approximately 130,000 people in Belle Anse, Grand Gosier and Thiotte.

Implemented in partnership with local organisations, the project supports community mobilisation and provides voluntary counselling and HIV testing, as well as emotional first-aid to orphans, vulnerable children and people living with HIV and AIDS.

Read about and support Plan’s Haiti recovery work

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