COVID-19 and other Haiti updates
I hope you are well and healthy, and that you and your family have been able to adapt without too much difficulty to the 'new normal'. Working from home as usual, I am watching as my kids continue their school work online. We are so lucky. We can do our part, easily. Social distancing, not much of a problem. Automatically my thoughts go to our kids in Haiti and my heart skips a beat. I hope with all my heart, that this COVID-19 will skip Haiti.
I am not making light of the Corona virus but I do hope that this time of insecurity will have a silver lining. I sincerely feel for the families who have lost loved ones and who are beyond scared because someone they know is infected.
But... I hope that our mandatory staying-at-home will bring us closer to our families and help us be grateful to have one another. I hope that a look into our pantries will make us realize how lucky we are with the abundance of food in this country. I hope that the exercise we seek outdoors, makes us appreciate nature in a new way. I hope that if you get sick, you know there is a medical person who can help you.
I mostly hope that after all, we are grateful. That we know how good we have it - even in the midst of a crisis.
With love,
Astrid
PS: Please know that our students are thinking of you. I have received multiple messages from students asking if all their friends abroad are okay. They are sending their love!
CORONA VIRUS
Thankfully, no cases of the COVID-19 have been confirmed in Haiti on the moment of this writing. The border with the Dominican Republic is temporarily closed and entrance by plane has been restricted, as the spread of the corona virus would have disastrous consequences. Due to a shortage of supplies, equipment and staff, medical facilities in Haiti are not prepared for a national outbreak. People of all ages are at extremely high risk because many of them live in densely populated areas and homes, lacking sanitation, running water, and soap.
KCH staff has installed a hand sanitizing station at the office and we will cancel all workshops as soon as a case of COVID-19 is confirmed. We are educating our students about prevention, recognizing symptoms, and what to do if and when it occurs.
Please pray with us that Haiti will be spared another nationwide disaster.
ORPHANAGE FIRE UPDATE
The KCH students who used to live at the orphanage that burned down last month, are sending a huge "THANK YOU" for your most generous outpouring of love. Within a few days, we raised $3240.00 to help these young adults get back on their feet, with education, clothes, shoes and other basic essentials. Your prompt and generous response has been heart warming.
MARCH IS SPONSORSHIP MONTH!
Did you know that our sponsors are the backbone of our organization? Sponsors provide consistency and enable us to plan for the year ahead. Even more so, our sponsors show our students that someone cares about them. Many of our young adults do not have a caring adult in their lives. The value of our sponsors is way beyond financial support!
Sponsorship starts at $35 a month and you will receive hand written letters twice a year, plus a progress report and a picture once a year. Click here to sign up for monthly recurring donations or to make a single one time gift!