Empower young adults to overcome poverty and build a brighter future for Haiti
You can help 100+ young men and women become contributing members of their communities through education, life skills training, community service, mentorship, and career development.
Sponsor a Student. Transform a life.
All KCH students grew up in economic hardship, whether at an orphanage, homeless, or living in one of Haiti’s most challenging slums. Without a stable home, a diploma, a network, or work experience, it is almost impossible to emerge from poverty.
Your commitment as a sponsor will allow a student to finish high school, learn a trade, or go to college. Your support provides for education, food, housing, healthcare, life skills and other extra-curricular activities.
Saila needs urgent medical care. Please, help today!
Saila is a quiet and determined young woman who is studying to become a medical lab technician. Despite growing up in extremely difficult circumstances, Saila has never stopped pursuing her dream of working in healthcare. But now her own health is in jeopardy.
Saila has been battling worsening symptoms over the past year, including swelling in her knees and painful joint deformities in her hands. Recently, she collapsed in class and was rushed to the hospital. Her condition had deteriorated so severely that she had to be admitted immediately. Medical exams confirmed she suffers from erosive rheumatoid arthritis, a serious disease that, without treatment, will cause permanent disability and even life-threatening complications.
Her case is now critical and she is at serious risk without urgent intervention, which will cost thousands of dollars.
Saila is not alone. Many of the young people we support are quietly battling illness and pain, simply because they can’t access the care they need.
Please give today to help Saila and others like her receive the urgent, life-saving care they deserve.
At Kids Connection Haiti, we don’t just respond to emergencies, we work to prevent them. Every young person we serve receives an annual check-up to catch health issues early. We also provide hands-on health education workshops that teach students how to care for their bodies, prevent disease and make healthy choices for the future. For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever learned how to protect their health and that knowledge can mean the difference between a life of possibility or one cut short by preventable illness. This year, 46 students have received care through our medical program, with 11 facing severe or life-threatening conditions. Our medical expenses have already soared to 97% over budget, and the need is only growing. This is a crisis and we need your help.
Fleeing family in Port-au-Prince. Photo credit: Jean Feguens Regala
STUDENTS IN NEED OF EMERGENCY SUPPORT
Port-au-Prince is currently experiencing a severe escalation of gang violence. Armed groups have burned homes, taken lives, and committed horrific acts of violence. This crisis has directly affected many of our students. Below is our Deputy Director’s most recent report:
Ten of our students from an orphanage in Delmas were forced to evacuate because of an attack by heavily armed gangs. They fled to a prearranged location, only to be denied entry, leaving them stranded in the pouring rain. The next day, six of them sought refuge in Cite Soleil and four of them returned to the original orphanage despite the dangers.
Two of our students narrowly survived gang attacks in Carrefour Feuille and had to flee with nothing. They were rescued just in time and are now staying at one of our girls’ houses for safety.
Two of our young women from Kenscoff are experiencing severe emotional distress after witnessing horrific violence last week. They have lost their homes and live in constant fear. They are suffering from nightmares, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
For the other students, even if they are not directly exposed to the worst violence, the fear they experience is overwhelming. The uncertainty about their future weighs heavily on them. Our local staff is also heavily impacted by the violence. They endure heavy gunfire near their homes, and some cannot leave their homes at all. They're in contact with the students every day and continue to serve as leaders, offering mental support to all of our students.
How you can help
We ask for your prayers—for the safety of our students and staff, for hope, and for peace in Haiti. The current crisis is bigger than the resources we have. Our students urgently need help. If you are able, please consider supporting our emergency relief efforts. Your generosity can provide food, shelter, and trauma support to those who need it most.