PROJECT-SUPPORT HAITI

Association Maison des Anges, Aettenschwil / Schweiz

Country / Place

Haiti, Port-au-Prince, Espoir, Onaville, Eden

Haiti is an island nation located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. It comprises the western part of the Caribbean Island, with the Dominican Republic in its eastern part. Haiti's approximately eleven million inhabitants are mostly of sub-Saharan African descent. The capital of the country is Port-au-Prince.

Haiti is one of the least developed countries in the western world. The barely developed domestic economy, the recurring natural disasters, and the unstable political situation with frequent unrest, have turned the country into a state from which many citizens emigrate every year. There is high unemployment, and many adult Haitians are illiterate. They try to generate an income with services or small-scale trade. Excessive cost-of-living increases are causing problems for the population.

General

The Maison des Anges (House of Angels) children's home is home to children and young people who are orphans, half-orphans, or social orphans. They are brought there by the youth welfare office or by the police. Mothers also bring their children when they can no longer care for them. At Maison des Anges they get a home, medical care, they go to school, and they are supported in vocational training.

At the beginning of May 2022, the children's home had to be evacuated due to violent gang warfare and political unrest. The children and the staff are now housed in the countryside, in a small farm called Espoir (Hope).

Beneficiaries and project-support

Children's Home Port-au-Prince
The children's home and school in the capital Port-au-Prince continue to be protected and maintained by armed security and a few courageous employees.  

Children's Home Espoir
The infrastructure on the farm is very makeshift and the organisation is constantly working to improve it (beds with mattresses, clean water, solar panels for power supply, etc.). Most important is, that the children and staff are safe there. Everyone is doing well so far, and the children attend the local school.

Basic supplies for the operation of the home must continue to be guaranteed. However, food is difficult to obtain, and prices are constantly rising due to inflation. It has become almost impossible to buy food for a hundred people. Thanks to their own agricultural project, they now grow beans, melons and bananas. The children help with planting and harvesting as well as feeding the farm animals.    

Laddo School in Onaville and Kiara Children's Home in Eden
The Laddo School in Onaville is supported by the Association Maison des Anges, so that the children and young people receive schooling or vocational training. A family and social welfare centre is attached to the Laddo School.

The Kiara children's home in Eden was completed and opened at the beginning of 2024. In the meantime, 16 children have found a home there. All of the children are orphans or half-orphans and previously lived with relatives or neighbours, who can no longer look after them.