A Ministry of the Baptist World Alliance

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A Report on Baptist World Aid Work in Haiti

Baptist World Aid Director, Paul Montacute, made a visit to Haiti in late
April to see the results of the January earthquake. The purpose of the
visit was to see firsthand the situation and to determine what future
responses would be made.

He found the situation in Port-au-Prince horrendous, with many

buildings having collapsed like packs of cards. Many people have taken
to the streets as there is a real fear of further disasters. People live their
whole life on the street, and it is especially sad to see small children
playing and scavenging in the rubble of collapsed houses, shops and
government buildings.

Since the earthquake, BWAid has been helping in Haiti through a

network of agencies. Immediately following the earthquake the two
Haitian member bodies of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) were
contacted and assistance offered. This close link with the two bodies
remains as we work together.

BWAid made an initial response by sending $10,000 each to the Baptist

Convention of Haiti and to the Baptist Haiti Mission for their immediate
use in responding to the desperate needs. BWAid’s Rescue24 Medical
Teams from Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) also were sent to assist with
the many injured, working first out of the Community Hospital in Port au
Prince, and then with other agencies, especially the Haiti Baptist
Convention. Funds have been used to cover the costs of immediate
relief supplies, equipment and personnel.

Now, a container of medical supplies is also in route to the Baptist

Hospital of the Haitian Baptist Convention in Cap Haitian. BWAid is
paying the shipping costs for the container. Donations of $10,000
designated for medical use have also gone to both the Baptist
Convention of Haiti and the Baptist Haiti Mission .

During the early days of the disaster, HBAid was put in contact with an
orphanage in Gressier. Run mainly by a totally dedicated Haitian
women, the orphanage has 170 children and young people. Some had
been there since before the earthquake, but the numbers have grown
since then. Many of their buildings have fallen down and while some
are now propped up by wood, the children are too scared to sleep there
and so sleep in tents and under tarpaulins. School classes continue
under the tents, with little equipment, but with dedicated teachers. With
no running water or electricity, there are many challenges being faced,
and so like HBAid, BWAid has pledged some support. It costs $10 a
month to feed a child in the orphanage. Not a lot, put it does provide for
their one meal a day of beans and rice and a cup of clean water!
As the immediate need for medical help and shelter has subsided,
BWAid has turned to the long term developmentneeds. Regular
contact and weekly and then biweekly conference calls with Baptist
relief agencies, especially those from North America, has helped with
coordination and cooperation.

The Baptist Convention has wanted to develop their ministry in the

poor Delmas 19 community of the city. The mayor of the city had
previously given the Baptist Convention a piece of land that will
become the site for an orphanage, a school, a cafeteria and a chapel.
The center will minister to the orphans and school children, as well as
to reach out into the wider community, especially to those who are
homeless. This will be a $600,000 project that will be partnered with
the Baptist Convention, Baptist World Aid, Hungarian Baptist Aid,
Virginia Baptists and others. Meetings were held with the Convention
leaders, representatives of BWAid, HBAid and Virginia Baptists as
well as an architect and engineer. A short but meaningful service of
dedication was held on the site, with Paul Montacute leading prayer in
each of the corners of the plot. Prayers were said in French, Creole,
Hungarian and English.

Religious agencies in Haiti have now been exploring how they can
build earthquake, fire and hurricane resistant houses. BWAid has
committed $30,000 to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship who is
working with Fuller Housing to build these 16’x16’ houses. Currently
BWAid has committed to build 10 houses at a cost of $3,000 per
house.

The work has only just begun. Over the next few months we will be
working with our partners in undertaking many major projects in Haiti.
We will be providing long term sustenance, children’s education
and medical assistance. Small microenterprise projects will be
commenced to encourage people to begin to make their own living.
We will care for children who are either orphaned or have families who
are unable to care for them. Assistance will be given to help rebuild
houses, churches and other community facilities. Provision will be
made for clean water and sanitation.

Thank you for your continuing support for BWAid’s work in Haiti. It is
through the generosity of so many that BWAid can touch lives in Haiti.

Paul Montacute, Director