Your December Activity Update
The situation on the ground in Haiti is challenging, but we are working hard to address issues & build capacity while continuing to empower, support, and advocate for the children, families, and communities who need us most.
You’re invited!
Update and Q&A with LFBS’ Executive Director and Cofounder
Please join us live on zoom at 6pm MST / 8pm EST on Wednesday, December 13th to hear from LFBS’ Executive Director and Cofounder, Morgan Wienberg. Morgan will be giving an update about the current state of political instability, how the LFBS team is persevering through it, and answering your questions!
Register here.
Holiday Gifts
Celebrate the holidays with LFBS by giving a symbolic gift to the children and families we work with in Haiti.
We are thrilled to announce that we are bringing back Little Footprints Big Steps’ Holiday Gifts!
In Haiti, the holidays arrive right in the middle of the cold and rainy hurricane season. Many people are living in increased vulnerable conditions- factor in the high cost of living, inflation, and economic and political insecurity, and the holidays do not feel like a very cheerful time this year.
You can make a difference this holiday season through shopping our holiday gift collection and giving the gift of a safe home and hope to the children and families we work with.
How it works
Your gift is considered a tax deductible donation and you will receive a tax receipt via email.
If you would like to make a gift on behalf of a family member or friend, let us know when you complete the donation form. Your loved one will receive an email from LFBS wishing them a Happy Holiday season and thanking them for the gift you have made in their name.
Please allow up to one week for your loved one to receive their thank you note.
Recent Activities
Increasing cases of vulnerable families and children
In September, 12 new highly vulnerable children (5 girls and 7 boys) were referred to us by partners, bringing the number of children that LFBS is currently actively working with up to 224. These new highly vulnerable cases require long term follow up, in addition to the emergency care that we are already providing. If you can help us provide education and business start-up support for these children and their families, please do so here.
Community Trainings
Also in September, our child protection agents provided trainings in 3 different highly vulnerable communities on the following subjects:
Back to school motivation
Various social dangers and their impact on the process of child development
Encouragement for positive parenting
LFBS social worker doing community trainings.
Back to school preparations
Student returning to school for the new school year
With schools opening in September and October, our team has been very busy making initial school payments (we pay tuition directly in the schools wherever children are located), purchasing uniform materials and taking students to get measurements done for their uniforms to be sewn (children in Haiti have custom uniforms made specific to each school and grade); and purchasing school books and backpacks (each child has a specific list of school books; we purchase locally so support local vendors in the process as well).
In Port au Prince, many schools have been shut down due to gang activity and violence, and many students have had to relocate. In the South Department and Grande Anse, where LFBS primarily works, all of our students’ schools are able to continue operating without issue. However, due to the extreme inflation and economic hardship in the country, more and more families are struggling to afford access to education; meanwhile, due to increased cost of living, school tuition and the cost of supplies has increased. If you are able to help LFBS support children with tuition and school supplies, please do so here.
World Children’s day
Festivities for World Children’s Day
November 20th was World Children's Day! In the two weeks leading up to it, our team joined Haitian Social Services & other child protection actors in facilitating various activities to raise awareness for, and further protect, children's rights. These activities included community and school trainings about violence prevention & children's rights, and meeting with street children. At our meetings with street children, we document each child and encourage them to reunite with their families. If they agree, we initiative the family tracing, mediation, and reunification process. These meetings are critical in the prevention of recruitment of street children into armed gangs and other criminal activity.
Read more about our success in getting children off the streets below!
Success Stories
Youth in our Education & Vocational Training Program
We have recently integrated 3 boys into mechanics apprenticeships, where they are working alongside local mechanics to learn the trade. Two of these boys are brothers who are growing up in one of Les Cayes’ most vulnerable communities/ slums, where there are high rates of violence and crime. The third boy is a former street child recently reunited with his family after having been recruited into a gang, and then running away. Our youth mentor visited the boys during their apprenticeships this month to verify their progress and what they have been learning; all are performing well!
Working toward family reunification for street children
Meeting with newly identified street children
At our Annual Street Child Meeting in June, we convinced 11 children to leave the streets. We are thrilled to report that 8 of those children are now enrolled in and attending school, 2 have been integrated in vocational training apprenticeships, and 1 is currently at our safehouse and receiving literacy tutoring while we work towards reunification with his family.
In the lead up to World Children’s Day in November, the LFBS team had a meeting with 4 new street children who had recently been identified. We were successful in convincing two of those boys to leave the streets. Both boys had medical conditions and are currently being treated in our care while our team conducts family tracing and works towards family reunification.
Thank You
Thank you for being a part of our incredible community of supporters and donors. Because of you, we are making real, impactful, and lasting changes in the lives of children, families, and communities. You are a partner in this work and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your interest, support, and caring, and for being a catalyst for change.
Student returning to school for the new school year
Thank you for your shared commitment to our mission to protect vulnerable children in Haiti by reuniting families and empowering them with resources and opportunities to build a self-sufficient future.