Igniting the Light Within
“LFBS represents what the heart represents to the body. Without LFBS, there would be too many children in the streets and at risk for their lives. Their partnership is unconditional, exceptional and irreplaceable.” — Jean Robert St Louis, Principal Inspector BPM (Haiti Police Child Protection Brigade)
One youth, rescued by LFBS from the streets in 2012 and reunited with his family, is a budding artist. Here he is filmed completing painting ‘LFBS — Ti Pye Gwo Pa‘ (Creole for “Little Footprints Big Steps”) on the side of a shipping container we have moved to our property to be able to secure tools and materials as the construction begins. Photo by GBP Creative. © 2019 Shot In The Dark Media.
Welcome to your activity update for fall 2018. Not only did we have multiple vocational school graduates, who have new found empowerment, dignity and opportunities for employment, but we have been able to support youth in medical school and agronomy studies in university this year.
We are so incredibly proud of these youth who graduated from windows installation, ceramics, and plumbing courses. Two of them even gave speeches at the graduation ceremony. They have come so far and created so much change in their own lives already. We are proud of the tremendous challenges that these youth have overcome in just the past few years, and the hard work and diligence they have demonstrated. We hosted a special lunch to celebrate together.
Photo by Fransnel Francois.
An exciting new school year unfolded once again, with many children experiencing their first day of school ever. LFBS Outreach staff were tremendously busy bringing school supplies, uniforms, backpacks to hundreds of children throughout Haiti’s southwest — with truckloads going to the rural villages of Jeremie, Pestel and Chanta, Randell and Les Anglais! All students are registered for school directly by LFBS staff. Your donations for schooling include: obtaining a birth certificate, registration fees, required uniforms, shoes, socks and underwear, all school supplies (none are provided), a backpack and exam fees. Our Haitian staff team are tremendously committed to this important undertaking, and work tirelessly to ensure this is accomplished in a short period of time — and are so proud of the future they are instrumental in making possible. Our vehicles and drivers don’t seem to have the word “tired” in their vocabulary. We are so grateful for all that our dedicated supporters, allow us to accomplish each week.
Our Business Start-Up Coordinator, in partnership with Haven International, has trained additional groups of vulnerable mothers in the Grande Anse and another in Les Cayes area so that they can enter our business program. Let’s empower parents so they can better care for their children and further develop their own communities. Many thanks to our staff and YOU, our committed supporters, for making these families’ futures brighter — and demonstrating to their children and communities what IS possible.
During an interview with Shot in the Dark Productions, that was recently in Haiti to film the final footage for the upcoming full feature documentary, the Police’s Chief Inspector of the Child Protection Brigade of Southern Haiti (BPM) stated: “LFBS represents, for BPM, what the heart represents to the body. Without LFBS, there would be so many children in our office, in the streets, at risk for their lives. LFBS is a partner that is unconditional, exceptional, irreplaceable — like no other”
So thank you for your support in making this unique and strong partnership possible.
Every contribution counts — you can be a catalyst for change
LFBS allocates your donations where they’re needed most. Every dollar makes a difference…
$30
Monthly tutoring
$300
School tuition
$250
Business start-up
Photo by GBP Creative. © 2019 Shot In The Dark Media.
As we work to complete plans to build permanent structures on the LFBS property, providing effective and efficient LFBS services and programs into the future, our agronomist has planted crops on the land. This is a teaching opportunity for local youth and allows us to harvest the seeds for community gardens, and to harvest for LFBS Outreach families and use at the Transitional Safehouses — providing our own healthy food source.
Youth staying in our Transitional Safehouse harvested a remarkable amount of peanuts, which staff then shelled and roasted and ground into fresh, organic, local peanut butter. Perfect for distribution to children as school is starting up to give them a healthy snack before and after school. And what better way for youth to learn and grow their self-esteem, than to have them involved in providing for their communities?
LFBS Agronomist, and our Outreach team, work with multiple families continuing to grow sustainable food supplies and marketable food sources in the rural communities across the southern peninsula. A few months ago we provided many families with livestock. One of the former street youth, reunited with his family last year, received sheep, and now has little lambs. Our dedicated staff team spend very long days making these essential trips to the Grande Anse area, ensuring to provide agricultural training and supplies and nutritional support to reunited families.
$75
Garden starter kit
$100
Livestock
Recently IBESR, Haiti’s Social Services Department, released the results of a thorough review of the ‘orphanages’ across the country. Of 754 orphanages visited and evaluated by local authorities, only 35 in the whole country are up to minimum standards. Several have been identified to have sexual abuse and trafficking, and 302 have been identified to have physical abuse and neglect. It is critical that international donors be vigilant about what their donations are going towards and that our awareness campaigns in rural communities can continue to prevent children being taken by corrupt orphanage owners and the support for our programs to reunify and strengthen families continues. THIS is why family reunification and strengthening toward healthy, safe futures is so important. LFBS is so very proud, and grateful to YOU, for supporting our work over the past seven years toward making it possible for us to do exactly that.
Another key initiative that your support has been a catalyst for, is the introduction of Foster Families. Initiated by IBESR (Haiti’s Social Services) and Terre des Hommes, a local organization we work with, this is a unique undertaking in Haiti. Where it has not been safe or possible to reunite a child with their family, we have been able to support Foster Family love and care. Three years ago, the beautiful girl suffered extensive burns. Today she is a happy, healthy and eager student, proudly wearing her school uniform and attending classes. Earlier this year, the little boy, with physical and mental special needs, was abandoned at the local hospital. LFBS was notified. Today, he has regular physical therapy and is cherished by his Foster Mom. Our Nurse and Outreach staff have regular follow-up visits and interactions with all families.
Photo by GBP Creative. © 2019 Shot In The Dark Media.
LFBS staff have tremendously busy and varied schedules and work — sometimes dangerous with critical situations arising, often exhausting physically and emotionally. All work long, long days. Some are new to the types of tasks and interactions that come along. To build their confidence, capacity and expertise, we continuously seek out options for training and team-building. And ways to acknowledge and celebrate their dedication and the achievements they are such an integral part of.
In November we hosted a training session including Interpersonal Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution and Team-Building. We also held the 4th Annual Staff Appreciation Celebration. Further celebrating our staff, and in keeping with LFBS focus on families, the professional photographer from GBP Creative, that was part of the Shot in the Dark film crew, set up a ‘Pop Up Portrait Studio’ in LFBS office, and took photos of the staff and their wonderful families. Much love, respect and gratitude to all of the LFBS Staff, who put care, diligence and determination into their work each and every day.