Your March Activity Update
Haiti is going through one of the most difficult times in recent history, with growing violence and 5.2 million people in need of humanitarian support. During situations like these, it is more important than ever to empower, inform, and secure communities. LFBS is committed to supporting and protecting vulnerable children and families and our team is continuing to respond to the needs of the families and communities we work alongside. Family reunification is still very possible and happening in Haiti, and it still remains safer and healthier for children to be with their families rather than in orphanages.
The LFBS team following up on a reunification.
A Message from Morgan
A message from our Executive Director and Cofounder, Morgan Wienberg
Right now, Haitians are experiencing an overwhelming amount of stress, trauma, loss, and fear, as they experience things that no people, in any country, should.
In addition to insecurity and gang activity, inflation, supply shortages, and the cost of living are making it difficult for people to survive, and we are seeing a dramatic increase in the level of vulnerability of families. In the midst of this increase in need, now is not the time to back down in our support of Haiti - to the contrary, we must instead ramp up our assistance. Despite what may be portrayed in the media, the situation in Haiti is not without hope. As we navigate through a very extreme situation, it is crucial that we recognize that now is the time, more than ever, for us to stand alongside Haitian families, communities and civil society.
Our team on the ground in Haiti, the children and families we work with, and our partners all carry an enormous mental weight at this time. We are so grateful for the dedication and perseverance of our team, who on top of coping with the complex situation of their country, also witness the most critical levels of vulnerability in their communities through the work that we do. Everyday they seek ways to have a positive impact, and believe that positive change is possible in Haiti. It is more important than ever to invest in children and youth, as well as the parents who are raising Haiti’s next generation, as that is how we will create social change for the future.
It is important to note that what Haiti is experiencing now illustrates how certain countries can influence the social, political and economic landscape of another, particularly a country like Haiti that used to be thriving. The situation in Haiti is very complex, and other countries have contributed to putting Haiti in its current state. The international community should look at the developments of the situation in Haiti as an example of how we can impact a country, both positively and negatively, and draw lessons for how we move forward.
We must be conscious and responsible in how we interact with Haiti, and make sure that we’re truly empowering civil society and the Haitian people. It is not only important that we stand with Haiti, but we must also pay careful attention to how we stand with the country and its people. We are actively consulting with civil society, local partners, and our team on the ground who are experiencing the situation, and understand the complexities of what is happening. We follow their guidance on how to best support Haiti and its people, rather than try to impose our own ideas.
Now is not the time to give up hope. To the contrary, now is the time to work harder than ever to create change. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our supporters who encourage us during these hard times. Haiti has had a very challenging past few years, that has culminated in the situation you see now. Your commitment enables our team to continue coming to work, and having an impact, despite these circumstances.
Thank you all for your unwavering support. You are our partners in this work and we truly couldn’t do it without you.
With gratitude,
Morgan
LFBS Recent Impact and Activities
As of January 2024, LFBS is actively working with 231 children across all of our programs and projects.
Family Tracing, Mediation & Reunification
After successfully reuniting three children with their families between December and January, we currently have two other children remaining in our safe house and are working toward reunification with their families.
The children after being removed from the orphanage.
In late February, GTPE (the working group on child protection in Southern Haiti), led by IBESR (Haitian Social Services), removed 51 children from an illegal and neglectful orphanage. As a partner in GTPE, LFBS is supporting the care of these children in the aftermath of their removal.
There are many family tracing, mediation, and reunification efforts that must happen now. Although over half of the children removed were reunited with their parents the very next day, each of those newly reunited families will require ongoing follow-up support. We are currently working to support IBESR in tracing the families of the remaining children and preparing the necessary support for their reunification. Additionally, we must verify that the other children that the orphanage claimed to have sent home prior to GTPE's intervention were in fact sent home, and not trafficked elsewhere.
Our commitment to these children and their families does not end with their physical removal from harm. We are actively identifying and implementing follow-up support to ensure their continued safety and holistic well-being.
If you would like to donate to LFBS to support us in our work to keep families together by addressing the root causes of separation and poverty, please do so here:
The LFBS team at a follow up visit.
In early March, our team conducted a follow up visit with a family in which two of the children had previously been in an abusive orphanage. The mother had found out about the horrible conditions her children had been living in, and went to retrieve them herself. Our team continues to follow up with the family and ensure the children are accessing education and other support they may need.
Education & Vocational Training
In November, two new youth started vocational training programs: 1 boy and 1 girl. Our Youth Mentor did environmental studies for four more youth, to identify opportunities for vocational training available in their communities. Additionally, he identified and evaluated four new youth who have been added to the waiting list for vocational training opportunities. This program is critical in empowering youth to become more self-sufficient.
In December, 8 more young people were evaluated for vocational training, and our Youth Mentor is working toward identifying appropriate programs and internships for them.
Income Generation Opportunities
10 families have been carefully selected and evaluated by our Income Generating Activities agent for participation in our Business Start-Up program. They were selected based on both their level of vulnerability and their capacity to manage a small business. Each participant will receive materials for the small business of their choosing, be trained in financial literacy and business management, and set up with peer networks to foster peer support and learning. Participants will then have the opportunity to test their small business over the program cycle, and make necessary adjustments with the support and feedback of our Income Generating Activities agent and their peer networks. We will continuously follow up with program participants to ensure that activities are proving to be successful and that the income generated is helping contribute toward providing for the needs of their children.
Community Reinforcement and Advocacy and Awareness Raising
In November, our team advocated and pursued longer-term plans to address the situation of three children who were abandoned at a maternity ward in Les Cayes. Despite the hospital being on strike, our team conducted regular visits to ensure their well-being and supplied essential items such as mosquito nets.
Also in November, as part of the regional working group on child protection in Southern Haiti (GTPE-Sud), LFBS helped facilitate two weeks of community training sessions across over 5 communities. The events drew over 1000 attendees and covered important topics such as violence prevention, people’s rights and responsibilities, and cholera prevention.
As of February, 207 children are receiving ongoing medical follow-up through Little Footprints. Between November to February, 22 children were accompanied to the hospital for necessary care and 61 children received various forms of medical assistance, including evaluations, testing, lab work, or medication - thanks to your support!
In December and January, our social workers held community training sessions involving 8 parents of street children, focusing on topics such as parental responsibility and the significance of education in families and society.
Positive Parenting
Training for families of recently reunited street children in vulnerable communities
In early March, our team did a training on positive parenting for a group of mothers of recently reunited street children in a highly vulnerable community.
Professional Development
During the weeks where our activities were restricted by lockdowns, our team focused on professional development activities to further their skills and expertise.
In December 2023, LFBS actively participated in a workshop organized by UNICEF and IBESR (Haitian Social Services), engaging with partners within GTPE (the working group on child protection in Southern Haiti) to address essential aspects concerning child protection and welfare. This collaborative effort aimed to enhance our understanding and implementation of effective practices, reflecting our ongoing commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
LFBS Team on the last day of the internal workshop on Positive Parenting.
In January and February, two of our staff members attended a training on Positive Parenting, while another two staff attended a training on supporting youth to become entrepreneurs. Both trainings had been offered by our partner Catholic Relief Services (CRS). In early March the staff who had attended the positive parenting training did a 5-day workshop on it to transmit the training to our entire field team.
New Members of the Team
Volunteers are an integral part of LFBS’ success! We are very lucky to have a network of committed and enthusiastic volunteers supporting LFBS in Canada. We are delighted to welcome Aradhana, Ashish, Brianna, Chirag, Merisier, and Sabrina, who will be joining Radhika, Rachel, Katherine, and Kaitlin on our volunteer team. Get to know more about our new LFBS volunteers below!
Aradhana- Public Relations Coordinator
Aradhana's professional journey in public relations has equipped her with a diverse skill set in media relations and client servicing. Through engagements spanning various sectors including lifestyle, healthcare, education, and automobiles, she has honed her ability to craft tailored communication strategies to meet unique client needs. She is currently enrolled at York University for a Public Relations certificate course. She firmly believes that investing in children is investing in the future, drawing inspiration from LFBS's dedicated efforts in rescuing and supporting these children. Together, she is confident that we can effect enduring change in the lives of Haiti's children and pave the way for a better tomorrow.
Ashish- Grants Coordinator
Ashish has worked in project and program management and coordination for more than a decade. He managed an average USD 2 million/ year budget for the last five years, securing five projects awarded by several donors and philanthropies and led a team of five mid-level employees to implement those. He is passionate to bring voices from the community, issues of unjust system, models, and accountability rooted into the sustaining problems and has spoken to global and national stakeholders several times. He has reached thousands of readers through a number of articles published in national and international dailies and media houses. He specializes in the sector of climate change, Water, sanitation and hygiene and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Brianna- Grant Writing Coordinator
Brianna Smith serves as the Grant Writing Coordinator at LFBS. Prior to joining LFBS, she graduated from Ohio University in Ohio. Her journey began as a content writer, but the cause inspired her to transition into grant writing. She couldn't be more thrilled and honored to embark on this new chapter.
CHIRAG- SOCIAL MEDIA and communications coordinator
Chirag is a Marketing Coordinator based in Toronto, Ontario, with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies University and postgraduate certificates in Public Relations from York University and Marketing Management from Seneca College. He excels in driving website traffic and conversion rates, specializing in SEO and content strategies. Skilled in Google Analytics, CRM, and stakeholder management, Chirag focuses on achieving measurable results and driving revenue growth. Chirag is committed to making a positive impact in his community and volunteers as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Little Footprints Big Steps Haiti.
Merisier- Social Media & Communications Coordinator
Merisier is based in Haiti, with a dedicated passion for photography, graphic design and content creation. With more than 5 years of experience in the field of graphic design and content creation, Merisier has devoted his talent and energy to supporting charities throughout Haiti. During his career, Merisier has used his skills in photography and graphic design to give a visual voice to the causes close to his heart. His commitment to social change and his desire to make a difference in his community led him to work on various charitable projects, where he captured powerful moments through his objective and created impactful visuals to raise awareness and mobilize. Through his travels through Haiti and his commitment to social causes, Merisier has developed a unique sensitivity to the challenges his community faces. He firmly believes in the power of art and visual communication to inspire change and create a positive impact in the world around him. Merisier is driven by an unwavering passion for his profession and is determined to use his creative talent to continue to advance initiatives that support the well-being and progress of his community in Haiti.
Sabrina- Donor Relations Coordinator
Sabrina, a recent graduate in Global Development from Queen's University, brings a strong passion for driving positive social change to LFBS. Hailing from Nigeria, she possesses a profound understanding of global issues and is committed to fostering community empowerment and promoting sustainable development in the Global South.
As the new Donor Relations intern, Sabrina aims to apply her academic knowledge practically within LFBS, striving to make a tangible impact in the lives of those in need in her role. Her dedication to grassroots initiatives and transformative change drives her commitment to contributing meaningfully to LFBS and its mission.
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.
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.