In March of this year, construction began on the first of two school buildings that are part of the future El−Shaddai Ministry Centre in Port-au-Prince Haiti. The construction is being done entirely by Haitians who are learning earthquake and  hurricane resistant techniques in the process.

The first outreach ministry offered by the El−Shaddai church in 1994 was a supplemental nutrition for children. Currently, the community provides a meal three times weekly (Mon., Wed., Fri.) for the children attending the elementary school (half of whom are not members of the church). They are also receiving an excellent education and the 22 staff members have steady employment; all of which helps to raise the overall health and well-being of this Port-au-Prince neighbourhood.

See Haiti Gifts of Hope Z1a - Haiti, for details on giving to this project.

The annual EMAS-Haiti clinic sees many patients in a teaching atmosphere so the Haitian healthcare providers are better able to care for their community for the other 51 weeks of the year.

December, 2010

The people of the El-Shaddai community, in Bon Repos where EMAS is active, have been taught public health practices in order to avoid contracting cholera, and so far, no one has come down with it. If anyone does get sick they have also been taught what to do. Every effort is being made to bring much-needed medicines to the community and to restock the pharmacy.

Building Construction Project

Construction of the new Ministry Centre, which will house a church/hurricane shelter, a primary school, a feeding centre and a healthcare clinic, is scheduled to begin early in 2011. The concept drawings and the small-scale model of the proposed Ministry Centre, drafted by Engineering Ministries International (eMi), have been approved. They hope to have the first school building completed by July 2011, in time for the next school year. The new school will allow them to accommodate the kids that are on a waiting list.

See Haiti Gifts of Hope Z1b - Haiti,
for details on giving to this project.

Community Sports Programme

Sports is a very important part of building a healthy community. It is a good channel for young people's energy. We made an appeal for soccer equipment and have been overwhelmed by the generous response. In 2006, Daniel Plourde joined the EMAS-Haiti team and brought with him two soccer balls, purchased by Nadine Plourde's grade two classmates. Now we bring 50–100 pounds of new and gently used soccer gear each year, which have been donated to the young people of the El−Shaddai church community. See news article...

June, 2010

As a result of the earthquake that hit the Port-au-Prince region of Haiti, on January 12, 2010, many of the surrounding communities have been left in shambles.

The El-Shaddai community church, which housed the primary school, the feeding centre and healthcare clinics, was destroyed by the earthquake. However, thanks to donor contributions, the rubble has now been cleared and a new small structure now stands where the old church once was. The rebuilding efforts, by highly skilled Haitian workers, have been remarkable and all accomplished without heavy equipment. The humanitarian medical EMAS Team, which visited in May, was able to conduct a clinic in the new church building, instead of under tents and tarps. This building will also serve as a hurricane shelter in future.

The Haitian workers also constructed a temporary school and feeding centre, using wooden frame structures, tarps and metal roofing which doubled as worship and meeting space. They drilled two boreholes to provide safe drinking water for the school and the church and installed a latrine. They've also built a security wall around the construction site of the future Ministry Centre, which is to include a church/hurricane shelter, a primary school, a feeding centre and a healthcare clinic. Community members are assisting with construction under a work-for-food arrangement.

See Haiti Gifts of Hope Z1a or Z1b - Haiti,
for details on giving to these projects.

The visiting EMAS Team treated 568 patients in four days. The physicians, dentist, nurses and high school students worked alongside a Haitian physician, a dentist as well as several Haitian nurses and nursing students. The clinic was run as a teaching clinic and saw 100-150 patients per day. Many new skills were acquired. The mobile pharmacy filled 200-300 prescriptions per day with medications provided by donors. We left behind supplies, pharmaceuticals and toys for the children. We also worked, with Haitian teachers, to enhance the curriculum of the primary school and the two high school students set up a soccer program for them providing new gear brought in from Winnipeg.

During the second week of the mission, the EMAS Team Leader, Dr. Pierre Plourde, met with a team of architects and engineers who worked intensively, with the El-Shaddai church elders, drafting concept drawings and constructing a small-scale model of the proposed community centre. Approximately $500,000 in funding will be needed, over the next three years, to bring this project to completion. The anticipated benefits to this local community are immense.

Although much has been done to help the people of Haiti recover from the devastation caused by the earthquake, much is still needed. The country is dealing with a serious health crisis. Financial contributions will continue to be used to empower the local community and to bring hope to the Haitian people.

 

April, 2010

Help desperately needed in Haiti
EMAS CANADA stepping in to assist.

In the Bon Repos area, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, 50% of the buildings and houses have been destroyed by the January 12, 2010 deadly 7.0 earthquake. It is estimated that 200,000 have lost their lives, 300,000 have been injured, 4,000 have had amputations, and 1.5 million people have been left homeless.

EMAS CANADA has been sending missions teams to this region for over 10 years. Our Haitian partners have set up a makeshift emergency operations centre and EMAS CANADA is sending them funds to enable them to distribute food and water to many people in this area. Supplies are being purchased locally—no bottlenecks. These relief efforts will gradually evolve into a food-for-work program. A medical/humanitarian EMAS Team will travel to Bon Repos in May to bring assistance. There are an estimated 50,000 people in this region of Port-au-Prince and many without food or water, trying to survive.

Even before this devastating earthquake, over 80% of Haitians were desperately poor. Many did not have access to clean water and 40% did not have access to medical care. And now, struggling to find food and water to survive, many are left homeless, faced with the prospect of the upcoming rainy season and hurricane season.

 

Background History

In 1982, Dr. Pierre Plourde visited Haiti as a medical student with the help of an EMAS-sponsored practicum. His Creole language tutor was St. Hilaire Faniel. Although the practicum lasted only six weeks, the relationship blossomed.

Dr. Pierre Plourde has been leading missions teams to Haiti for years in spite of political and economic upheaval making any initiative in Haiti almost impossible. But the community of El−Shaddai Baptist Church, has been refreshingly joyful. They are a beacon of light in the midst of a thick, pervasive darkness.

Dr. Pierre Plourde has been inspired by the leadership and selflessness of St. Hilaire. Tragically, St. Hilaire was murdered in the course of a break-in at his house in December 2008. The El−Shaddai community has honoured his memory by continuing the work that he had begun in this community.

Dr. Pierre J. Plourde

Hand in Hand With Haiti Website

For more information
contact the Haiti Team
through the EMAS CANADA
National Office at