Haitian Earthquake update

Injured people sit in the road the day after the earthquake hit Port-au-Prince. Picture by: Jorge Cruz/AP/Press Association Images

The earthquake caused extensive damage in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince; a city already beleaguered with staggering poverty.

Staff at Haiti YMCA are addressing the immediate needs of the community, despite having lost their building in the earthquake. A second YMCA centre is being used to house the displaced and homeless.

Additional support is being provided via the Dominican Republic YMCA, who have travelled to Port-au-Prince in a convoy with vital supplies of food and blankets. Their convoy also included volunteers and trained relief workers, including doctors.

Funds raised by the Ycare International appeal are also supporting our partner, ACT International (Action Churches Together), who are distributing food, tents, blankets, hygiene kits and medical equipment. They are supplying healthcare kits to keep 10,000 people going for three months, and water purification kits, which are vital in reducing the risk of outbreaks of cholera and other water-borne diseases. In addition, ACT is providing psycho-social support to those who have been left traumatised by this disaster.

Please continue to support the people of Haiti. To donate to the Ycare appeal, please go to www.ycareinternational.org .

Haitian YMCA background

Founded in 1992 and partners with The Ys of Québec since 2002.
In partnership with the NDG Y centre and Y Kanawana.

The YMCA of Haiti addresses the long-standing challenges of poverty, lack of education, and marginalization that face most Haitians and in particular, youth. The programs of the YMCA of Haiti directly contribute to the building of a civil society and the strengthening of community involvement by providing a safe place for youth to meet and participate as volunteers in the planning and implementing of community-based programs and activities for others. At the heart of YMCA of Haiti is a team of trained youth volunteers who plan and implement programs for children and youth in Port-au-Prince, Camp Perrin, and Sainte-Suzanne.

Some of the programs offered by the YMCA are a Reading Club, homework help, English classes, sports activities, dance classes, discussion groups, HIV/AIDS prevention, and leadership training for youth volunteers. The Konbit Centre is the YMCA Youth Centre in Port-au Prince. Its name, chosen by the youth, is a Creole expression meaning the pooling of resources of people from the same community for the accomplishment of great work.

"The YMCA of Haiti provides 3 centres for youth that exemplify the values and the mission of the YMCA. Managed by volunteers, the YMCA offers a space for youth to exchange ideas, create bonds, meet challenges, gain self-esteem and develop volunteer-led activities that will have a positive impact on their communities." YMCA of Haiti

• panimentProgramhomeworkandstudysupportforschool children and help for youth who want to return to school.A library: for children and youth to develop their reading skills and further their learning.raining: on various life skills, including the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIVation Camp: activities such as drama, art, English classes, sports activities and music.th Leaders in Action” program: a structured leadership process for Haitian men and women 18-25 years old who are from poor or marginalized communities. This program enables youth to be active, involved citizens, and to become positive role models, youth leaders and trainers for other youth in their communit