“We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”
- Nelson Mandela

It would be easy to give up.

A crumbling government…scarcity of food and water and fuel… pervasive danger and violence.

After ten weeks of lockdown caused by civil unrest and protesting, Haiti’s people are growing increasingly discouraged by the country’s current situation that only seems to be worsening.

They are weary… and so are we.

Among the tragic consequences of these events is the paralyzation of the education system. Because the first week of school in early September coincided with a serious gas shortage that sparked nation-wide protests, most schools have not been able to hold classes except for a handful of days, and some never even opened their doors. More and more schools are closing their doors entirely until January, when they hope for peace enough to reopen, although the government is urging them to be fully functional as early as December 2.

But we are not giving up.

While this current crisis may prevent us from holding school in the traditional sense, there is still much to do—and we are creatively finding ways to do it! Led by our school principal, Madam Ruth Thomas, our amazing teachers have designed and assembled homework packets for every student in every grade so they can stay sharp while making the most of their time at home. For the youngest children, kits with coloring sheets, crayons, and craft materials will keep their hands busy and their minds learning. If our students can’t come to school, we will take school to them!

Having someone to talk to can make a huge difference.

As parents stop by to retrieve these packets for their children, we are there to talk, to share, to pray, to listen… to share this heavy burden. Our staff have formed deep bonds with our students and families over the years, and these relationships mean everything for a parent or coworker who is struggling. Our teachers, nannies, and other staff are struggling too.

Despite the risks of commuting, most of our staff continue to show up daily.

The streets are treacherous and fraught with danger, such as robbery by the many thieves who roam the streets on “motos,” or injury from rocks or bottles thrown by protestors, or worse. They travel together in numbers for safety, since venturing out alone leaves one more vulnerable. They’ve shared their personal stories with us—the stench of tear gas used by police to break up protests filling their child’s bedroom at night; exorbitant taxi fees (nearly five percent of a monthly income) for emergency transport to a hospital; or family members being wounded by gunfire. There is risk, there is trauma, and there is the incessant tension of danger. These leaders must be cared for before they can care for others.

How can we help our staff?

The first thing we want to do is remove any unnecessary burdens. Staff at our school, orphanage, and medical clinic are keeping their jobs and will continue to receive the same income as before. We know they will show up when they can—and they do!—so there is no condemnation when the risk is too great.

Second, they are being trained by our staff social worker to recognize the different types of stress that may be caused by this situation and how to address it. We’ve heard so much positive feedback from them about how on-target and helpful this training has been as they navigate this difficult time. They have found it reassuring to know that these self-care techniques will enable them to work through the stress they are currently experiencing, which will not only enable them to function better in their roles at Three Angels, but also in their personal lives to better care for their families at home. It’s a win-win!

The timing of this training has also been critical for our nannies, because although school is closed, Angel House Orphanage is not. Caring for 15 active little ones can be stressful at any time, so imagine how much more taxing it can be under severe circumstances. Our dedicated nannies realize the importance of their role in these children’s lives, and they make every effort to be there for them—just as any mom would! These kids adore their caretakers and look forward to seeing them every day. When they can’t make it to work, there are sometimes tears from the little ones, but we know that’s because they love their nannies so very much.

Our teachers are learning these same self-care skills, but they are also being equipped to help their students. Many of these children come from broken homes, and they look up to these teachers as mentors and parental figures. We know they will rely on us to help them recover from the trauma they’ve experienced and give them guidance. With this in mind, how can our staff best care for the needs of their students once peace returns? Isolated inside their homes for weeks on end, these children have experienced sights, sounds, and even smells that have left a mark— burning tires, tear gas, gunfire, frenzied protesters, or frightening radio reports. Observing the impact of danger and financial burden on the adults in their lives as they face loss of jobs and higher prices only adds to a child’s emotional burden. As Madam Ruth told the teachers, “The children you will receive back after this crisis are not the same ones that you knew before.”

Contrary to culturally-typical lecture-style instruction, our teachers are learning to shift this strategy to an interactive method, giving students a chance to talk more and express their feelings about recent events. They are learning to engage their students more in the lessons, being mindful of those who appear quiet or distracted. These wonderful teachers are learning how to connect with these precious young boys and girls in new and better ways, and our staff social worker will also be on hand for students who might need a little extra help.

And we will be there for them all.

How can YOU help?

Believe it or not, we really do need your help! There are a number of ways you can do that:

Pray for us, the children we serve, our local community, and Haiti.
Share our story with others—there is very little news coverage of these events, and surprisingly few people even know of the unrest in Haiti.
Sponsor a Student or an Orphan—just click the “Sponsor” tab at the top of this website to find out more! It’s critical for us to have your support so we can keep our doors open and help those who depend on us.