Soaring Appeal Spring 2024

In 2024, the Challenges in Haiti Have Never Been Greater

Be our Partner in the Soaring Sustaining Fund

In January, our Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Laura Elliott, traveled to Haiti to connect with Soaring Staff and evaluate our programs and services. It was calm at the time in the NorthEast, but the capital of Port au Prince in the SouthWest and many other areas were seeing increasing violence. By February, following her return to the U.S., the violent forces once again converged in and around Cap Haitien where Soaring operates our facilities.

Disruption, Chaos, Confusion, Violence & Fear

Protests calling for the ouster of the Haitian Prime Minister broke out across the nation, followed by violent unrest, daily roadblocks, and prison breaks orchestrated by gangs to free thousands of incarcerated criminals. The gangs have also taken over the airport and ports in the capital of Port au Prince, severely affecting goods and services that fulfill basic needs of the Haitian people.

Daily Life is Inhibited & Basic Essentials are Becoming Scarce

A state of emergency was declared, the Prime Minister did indeed resign under internal pressure, as well as external pressure from the international community, and is now in exile. Access to food, fuel, and electricity has been greatly affected. Many banks, schools, and businesses have been closed, and Missionary Flights were suspended for several weeks.

Soaring Continues Operations When Safe for Staff to Travel

The current conditions for Haitians makes their needs even greater than ever. We have increased security at our medical campus as our Midwives continue to deliver babies 24/7. We replaced our transport vehicle for our Staff’s safety and they continue to travel into the rural area where we serve when safe to do so. Our devoted, resourceful, and resilient Staff are determined to continue to serve their nation and people, with the help and support of compassionate and giving donors like you!

Will you help us continue our important work? Will you support our staff who deliver the despite danger?

Sustaining the Nation & People of Haiti, as Soaring Sustains our Nonprofit Initiatives

Soaring’s biggest challenge in 2024 is the sustainability of our critical services now and over time.

Will you help provide much needed support for stabilization? We need and truly appreciate your support!!

THE GOOD NEWS IN HAITI!

In the meantime, while our staff and property remain safe and secure, our dedicated employees have been operating our facilities on at least a limited basis whenever they can safely get around the roadblocks and protests. Despite the challenges, they continue to make a real difference in Haitians’ access to our healthcare, education, nutrition, and financial support in Haiti.

Babies Continue to be Born at Sante Fanm! 

On a happy note, one thing’s for sure—babies continue to be born regardless of whatever turmoil is going on in the world! And we are fortunate to have dedicated Nurse/Midwives, who—even when their regular rotations are disrupted, and even when the rest of the staff can’t get out to the rural area due to the roadblocks and protesting—are onsite to serve the women giving birth! Above are photos sent in of some of the precious babies born in recent weeks!

Community Garden is Taking Shape

One thing that is helping with food insecurity, is that the Community Garden we started on our medical campus last fall, has began to bear fruit—or rather vegetables! The garden was planted by In-Country Director Hanania Orelus (pictured) with help from a college student we support in Haiti who has studied agronomy and is expert on agriculture and its economics.