Haiti Earthquake Update

The emphasis is gradually shifting from immediate aid to long-term recovery. For Nativity’s Operation Starfish, this means continuing to provide funds and goods through Food For The Poor to help earthquake survivors, while simultaneously starting development of our next Nativity Village.

Fr. Printemps at Nativity Village at Merger has begun a healing project with teens and children. He has 762 youngsters registered for a program that provides 2 meals a day, along with activities and counseling to help them cope with the trauma of the earthquake. His hope is that this program will help ease the pain and grief, while preparing them for vocational training and future employment.

NEW NATIVITY VILLAGE PROJECT ANNOUNCED

Construction on our 6th Nativity Village development, “Nativity Village at Shada,” will begin this summer. Fr. Martin and Nativity parishioners visited the site in November 2009 and agreed with Fr. Duken Augustin that the people in the Shada area of Cap Haitien desperately need safe shelter, clean water, access to health care, education and jobs. Fr. Duken has obtained about 75 acres of land for this new “Nativity Village,” and he will begin work as soon as our Lenten Operation Starfish funds are available. We anticipate that earthquake refugees, along with the Shada population, will have access to the new village housing.