RAYJON SHARE CARE of Sarnia Inc.
URBAN COMMUNITY PROJECT
and the
Sacred Heart Centre
Urban Development Building, 2006
Links
Project Rationale and Long-term Strategy
Over 80% of the population is unemployed. Women’s lack of education
and training makes them powerless to address the enormous challenges they
face, namely:
• Malnutrition, infections, parasites
• Per capita income of $80-$100 Can/year
• An adult illiteracy rate of 90-95%
• Food insecurity; 3.8 million people (47% of the population) are undernourished
• An infant mortality rate of 140 per 1000 live births and maternal mortality
between 470(WHO, 2000) and 960 (CIA, 2006) – consistently the highest maternal
mortality in the Western Hemisphere
• Mortality rate of children under five (per 1000 live births) is 118 (FAO,
2003)
• Life expectancy at birth (years) is 52 (FAO, 2003)
• A scarcity of employment opportunities
• Lack of housing
• Lack of access to potable water
• Political insecurity
With the recent political and economic insecurity, the rate of poverty has
increased and now extends into the middle class of Cap Haitien. Women and
children’s access to basic needs and food security are directly related to
the political stability of their country.
“Extreme poverty, combined with political, social and economic instability and recurrent natural disasters have exposed large sectors of the population in Haiti to food insecurity. Young children, pregnant mothers and lactating women are especially at risk.” -World Food Programme, 2006
Food insecurity has resulted in higher levels of malnutrition (DHS, 2000). In particular, kwashiorkor and marasmus, both protein deficiencies, are on the increase. In Haiti, 15% of the children are moderately or severely underweight (UNICEF, 2006).
Malnutrition increases the susceptibility to chronic infections, worms or parasites, anemia, complications in child birth, and chronic energy deficiency. In Haiti 53% of school-aged children have anemia (Save the Children, 2004). There is an anemic rate of 51% for women in the Department Nord. Anemia decreases the capacity for women to work, afford their basic needs, and participate in the local economy.
Women are often left to fend for themselves, caring for an average of four
to six children. Families are divided for many reasons: men migrate for work,
succumb to the high levels of violence or disease, and, in many cases, are
not responsible for the families they create. Women, who are unable to care
for their own children due to health and economic reasons, often have no choice
but to find friends or relatives willing to take the children. Family units
are broken; the transfer of traditional health, cultural and social norms
is lost. The security and stability of families are of utmost importance.
When prioritizing needs, the women put the needs of their families well ahead
of their own health and this causes them to delay seeking appropriate health
care when needed. Without good health and economic empowerment, women are
unable to access the basic needs to which they and their children are entitled.
--Sr. Rosemary
The goal of Sacred Heart Center is to build a healthier, more stable family
unit, which is able to function independently within the Haitien society.
The staff of the Center accompanies women and children in order to help them
achieve this goal in ways that they themselves identify. What does this mean
in practical terms as applied to one family? It is a goal achieved in small
increments over many years and even more than one generation by many different
types of interventions.
Fransli and Franslin were born in February 1998 and were brought to Sacred
Heart Center by their Mom, Marie, at the age of 18 months with 3rd degree
malnutrition. Fransli weighed 5.2 kg and his brother slightly more. Six months
later both boys were healthy but still tiny for their age weighing 8.8 kg.
In the meantime Marie, their Mom, had started a small business with funds
from Trickle Up selling cold drinks near her house and had begun to save money
to send the two older girls Francoise and Joanne to school. These two were
the first in their two family lines to receive any formal education.
Their dad, Francois, was in and out of the family home that had belonged to
his father before him. Sometimes he provided some living expenses from the
profits from his rickety Tap Tap but more often he did not. Once the couple
went for marriage instructions but did not follow through with their plans.
Another time a lawyer met with Marie to advise her of her rights after there
was some domestic violence. Both these appointments were set up by the Center
at their request.
During this time Marie often complained of fatigue and was noted to have swollen
glands in her neck. Blood tests revealed that she was HIV positive. Francois
agreed to be tested too and was also positive but refused to accept the results
or respond to the health teaching. The tests for the children were all negative.
Marie responded well to the support she was given and continued to work at
her small business and help pay for her children’s schooling.
In 2003 Fransli and Franslin started kindergarten and have since continued
to do well in school. At times Joanne and Francoise needed tutoring provided
at the Center. They are not strong students but work hard and are both now
in high school. They understand their parent’s illness and help out with the
small business.
Marie’s health continued to be fragile and she suffered from two severe bouts
of shingles. In spite of this she continued her small business whenever she
was able and always saved for the children’s schooling. She enrolled in the
special program at the Justinian Hospital for those HIV positive and began
to receive antiviral therapy.
In the past year Marie confided that Francois was now ill much of the time
and was staying with his family in the countryside. The children were often
alone without food because Marie went to the countryside to care for him.
Marie encouraged Francois to return to the city and to accept treatment at
Justinian too. This time he agreed.
During a period of heavy rain Marie complained that the roof of their house
leaked and that they were no longer able to live in it. Jude agreed to go
to visit and returned to report that this was the worst house on the Center’s
to be fixed list and deserved priority. Francois brought the papers showing
that he owned the land. He also brought $500.00 Haitien he had been given,
provided all the rocks for the foundation and the family carried all the water
and building materials to the site. Now a snug two-room house is well on the
way courtesy of funding from Canadian donors.
At the same time the Center provided Marie with a loan of $300.00 Haitien
to improve her business. She is paying it back at a rate of $10.00 a week.
The goal of a healthier more stable family unit able to function independently
in Haitien society has been partially met by all the various interventions
that the Center offers but it may be the next generation who have received
education who will really fulfill this goal There is still a need to accompany
this small family as it moves forward step by tiny step.
Project
Rationale Long-Term Strategy
• Lack of economic opportunities which increases food insecurity and lack
of basic necessities
• Barriers to, and lack of knowledge of, healthy nutritious food
• Lack of health care and exposure to vulnerable diseases, e.g. HIV/AIDS,
Malaria, TB, etc.
• Lack of infrastructure allowing access to clean drinking water and sanitation
systems
• Absence of employment opportunities and the support system to garner success
• Women’s illiteracy and lack of ability to enter into the cash economy
• Access to quality education for children and adults
• Lack of access to safe affordable housing
• Lack of governance systems and lack of people’s participation in governance
• Gender inequality
The purpose of the Urban Community Project is to aid impoverished women and
families in Cap Haitien in becoming self-sufficient, independent contributors
to Haitian society. We work to reduce poverty and ensure sustainable development
through an innovative “fully integrated” approach. By focusing on health care,
education, empowerment of the mind , micro-credit, housing, urban agriculture,
gender mainstreaming, environmentally friendly programming, and good governance
issues, the programming is intended to help marginalized women and children
throughout the city become healthier, better skilled & educated, more
prosperous, and enjoy increased economic status. The ultimate goal is self-sufficiency
as the participants move toward financial independence from Rayjon and other
foreign agencies.
Health Care
The Nutrition Program is, and will continue to be, the reason
for the Urban Community Project’s existence until such time as it is proven
irrelevant. Presently, the centre focuses on malnourished children who present
themselves 15% below the recommended weight for their age. Through vitamins
and fortified supplements including Mamba (a peanut butter mixture), the malnourished
children are returned to viability. With continued monitoring of the family's
health, the staff are able to build their capacity to enter school or entrepreneurial
activities. Distance to the centre or a health facility is a barrier for the
poor. Therefore, future plans include a mobile health unit with trained professionals
to meet those most vulnerable.
Education in Health
Women are well-aware how to prepare food and store food hygienically, but
generally cannot distinguish between healthy food choices. The women relate
malnutrition to the lack of quantity of food, not quality. Our centre integrates
nutritional education with our existing programs. Proper nutrition, health
issues, water, and sanitation are some of key concerns addressed. Women are
also taught about HIV/AIDS and sexual reproduction.
Education of Children
Children are the future of Cap Haitien and Haiti. Children of impoverished
women who have minimal or no education themselves are less likely to complete
basic education. Recognizing this fact propels us to ensure that they have
access to quality education through sponsorship and other means. Future expansion
plans include developing a preschool program which will stimulate
and prepare children for school. The second goal is to increase the tutoring
component already taking place at the centre. Tutoring of school age children
will help students become more successful academically.
Empowerment through Commerce and Micro-Credit
The programs at the Sacred Heart Centre are not based solely on aid, but attempt to empower the participant by addressing their food insecurity and barriers to basic needs. This approach combines physical and emotional well-being, adult literacy and business skills, along with a transformation of the mindset from ‘What can you do for me?’ to ‘What can I do for myself?’
Direct aid is given, especially in the case of malnutrition. However, the centre seeks to improve the women’s ability to provide for themselves and their families by training them to generate income. Women who migrate to the city of Cap Haitien have largely worked outside the cash economy and thus lack the necessary basic knowledge. Presently, the centre utilizes a successful banking program with a Commerce Program in which the women sell basic hygiene items in the market.
Future Programming
To grow upon our success of the Commerce Program we have designed a comprehensive
micro-credit initiative that will allow the women and families to expand beyond
a basic marchand (market women) into higher cash return activities. The new
Micro-Credit Program will increase the knowledge and skill
set of the women who are successful at this first stage of micro-enterprise.
This program has an extensive learning component that provides training in
a holistic manner, encompassing not only the physical life skills, business,
and enterprise training, but emotional and self-empowering learning, as well.
Participants are provided with well-researched and proven business opportunities.
They are supported by field supervisors and other participants from their
community throughout their ventures. The goal is self-sufficiency and independence.
Rayjon works in collaboration
with the Sacred Heart Centre which was established by Sr. Rosemary Fry of
the Sr. of St. Joseph of Toronto in 1992. It is with great effort and dedication
to the impoverished that Sr. Rosemary continues to build this centre which
has successfully rescued thousands of children. The families of Cap Haitien
regard Sr. Rosemary as their caregiver and life giver. She accepts each individual,
listens to their stories, and helps them find their way through the many obstacles
that hinder success. A dedicated and knowledgeable staff works with Sr. Rosemary
at the Centre. Without Sr. Rosemary Fry and her co-workers, many lives would
be lost.
• Increased access to primary and secondary school education for children
• Extensive adult learning in physical and emotional life skills, adult literacy,
business and enterprise learning
• Sustainable micro-credit opportunities being created & self managed
by the participants independently of the centre
• A sustainable urban agriculture program established
• Good quality water for cleaning & purified water for drinking available
• Village Banking instituted
• Increased knowledge and good governance demonstrated within the framework
of the micro-credit program
Nutrition Program: Thousands of children have been rescued
and coaxed back to viability. Presently there are 100 children in the daily
nutrition program and 50 in the monthly monitoring program.
Education Program: Presently 200 children are attending school with the help
of donations from individuals like you. After school tutoring and preschool
stimulation takes place within the centre.
Commerce Program: 175 Women participate in the commerce program by learning
how to become entrepreneurs and to save for their family’s needs.
Micro-Credit Program: To be launched in the fall of 2007.
The UCP committee invites you to become an active member of Canadian society. The growth of our global awareness is imperative to building a peace-filled world.
How can you become involved?
GIVE to the project. Cash donations are preferred. They offer greater flexibility
and provide economic stimulation within the Haitian economy. Receipts are
provided for all donations above $20.
FILL Victor the Vitamin Pig with coins for vitamins. Piggy banks are available
upon request.
DONATE items. See list below.
SORT, store, and pack items for shipping.
SUPPORT Rayjon events and fundraising.
CONSIDER traveling to Haiti. Awareness trips are offered annually to the Sacred
Heart Centre.
Financial contributions to the Nutrition Centre should be marked Rayjon UCP Box 2482 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada N7T 7T1
For more information about the UCP or to arrange for a speaker to come to
your organization, please contact Jennifer Vansteenkiste at cahpartner@yahoo.ca
Drop off at 818 Pineview Avenue– home of Marj Paisley 344-9190
*Children’s chewable vitamins
Maternity Vitamins
*Extra large plastic glasses
Shorts and tops for boys
Girls’ dresses
Children’s underwear, cloth diapers, and training pants
Black school shoes – all sizes
Children’s running shoes – all sizes
Baby blankets and clothing
Cookie bags, LCBO bags
Small washable toys and rattles
Skin creams – antibiotic and antifungal
Infant cough syrup and acetaminophen
Small change purses
Head scarves and handkerchiefs
New baseball caps, shower caps
Hotel size shampoo, soap, and hand lotion
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
School supplies
Backpacks