As we see the damage to areas of Haiti from Hurricane Matthew, we weep for the children of Haiti and we look for ways to help. We recognize help must be led by the Haitian people and that our help is in solidarity with the people of Haiti, not to rescue or offer charity. Haitians better understand their needs and the ways to address those needs respectfully within their culture. Organizations and agencies that have a track record of working with the people of Haiti to solve the complexities of problems within Haiti are listed below. These are reliable agencies that are working Haitian to Haitian, providing on-the-ground support and relief.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) provided funds to MPP to build the EcoVillages in the Central Plateau. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., focuses on the long term recovery of disaster-impacted communities, involving affected communities in the identification of needs, priorities, approaches and mechanisms for response while reflecting their dignity and initiative, building relationships, strengthening effectiveness, and avoiding duplication and waste of time, talents or resources. http://pda.pcusa.org/situation/hurricane-matthew-response/
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) also provided funds to build the EcoVillages and to build the school. UUSC is working with our on-the-ground partners to meet the humanitarian needs of marginalized groups overlooked by other relief efforts and to begin laying the groundwork for sustainable recovery from this disaster. http://www.uusc.org/hurricane-matthew-relief/
Cindy Corell, PCUSA Mission Worker in Haiti, writes, “Do your research before donating to any organization to make sure that they will not participate in unethical relief or development. All supplies that are needed can be bought in Port-au-Prince, where the hurricane had very little impact...:” Cindy also recognizes the following agencies as doing excellent work on the ground with Haitians.
This link will help you purchase goods for your Haitian partners from Haitian businesses. : 100kjobshaiti.org This list allows missionaries, charities, NGO staff, and concerned individuals to purchase from stores in Haiti and not compete with Haitians by bringing in donated goods.