Compassion International Works to Get Haiti’s Children Back in School

Organization Partners with Haitian Churches to Protect and Educate Children

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 24, 2010—The primary goal of Compassion International's long-term recovery efforts is to bring normalcy back into the lives of the 64,000+ children that the world's largest Christian child development and sponsorship organization serves in Haiti.  Recognizing that one important bridge to normalcy is a return to school, Compassion is working diligently to get the children back into school by March 1 - a goal set by the Haitian government.

Compassion is partnering with Engineering Ministries International to determine what repairs are needed at school buildings serving Compassion's church partners and how to improve buildings and facilities to withstand any future earthquakes.  Until new buildings can be built, many schools may have to meet in tents.   

In addition to assessing and rebuilding schools, Compassion is also training children and their families to be safe while living in tent cities - as many are still unable to move into permanent homes.

"The children living in tent cities are exposed and vulnerable," said Edouard Lassegue, Compassion's vice president of Latin America and the Caribbean region.  "We are equipping our church partners to teach families to look for the danger signs and educate children so they will not become victims."

Meanwhile, Compassion's staff in Haiti is continuing the difficult process of taking a census of each and every registered child who was significantly impacted by the earthquake.

"We can do more than provide food.  We can help Haitian children and their families get back on their feet again," said Lassegue.

"After more than 40 years of caring for children in Haiti, Compassion is uniquely positioned to leverage our strong relationships with church leaders to be the voice for what is right and to serve those in need," continued Lassegue. "That is what is required in a time like this."

Compassion works with Haiti's children through one-to-one sponsorships for the long-term release from the cycle of poverty that plagues this country.  Of the 230 child development centers in the nation, 50 have reported moderate to significant damage.  Compassion's staff - both nationals and internationals - has been working since the quake to locate each of the Compassion-sponsored children in Haiti. 

Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that works through local churches to permanently release children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children - pre-natal through higher education - in 26 of the world's poorest countries.  Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children, enabling them to thrive, not just survive.  Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating-four stars-for eight consecutive years.

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