Five years after devastating earthquake, Haymarket’s HHA continues work in Haiti

CAP HAITIEN, Haiti – On the five-year anniversary of Haiti’s devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake, a Haymarket, Va. non-profit is on the ground and continuing to help orphans there.
 
Two Helping Haitian Angels (HHA) volunteers from the U.S. are currently in Haiti with 16 additional volunteers arriving on January 23.
 
“The need continues to be great. There are 1 million orphans and abandoned children in Haiti,” Debbie Harvey said. “We currently love and support 40 kids ages two through 18 in our Kay Anj Village. We have four new family homes under construction to take in up to 40 more orphans and abandoned children. The homes will be complete in February.”

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the 2010 Haiti earthquake as a magnitude 7.0 temblor. The Haitian government estimates the earthquake killed over 200,000 people, with hundreds of thousands other people injured or left homeless.
 
Having already recognized the extreme need of Haiti’s most vulnerable people – its orphaned children – and established a support network prior to the earthquake, HHA rapidly mobilized, collected donations and deployed volunteers to provide vitally needed, lifesaving assistance after it struck.
 
The Christian non-profit’s major project, the Kay Anj Village, has eight family homes, a church, school and sustainable farming. The village school opened in October 2014. Currently, 91 children enjoy a cutting-edge curriculum, and at its planned capacity, the school will educate 250 children.

Debbie Harvey says instruction is in Haitian Kreyol, their native tongue, so that the children can learn more successfully, be empowered and become leaders in their country. Children will receive French and English as foreign language classes beginning in fourth grade.

Founded by Haymarket residents Bill and Debbie Harvey in 2008, HHA’s mission is to care for orphaned children “Angels” in Haiti by raising them to become happy, successful members of their communities who will have the tools to positively impact future generations.

“By the end of 2015, we will care for and love 80 children supported by 35 Haitian staff,” Debbie Harvey said.
 
The Harveys established Helping Haitian Angels on a visit to Haiti in 2008. Debbie and Bill witnessed the needs of that country’s most vulnerable residents, orphaned and abandoned children.

While Haiti has made progress over the last three decades on the United Nations Human Development Index (UN HDI), it has the lowest HDI ranking in the Western Hemisphere and is 168th out of 187 countries assessed by the UN in 2014. A country’s development score is based on life expectancy, years of schooling, and per capita gross national income.
 
To accomplish its mission and get the maximum impact from donated time, money and materials, Helping Haitian Angels staff members work closely with other non-governmental organizations including Living Water and Food for the Poor.

Work on the Kay Anj Village continues, and HHA is one-third of the way to reaching its target for donations needed to achieve their full vision of completion. It welcomes volunteers who have a passion and willingness to help the organization.
 
Toyota and WJLA-TV recognized Debbie Harvey’s work in Haiti with their 2011 Toyota Tribute to Working Women Award.

For more information, visit HHA’s web site at http://www.helpinghaitianangels.org/.