The Global Fund for Children Responds to Haitian Earthquake

Jan. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Washington - The Global Fund for Children (GFC) remains attentive to news updates, which estimate that more than 100,000 people have died and more than 3 million have been affected and are left without electricity in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Haiti’s president, René Préval, said the toll was “unimaginable” and included the collapse of many government buildings, foreign aid headquarters, hospitals, schools, and shantytowns.

GFC is reaching out to its Haitian grantee partners to determine how best to assist their efforts on the ground. GFC is concerned for their safety, but has not been able to establish direct contact with them. There will be incredible demands for support once communication is re-established and GFC has activated emergency grant funds to begin to meet their needs. As a country of extreme poverty, Haiti will rely on the response of the international community.

GFC has three current grantee partners in Haiti -- Asanble Vwazen Jakè in Port-au-Prince, Pazapa in Jacmel, and Light for All in Lhomond. Each of these groups has established innovative community schools for extremely low-income children, and Pazapa works specifically with children with disabilities. Port-au-Prince and Jacmel have been devastated and GFC’s partners do not have the resources to respond to a crisis of this magnitude. In addition to regular grants, emergency grants to Haiti will make the difference in a grantee’s ability to take immediate action to provide support and rebuild the community.

GFC is urging the international community to join the emergency response effort by making a donation that will directly assist its grassroots partners. As the story continues to unfold, GFC commits to solidarity with its partners and continued assistance by providing regular updates and news on its website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

About The Global Fund for Children
The Global Fund for Children’s mission is to advance the dignity of children and youth around the world. GFC pursues its mission by making small grants to innovative community-based organizations working with some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. To date, GFC has awarded 2,608 grants valued at more than $15 million. These grants have supported and strengthened 376 community-based organizations in 73 countries. More than 1 million children have benefited from the work of The Global Fund for Children.

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