PEARLS in Haiti initiatives are consistent with
5 of the top 6 United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals:
Quality Education The majority of Haitians lack access to quality education. There is a shortage of both educational supplies and qualified teachers. In addition, less than 50 percent of eligible children attend primary school, and less than one-third of these children will reach the fifth grade. Sainfait Exius, Director of The Village School of the Future, has a vision for his community. He not only envisions a quality education for more children in Bonnette, but that his school will become a center for the community’s clean drinking water and nutritional needs. PEARLS in Haiti is honored to partner with Director Exius to empower the entire community while helping provide children with the tools they need to create their own future through PEARLS of Wisdom Grants.
Clean Water Less than 50 percent of households in Haiti have access to safe water from a well or hand pump. Most of the population rely on rivers, lakes, and streams which are contaminated with human waste due to lack of an adequate sanitation system. Dirty water is often used for cooking and drinking causing waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid and chronic diarrhea. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration and reduced cognitive abilities. Even mild levels of dehydration can impact school performance. By keeping the school-based water tank full and providing Filters of Hope to families through Fresh Water PEARLS, PEARLS in Haiti is addressing a critical need in Bonnette.
Zero Hunger In the Haitian countryside, children are seven times more likely to be malnourished than their counterparts in densely populated cities. Many adults and children also suffer from anemia due to improper nutrition. Being undernourished and anemic delays brain development and impairs a child’s ability to learn. By providing funding for the PEARLS of Nourishment feeding program at The Village School of the Future, PEARLS in Haiti is giving hungry students access to the food they need to thrive.
Good Health and Well-Being Many rural areas in Haiti have little to no access to health care making residents susceptible to otherwise treatable diseases. Curable illnesses, like diarrhea and respiratory infections, are leading causes of death in Haiti. It is a priority of PEARLS in Haiti to form a partnership with a local medical clinic to provide vaccines and basic healthcare, but more immediately we are improving health in Bonnette through distributing Filters of Hope and Confidence Kits to students and their families.
Zero Poverty 2.5 million Haitians live in extreme poverty. Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Poverty includes hunger and limited access to education, safe drinking water and basic health care. By partnering with The Village School of the Future to provide an education to more children, nutritious food and clean water for every student and access to basic health care, PEARLS in Haiti is helping alleviate poverty in this rural community.
