August was a month of endurance for Overture International. After a series of compounding crises including a presidential assassination, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake accompanied by multiple aftershocks and emergency response and relief efforts, we find ourselves in need of the One who gives us our strength now more than ever.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3
The mountains quake with their surging, but our staff has continued to look to our Rock. Here are some of the ways Haitians have continued to support each other and start to build back their community after utter disaster. Thank you sincerely for the ways you partner with us to bring hope to Haiti!
Emergency Response Footage
Get a first-hand look at the relief efforts in Haiti post-earthquake amidst aftershocks as families and Overture staff/volunteers band together to recover and rebuild. Click below to watch the video for an on-the-ground glimpse into Haiti and thank you for prayerfully responding to the need as you are led.
By the Numbers
We’ve served 30,000+ hot meals, organized 40,000+ food distributions, temporarily sheltered 700+ individuals and provided psychological support to 300+ children post-earthquake. Equally as important as addressing physical needs like food and shelter is addressing the emotional trauma. In partnership with CFRAPS, we’ve been able to provide psychological support to several hundred children. Just this week, one mother shared with our social worker that their five-year-old child woke to a simple noise and started running and screaming for everyone to run so as to avoid death. The PTSD both adults and children are currently facing is tremendous, and it’s critical we walk them through emotional recovery.
Community Assessments
Assessments continue throughout southern Haiti and our social workers have been at the heart of them all. Day in and day out, they’ve been in the communities hit hardest by the earthquake evaluating the needs of families and putting response plans together to help provide relief and recovery to our Haitian brothers and sisters who have lost everything. Our social workers are absolutely critical to our work and we are beyond grateful for them. Their tireless commitment to building a stronger Haiti is unmatched.
Back to School Postponed
Thankfully, the Haitian government has postponed the start of school back to October 4 so that families can recover physically and emotionally after the disaster that literally shocked the country this month. This is going to give Overture International more time to repair our own schools so that we have a safe learning environment to nurture kids this year.
Check out our ongoing back-to-school campaign to support scholarships and new classrooms.
Help Families Recover
As you’ll see in the following map provided by the Haiti Civil Protection Agency and the United Nations, 10 communities most served by Overture are all within arm’s reach of the epicenter and were among those devastated by the earthquake.
These communities are the heartbeat of our work in Haiti and are now in need of significant investments to rebuild stronger than before so they have a greater likelihood of withstanding future disasters.
Families and communities in Haiti need us now more than ever. Your support can help them not only rebuild stronger, more resilient homes, but also help them build stronger, more resilient communities that will be better prepared to weather the next storm, earthquake or other disaster.
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