This summer marks a grim one and a half years since the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January of 2010.

In the country already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, an estimated 220,000 people were killed, and an additional 1 million rendered homeless. Eighteen months later, the outlook for recovery is still bleak in Haiti; approximately 800,000 people are still living in tents and much of the country’s infrastructure has yet to be rebuilt. Since October, an outbreak of cholera has killed over 5,300 Haitians, and only last week, flooding from severe storms has left 25 Haitians dead.

Humanitarian actions have been criticized for not living up to their promises; over $11 billion USD were pledged last year, although reportedly only $2.1 billion have been delivered. At the same time, humanitarian actions have been praised; malnutrition has not increased since the earthquake, and one million people have been given temporary shelter.

As the BBC reports: “Ordinary Haitians have been clear about their priorities - an income to get their lives back together, education for their children so they have a stake in their country's future, and housing where their families are safe.”

So, how is American Initiatives helping?

Our organization is happy to see that our will coincides with the desires of Haitians. We have partnered with INDESCO (Iniciativas de Educación Superior) to help for the total reconstruction of the Piscou Elementary School in the Christ Roi neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Mrs. J. R. Gerluss, a Haitian teacher and founder of the Piscou School, is determined that her students will not be abandoned; with our support and yours, she is rebuilding the school to be earthquake-resilient.

In the meantime, 3 young girls have been provided with scholarships to study in INDESCO-sponsored schools in the Dominican Republic this school year of 2011. At American Initiatives, we believe that hope is the key to resilience and recovery. By giving more young girls a chance to succeed, their future can only be brighter.

For more information about our partnership with INDESCO, see our Projects page.