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CARIS RECEIVES AWARD FROM U.S. NAVY AT CARIS KIDS DAY

Caris Foundation International received an award from the USNS Comfort for outstanding community outreach at the third annual Fete des Enfants, or Caris Kids Day. Caris hosted this recreational event where volunteers served over 400 children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Other partners for the event included Union School Haiti and over twenty businesses and service organizations.

As attendees arrived, the Navy Band from US Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort performed jazz and pop hits. The USNS Comfort is a part of the American naval fleet that provides free medical services to vulnerable populations.

The day was filled with special events including sports, exercise and arts stations. JPerry, Haitian singer and songwriter, surprised attendees with a performance of “Dekole” and “Bouje,” his two most popular songs.

Third Annual Caris Kids Day

“Fete des Enfants” began at 9:30 am, as buses from sites across Port-au-Prince arrived at Union School Haiti. The Navy Band from US Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort performed for the crowd in its final ‘Operation Continuing Promise” stop this year.

Before beginning the day’s activities, Caris employees Odelyn Julot and Gislhaine Benoit led the group in the Haitian National Anthem. The children then formed teams and began rotations in sports and arts stations. US Navy volunteers led the soccer rotations, provided arts and crafts materials such as face masks, maracas and a large canvas for painting activities. Ayiti Yoga led yoga sessions, teaching them about healthy breathing and stretching techniques. Volunteers from the Red Cross and Union School ensured that activities ran smoothly and children moved from station to station in a timely manner.

After morning rotations, the children gathered for a time of fellowship and lunch, catered by Marie Carmelle Valon. Lunch was followed by Zumba sessions, led by Zumbayiti, as well as cotton candy and fresco provided by Satigny. As everyone danced to the music, volunteers passed out balloons while singer JPerry surprised attendees with an energetic performance.

As the day came to a close, everyone released their balloons into the sky, a symbolic show of unity. Each attendee then received a care package including food, toiletries, and toys, all generously donated by local businesses.

After the event, the Caris Foundation received an award from the USNS Comfort for outstanding community outreach. 

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Thank you so much to all of our sponsors for your generous donations and support for making this possible: Continuing Promise 2015, USNS Comfort, Union School, Croix-Rouge Haitienne, Brasserie Nationale D’Haiti, Societe de Production Industrielle et Alimentaire, Mirage Industries S.A., Maison Handal, Acra Distribution Company, Compas Market, Projet Alimentaire Mondial, Oriental Cosmetics S.A., SO.DIS.A S.A., Digicel, Olivier Dupoux, JPerry, L’etoile S.A., Muncheez, Satigny, Ayiti Yoga, Zumbayiti, Daupin S.A, and the Caris team. Thank you as well to the Red Cross for providing an on-call ambulance and for the Haitian Police for providing security for our event. We couldn’t have done it without you!

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KEY HEALTH EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

On Wednesday, Caris Foundation International Haiti had the honor to participate at a teacher training in collaboration with Zanmi Lasante, Partners In Health’s sister organization. The aim of the initiative is to facilitate access to health education in remote schools located across the Central Plateau region. Thirteen different modules on health and human rights topics were developed in Haitian Creole. The Caris team conducted a training session with 140 teachers from 41 schools supported by Zanmi Lasante, representing approximately 10,000 students. Following the training, teachers are expected to deliver the school-based curriculum to students 9 to 12 years old throughout the school year. During this period, the health messages will be monitored and evaluated to determine their effectiveness. We are excited about this collaboration and look forward to posting more updates as the school year progresses.

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CARIS COORDINATES 1ST HAITI AIDS WALK

Although it is typically seen as a day to raise awareness of HIV, there are many ways to do so and contribute to the fight against this disease. Let's remember and celebrate the lives of the 39 million people who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS and not forget the relatives, friends and orphans who have been affected. Let's support those currently living with HIV by encouraging them to monitor their health status carefully, be adherent to antiretroviral therapy treatment (ART), consult with health practitioners regularly and to stay positive. Let's increase awareness of HIV prevention and treatment by educating and sharing the true facts to dispel myths to fight stigma and discrimination. Raising awareness can prevent new infections and encourage more people to get tested. Let's celebrate the progress we have witnessed over the past two decades. Let’s also resolve to work harder towards closing the gaps between the medical and public health fields to address the barriers that prevent access to care. We need to "step up the pace" for this one last mile.

What does Caris Foundation do in relation to HIV/Aids?

Caris Foundation International has been working in Haiti since 2008 to improve the care of HIV positive children, young people and pregnant women. In partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP) and USAID/PEPFAR, Caris coordinates the Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV program in over 120 hospitals and clinics nationally. The program seeks to ensure that every child born to an HIV-positive mother is tested early. Where infants are diagnosed positive, we help initiate lifesaving Anti Retroviral (ARV) medication as soon as possible. Approximately 15,000 tests have been done since 2010, and 80% of the HIV-positive infants that have started ARV treatment are still alive.

Caris and World AIDS Day

Caris had the honor to coordinate the first AIDS Walk in Haiti, in partnership with MSPP and the Haitian Red Cross. Over 300 participants marched through Port au Prince, chanting, distributing condoms, waiving awareness-promoting banners and posters. It was a huge success! Motorcycle taxi drivers were stopping by the parade of people to ask for condoms; construction workers were heard singing Creole HIV prevention songs that were being chanted through megaphones; teenage Red Cross volunteers were taking turns holding large banners and distributing red balloons to the crowd. Through the preparation for the walk we were able to reach the Haitian population with HIV public health messages through newspapers reports and national and international radio broadcasts. There is still a need to increase awareness, eliminate discrimination and to show support for people living with HIV through advocating for access to medication and treatment options. The Caris Foundation would like to thank those that help us every day in working to improve the lives of people affected and with HIV. Our thoughts and prayers are with the 34 million people world wide living with HIV, for those who have lost loved ones. We need to think more about those who are at risk of contracting the disease.

Let our generation be the LAST to have to live with this pandemic and the ONE to eradicate it.

Photos by Elektra Carras

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LINET KENGA – MALINDI FOOD CAFE OPERATOR

There can be no real empowerment without character change and adjustments to one’s world view. If one approaches life through the lens of a fatalist then she is convinced that nothing can change so why try. It’s difficult to teach fiscal responsibility towards the future when fatalism is the prevailing attitude. Recently one of our field workers noticed one of our single moms singing and smiling and she asked why she was so happy “Because I have hope” was her answer. Three years ago these single mothers had no hope. They could not see any positive future. They had given up. This is an update of one of our single mothers in the Caris Empowerment Program in Kenya. 

The Story of Linet

Linet Kenga is a single mother of five and a member of the Maisha Mapya TTG in the village of Muyeye village. When she separated from her husband she was engaged as a cook in a private school. From her meagre savings she started an open air food business with a small capital of Ksh.250 ($2.50). This was a time she had been terminated from her job after she asked for a pay-raise.

Her clientele grew steadily and soon she could not cope without a boost on her capital. She joined Maisha Mapya TTG just at the time when she needed more funds to boost her business and after two months she was one of the first loanees of Ksh.1,000 ($10.00) in August 2013.

From that time she has taken seven loans, the most recent being Ksh.7,000 ($70.00) and her business is quite steady now. She has constructed a temporary shed which she uses as a cafe. Her capital base has grown from Ksh.250 ($2.50) to Ksh.10,000 ($100.00).

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