Haiti downloads: SOS magazine special

We hope you enjoy this special edition of Family Matters. In this issue, we focus on our work in Haiti since the devastating earthquake in Haiti almost a year ago.

The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck 10 miles west of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on January 12, killing more than 220,000 people and leaving at least one million homeless. Together with long-term political strife, a severely depressed economy and recent damage caused by strong hurricanes, this catastrophe exacerbated the already miserable situation for Haiti’s children.Thousands of parents were killed during the quake, leaving their children alone and scared.

Of course, when the earthquake struck, SOS Children was already there. We have been present in Haiti since 1978 and have two Children’s Villages, in Santo (just outside Port-au-Prince) and Cap Haïtien (in the north of the country), which were already home to more than 400 children. We also have two SOS Youth Homes; two SOS Schools; one SOS Vocational Training Centre and four Social Centres, from which Family Strengthening Programmes are run.

In this edition you can find out more about our Emergency Relief Programme which as helped thousands of children and families. Read how we have been able to offer shelter, love and support to hundreds of children who were orphaned or separated from their families, and how we have also provided thousands of families in the community with food, medicine and clothing.