Hope In A Dire Situation
Although school sessions have been sporadic as unrest and violence in the area have created frequent security issues, at the heart of the Haitian people is hope! Students and teachers open school whenever it is safe to do so. …
Remembering George, Gerard, and Bob.
Where to begin?
These past few years have been difficult for all of us. Beyond a global pandemic, Practical Compassion along with many of you have had our share of grieving…we lost our founder and dear friend, George Zimmerman, early this year.
Then this summer one of our key Haitian partners, Rev. Gerard Morrisey, passed away from complications of diabetes and high blood pressure. Most recently, another huge supporter and encourager, Bob DeVitry passed away after a brief battle with cancer….
What’s Happening In Haiti?
Pandemics. Civil Unrest. Political chaos.
There are so many reasons to lose hope in Haiti. And yet…despite the increased turmoil—our partners have not let their fear stop the work your support helps them accomplish.
Maudeline, a Haitian student supported by our founders George and Suzie Zimmerman, earned her teaching certificate but found herself without work in 2020 when schools shut down for COVID. Practical Compassion sent her $500 and she was able to quickly pivot, starting a successful chicken business where she breeds birds and sells eggs to support herself.
Lovely Pierre, who has served as a translator for Practical Compassion over the years, is now succeeding as a bright medical student.
Rose Martha, an orphan who has been supported by Practical Compassion through school and childhood, is now a mother of her own and has started her own elementary school in the mountains. Her goal is to give other children a chance like she had at a better life, through education.
The Lerebours orphanage, run by Madame Luc and her son, has 35 orphans who had food this week because of funds sent by Practical Compassion donors. Rampant inflation has caused food prices to skyrocket—but one generous donor is covering the additional costs to make sure that the children continue to get the food they need.
Our school in Ponte Sonde is open and educating the students that many of you generously provide scholarships for.
We could go on and on about the people whose lives and work are improved because of your faithful partnership.
While Haiti has been rife with increased violence in recent years, the assassination of the country’s president, Jovenel Moïse, has further unnerved our partners and friends living in this beautiful but volatile country.
TRUTH BE TOLD: OUR HAITIAN FRIENDS FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES.
But your gifts continue to bring life, hope, and stability in a time of great turbulence.…
I’m Dr. Ketura…
Ketura Pierre Louis was a little girl attending elementary school when we first met her and began supporting her educational journey.
After graduating high school, Practical Compassion then helped Ketura attend dental school in the Dominican Republic. While there she met a young man who was studying to be a doctor. They plan to marry and desire to serve in their community.
This is her story….
2018 Recap: Empowerment and Letting Go
We are so grateful for your support of Practical Compassion. While our focus and commitment to providing opportunities and a better life for the people of Haiti remains the same, 2018 has held some changes for us as well.
This year we were faced with the challenge of having one of our largest contributors determine they were unable to continue providing funding. As a result, we started looking at how we could ensure that the remaining support we receive goes as far as possible.
Letting Go Of Our Medical Clinics…
A New Website, Medical Clinics and Graduations
We wanted to let you know what we have been up to with your generous support since our last update.
A New Website
We have worked hard to implement a new, more user-friendly website that we hope makes learning and giving to Practical Compassion a little easier: practicalcompassion.org….
20 Years Ago….
Twenty years. That’s how long it’s been since I visited Haiti for the first time with Practical Compassion’s founders, George Zimmerman, then pastor of Calvary Church, and his wife Suzie.
Their vision and unwavering commitment to help empower the people of Haiti is why Practical Compassion still exists after two decades. It is why much of the work we’ve done in Haiti still stands, and many of the people we’ve invested in are thriving.
Twenty years ago, Calvary Church had a mission program led by a man named Earl Hess. Earl had visited Haiti over the years to check on the two missionaries that the church supported. One day, George decided it was time that he went back himself and asked during a church service if others wanted to join him….
Adding Haitian Medical Staff to Our Trips
In May 2012, we did medical clinics in Goyavier, Pont Sonde, and BonBerger. This was the first time that we went to Goyavier, a city located high in the mountains behind St. Marc. We tried something new this trip – bringing 2 Haitian nurses to assist our doctor as well as 3 U.S nurses. This method allowed us to see many more patients in a shorter time period. Since May of 2011, we have been using a computer to record our patients, their vital information, their symptoms, their diagnosis, and the treatment that we prescribed. During our November 2011 and this May 2012 trip, we were able to use this information to measure the effectiveness of our previous treatments….
Teeth and Eyes, oh My!
In November 2013, we did medical clinics in Gilbert, Deslandes, and Pont Sonde. We treated 360 people and provided dental care for 60 others. This was the first time that we went to Gilbert. The students carried our medical supplies and all other necessary equipment for about 30 minutes to the school that would serve as our clinic. When we left, the teenage girls carried out the remaining supplies during a huge downpour of rain. Sadly for us, we could not keep up with them and we were not carrying anything….
Medical Trips and Soccer Games
In May 2013, we did medical clinics in Savonne Brulee, Deslandes, and Pont Sonde. We saw 350 patients. This was our first clinic in Deslandes, a village clinic formerly operated by Albert Schweitzer Hospital Haiti. We continued to use 2 Haitian nurses along with our doctor and 3 U.S. nurses. We were also blessed with 2 pre-med students, Dan Scheese and Aaron Kline, who traveled with us for the first time to get medical experience. However, we used their muscles as much as their brain at Deslandes to carry many of our patients who were handicapped….