How We Work

You Are Saving Lives

At Practical Compassion we work to make sure every gift transforms lives and helps Haitians and their families thrive. Considering the extreme poverty and lack of education in Haiti, we know that every dollar people entrust us must be used to do the most good.

Throughout our 20+ years working in Haiti, our donors have helped us bring food to the hungry, dig wells for the thirsty, and build homes, schools, and latrines for those seeking shelter. We have held dozens of medical clinics and handed out thousands of life-saving medicines, treating more than 9,000 patients. Your gifts pay for surgeries, support local microenterprise, and provide countless children with an education, books, uniforms, and access to computers.

Our vision is to empower and energize people and projects in Haiti that are sustainable and impactful.  

With a population of 10 million people living in a country about the size of the state of Maryland, the need is great:

• Unemployment. The unemployment rate in Haiti is 40 percent. Actual numbers state up to 75 percent of the population is without jobs.
• Literacy. The literacy rate in the country is about 50 percent. Of all school-age children in Haiti, only half attend elementary school. Attendance for secondary school is a grim 20 percent.
• Income. Most Haitians live on less than $1 per day. The average per-capita income is $480, making Haiti the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
• Infrastructure. Most of the population has no electricity, plumbing, mail service or access to transportation. The quality-of-life for many is substandard, and many families and children lack access to proper sanitation, food, shelter and medical care.

Why We’re About Empowerment

Our goal is to make a long-term, life-changing impact for the people of Haiti. While meeting immediate and urgent needs can be incredibly important, we recognize that alone won’t sustain ongoing change.

Unlike many larger organizations, Practical Compassion has the opportunity to develop personal relationships with hardworking and trustworthy people in Haiti who have already done amazing things to contribute to those around them—often with virtually no resources.

When we’ve encountered these people, we’ve invested in them to better their lives and the lives of those they impact. We want to help them build on the vision they already have for their children and their communities. We believe this is true empowerment—resourcing people with vision, so they can do even more.

What Makes Being Small More Mighty

One of the benefits we have as a small organization is that we can personally respond quickly to needs as they arise. We’re also able to follow up directly and frequently with those who have received support through our scholarship programs and other financial investments. This level of accountability lets us shift priorities quickly, ensuring that the resources you entrust us with are having the desired impact.

Be a part of the life-changing movement with Practical Compassion by donating today.