Hundreds of School Backpacks on their way to Haiti

While education for all children is seen as a right in the United States, access to education is a privilege for children in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. For more than 25 years, individual benefactors have been assisting children in Haiti with support programs such as an Adopt-a-Student program. This year 841 students are being “adopted” by benefactors in Worcester County, who will receive a photo of the child and copies of their report card along with personal notes during the year to let their benefactors know how their studies are going.

Each summer the Ministry sponsors a backpack donation program to equip children in Haiti with supplies, including non-perishable foods. Over the past few weeks, 617 packs were dropped off at the Haitian Ministry office at the diocesan Chancery building on Elm Street in Worcester. Each was accompanied by a donation to assist with the cost of shipping. The packs began their journey to schools in and around Les Cayes, Haiti on Tuesday, August 23.

“You cannot imagine the smiles on the faces of these children when they receive a backpack and go off to school,” said Sr. Marie-Judith Dupuis, SSA, director. “I am so grateful to the benefactors for bringing hope to these children.  Education is the only way out of poverty, especially in a country as poor as Haiti.”

The Haitian Ministry Apostolate, working together with more than a dozen parishes who twin with parishes and schools in the Diocese of Les Cayes, Haiti, is one of the 28 agencies and ministries made possible by the Annual Partners in Charity Appeal of the Diocese of Worcester.