The Fight Against Hunger in Haiti

Star of Hope is responsible for 3,600 children in Haiti, and our food packages also feed the children’s siblings and parents. The siege of the capital has forced us to find alternative ways to distribute food.

“It has become too dangerous to transport goods to and from Port-au-Prince,” says Tony. “Previously, we could lower prices by ordering tons of food at once from large suppliers there. Lawlessness has made it impossible. Instead, we buy food in the local communities closest to our various schools.”

The advantage of this is that food orders provide an economic boost for these smaller communities, whose residents also suffer greatly from Haiti’s crisis. The downside is that the food costs much more and our money doesn’t stretch as far.

Therefore, it’s high time for a new food distribution plan. It’s not just about stopping hunger for the moment. When food shortages become too severe, many families are forced to eat up their seeds. This saves them momentarily but leads them toward disaster in the long run.

Our food distributions break the vicious cycle. More seeds are planted, more crops can be harvested, and more parents can feed their children on their own.

“We are ready,” says Tony. “As soon as we can finance the purchases, we will ensure that families receive food!”

This is how we help the people of Haiti win the fight against hunger:

With every crisis that hits Haiti, the support from the Star of Hope becomes even more crucial.

• Today, we are the only Swedish aid organization still operating on the ground.
• We run schools in seven villages where 3,600 children receive education.
• We provide them with school lunches, school supplies, school bags, and uniforms.
• We distribute livestock to the children’s families, organize sewing training, and ensure access to clean drinking water in each village.
• Our long-term work gives children the opportunity to grow into young adults with the strength and ability to break free from the vicious circle of poverty.

All of this is made possible thanks to the vital support from sponsors and monthly donors.

Our reporting from Haiti last year was dominated by bleak headlines:

• About how criminal groups have taken control of most of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
• About how even surrounding cities are controlled by the mafia. About how our responsible individuals, Tony and Myrtha, fled the capital and now lead the relief efforts from the village where Tony grew up.
• About how the phone network and internet are knocked out for weeks, time and again, because telecom companies dare not send out repairmen.
• About how inflation soared and the price of gasoline rose to $14.97 USD per liter ($56.66 USD per gallon) in a country where eight out of ten people have less than $1.90 USD per day to live on.
• About how all of this has led to severe food shortages, and about how the UN warned of famine last fall.

Don’t let the children starve! The criminals instill fear in the people, but for Haiti’s children, food shortages are an even greater threat. Join us in freeing them from hunger! Join the fight against hunger!