One Year After the 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake

Last August, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated southwestern Haiti. Eighty-seven families (478 family members) in our network were impacted. Our team in Haiti quickly became the first responders for our families, arriving 2 days after the earthquake and uniquely positioned to access the community and respond due to our connection to the collection network. 

Over the course of a week, we located and provided essential needs to 95% of our families, including medical care, hot meals, and hygiene kits. Within two weeks, business loans were distributed and our plastic waste collectors were back to work. Within the month, our families were in semi-permanent shelters and had a minimum of 3-months worth of essential items provided. Mental health support and burial support were also provided to our families. 

Our families live in communities in Les Cayes that are difficult to access given their reputations. Because of them, we were also able to bring in additional services such as medical care and hot meals for their neighbors. 

Our community of supporters showed up when our families needed them the most. Thanks to them, we were able to meet all of our families’ needs and move from emergency response to development. 

Today, all home repairs have been completed by our local construction team. Twenty new homes have been built. Families who are in semi-permanent shelters are moving into permanent rental homes. 

From one of our collectors: 

"My biggest accomplishment as a human was the building of my little house exclusively through plastic collection. And now, seeing that two walls have collapsed, I feel like half of my life has collapsed. I would not have imagined that I would receive a visit from WORK. That gives me hope for a better life."

Transitioning from response to development gave a clear signal to our families and their neighbors that we’re here to stay until the work is done, giving them hope and a long-term view to what transformative change can look like. Our collectors’ work immediately went from being perceived as a dirty job to dignified and respectable work. Their new homes are being celebrated and they’re finding more friendly environments to do their jobs in cleaning up their communities. 

We want to thank all of our individual supporters and corporate sponsors who provided financial resources and in-kind donations for our response and development efforts.

Haiti Health Foundation

Health Equity International

World Central Kitchen

UPS Foundation

Allegheny Health Network

Global Links

3 Rivers Outdoor Co.

Lavergne Haiti

UPS Foundation

HP

CPI Card Group, Inc.

Home Depot

Miami Dolphins

Mission Aviation Fellowship