COVID-19 Response
Since March 19, there have been 273 positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Haiti, including 20 deaths and 18 full recoveries. The government took immediate action to close its border, schools, universities, and factories, implement a curfew and social distancing measures, provide hand washing stations, and more. To fill in the gaps, additional services will be provided to our families and our First Mile collectors network focusing on prevention and access when symptoms arise. Our goal is to keep families safe and healthy, and avoiding the need for hospitalization. Below are our service pillars and tactics:
Shelter at Home Support
Provide accurate information, protocols, and reminders with a regular cadence utilizing phone calls and text messages - twice a week
Mitigate challenges to sheltering at home by providing resources needed to stay at home and ensuring individuals with symptoms can come forward
Capacity for Isolation—First Sign of Symptoms
Provide access to recovery space that meet medical standards for collectors to use when symptoms arise
Educate the community on when isolation is necessary
Support wages lost during isolation period
Work with partner clinics to provide tests for those who need it
Access to COVID-19 Treatment
Set up transportation fleet with driver and health advocate to accompany individuals who require medical attention to a partner clinic or hospital, including one with ICU/ventilation
Provide access to quality care with follow through case management
Support some lost wages during treatment period
If you are able to support at this time, a one-time contribution or a small monthly investment will provide us with the ability to respond accordingly. We'll update this page regularly with our efforts and outcomes. Thank you for your support. Be well and stay healthy. This is unprecedented times, and we'll need to utilize every bit of collective effort to get through it.
We're in this together.
UPDATES
JUNE 26, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
Our last report on COVID-19 indicated that June would be a peak month in Haiti. As we near the end of the month, we’re glad to share that we’ve had just 6 mild cases, all of which have experienced a full recovery. Our families and our team in Haiti are taking the precautions available to them in a densely populated living situation. Here’s what we’ve learned so far:
‘Shelter in Place’ takes on a different meaning in Haiti: people live day to day in Port-au-Prince in high population density. While our families are doing their best to stay home, to disinfect regularly, their ability to shelter in place everyday is nearly impossible. The good news is that our families know how to live within these constraints and by working together, we can set protocols that make sense to their living situations.
Trust is important: the relationships we’ve built with our families have enabled us to remove barriers that the government and local healthcare authorities face and quickly deliver life-saving information on COVID-19.
Sensitivity to cultural and local realities is key: given cultural context, the lack of medical infrastructure, and threats to those with positive COVID-19 results, many people in Haiti including our families and collection network are afraid to speak up about their symptoms. Some of our families have found ways around this and more will continue to do so. Our commitment to stand behind them provides the comfort to do so.
Advocates are everywhere: as soon as our families had a baseline understanding of how the virus spreads, they began to advocate for supplies, for more information, and to distribute knowledge in the community. We’ve witnessed positive behavior change increase by 100% over the course of two and half months of work. Our families and student WhatsApp groups are buzzing with information. Neighbors have also stepped up to host hand washing stations.
Leaders will always step up: We’ve trained over 20 of our community leaders to help families navigate COVID. They’re not only enthusiastic about their role, they’re doing an incredible job keeping our families healthy. Our frontline is strong and unwavering. We’ll continue to engage our leadership as we transition back to regular programming.
Despite the strong outcomes so far, our work is far from over. As the number of cases continue to rise in Haiti and worldwide, we will remain vigilant with our response work. With our COVID-19 protocols now rooted into our community, our team and families are ready to get back to regular programming with extreme caution. Some of our newer families are ready to begin their work with us while others are ready to graduate and lend a helping hand to the community. Over the next few weeks, we’ll pilot our new program and service protocols.
Your financial support will enable us to invest in a learning and work environment that’s safe for everyone.
We’ll get through this together…,
The WORK Team
MAY 15, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
We’re starting to see a much quicker uptick on the number of confirmed cases. Between last Tuesday to this Tuesday, numbers rose by 100% and are continuing to rise at an even faster pace. Due to limited testing, these numbers are still very much underreported. The medical community in Haiti is expecting a peak in June, and we’re working with our families to brace for the worst.
Our team has been relentless in sharing information and our families are taking ownership of the situation with the resources we’ve provided. We’ve also funded essential items for all families and over 800 First Mile collectors so they can shelter at home as much as possible, and installed over 80 hand washing stations, and provided thousands of items of sanitation and disinfection supplies. Our data tells us that this is working. So far, 100% of our network is staying healthy and without symptoms. This week, our recovery room was set up for anyone experiencing symptoms.
Over the next two weeks, our families will receive another distribution of supplies to prepare for June. Our transportation team and health advocates are being trained to accompany families to the hospital when the need arises. In addition to setting up virtual learning opportunities for our kids by providing devices and facilitating learning by grade level, they will also receive a Learning and Activities Kits filled with books and other supplies so they don’t go without learning during this time.
We can’t do this without you. There are still two weeks to participate in our Run Across May to do 200 Together, whether that’s miles, another activity, or dollars raised. Join our Run Across Haiti® Club on Strava or make a donation above today to help our families stay healthy.
We’ll get through this together…,
The WORK Team
Some of our families wanted to share their stories and words of gratitude with you. Check them out on our blog.
MAY 1, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
Since our last update, the number of positive cases in Haiti have just about doubled to 81, along with 8 deaths and 8 individuals who have recovered. Only 827 tests have been carried out by the Public Health Department to date, and still 1 lab with the ability to run these tests, which lead us all to believe that these numbers are much lower than the reality of the situation.
As our families continue to shelter in place, we’re implementing efforts to support the rest of the community and our entire First Mile collection network. Our families currently each manage a hand washing station on their block, and have nominated a neighbor on the next block to do the same. Our community garden will be up and running soon, and in a few months will contribute harvest in a time of dire food shortage. Our First Mile leaders are making deliveries of essential items to collectors outside of Port-au-Prince, ensuring that they can put food on the table. Rental property owners have opened their space for us to set up quarantine rooms. There are so many more examples of this. Everyday, we’re witnessing the dignity and strength that comes with the ability to care for another.
Our WORK community is growing because everyone is chipping in. When you give to our efforts today, you support local leaders to implement effective solutions for long term change and to make sure that no one in our community falls through the cracks. You provide an opportunity for our entrepreneurs to step up instead of shut down. You give our kids the ability to learn even if they’ve not received a single update from their school in two months. You’re letting our community know that they can get through this.
There’s so much work ahead to get through this time and we can use your help. This morning, we kicked off our Run Across May to do 200 Together. With the Run Across Haiti® cancelled this year, we decided to take a shot at doing something we’ve never done before: a virtual run. In just a few days, about 200 of you “showed up” to commit to your 200 activity, whether that’s miles, dollars raised, lunges, soccer passes, with more participants registering. This community gets the hard work done because we’re in it together. If you’ve ever been afraid to commit to something, now is the time to do it with a purpose and support our efforts.
A generous donor has provided a $20,000 match and #GivingTuesdayNow just happens to be next Tuesday. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to try something new with us.
To get started:
Join our Run Across Haiti Club on Strava
Register using the registration link there.
Set up a fundraiser on Facebook (no fees!) to raise $200.
We’ll share our favorite highlights of 200 Together and acts of community unity on social media throughout the month. Follow us @doworkorg.
Pou Ayiti,
The WORK Team
April 17, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
The first three cases of deaths in Haiti caused by COVID-19 were reported over the last two weeks. There are now 43 positive cases, but with just hundreds of tests available to be completed, we can hardly call this a victory like the government recently reported. Current numbers are sorely underreported and with an already poor infrastructure, including less than 40 functioning ventilators in the country and 1 hospital treating COVID-19, we have a lot of work ahead of us to help our families stay healthy.
Through our response efforts, the initial fear of COVID-19 that our families reported has begun to turn into evidence of positive behavior change, advocacy, and unity. Our prevention protocols are being enforced within families. Hand washing stations are set up, hundreds of masks, soap, and disinfectant are being distributed with instructions and reminders of use via phone calls and text messages. Our leaders are being trained with the information to help spread the word as far and wide as possible.
Our families have received essential supplies to help them shelter at home this month thanks to your support. Below are their words of gratitude that they’ve asked us to share with you:
“I am doing well for the moment. My family and I make our best to stay safe even if it's difficult because of where we are living. Because of you guys we are able to stay home, we will not have to go outside to buy food thank you so much, we appreciated that.” – Eglaide
“We are doing well for the moment, applied everything that you told me to do to avoid from getting this disease, and sometimes share info that I have with my neighbors in a way to help them. I don't know how to say thank you for the kit [essential items]. Before that I was asking how could I stay home without nothing in my house to eat? But you were there guys as you always do you got our back.” – Schneider
"Sometimes ask myself why you guys care so much about us? That never happened to me. Thank you for the value you put on my person. It makes me feel important". – Jean Nause (in frame)
This is possible because of your support. Whether you’ve made a one-time donation or joined us as a monthly supporter, thank you.
As we look to the months ahead, we see an enormous need to dial up our prevention efforts and begin to think about recovery as the economy, which has already taken a big hit during the unrest and will only worsen in this situation. We project that we’ll need to raise about $275,000 to support prevention and access to care for the next quarter. Please join us today through the donation widget above. Every dollar donated enables us to deliver life-saving services.
For our families…,
The WORK Team
MARCH 31, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
We hope you’re staying safe and healthy. Our families and team in Haiti are doing healthy and okay, feeling the uncertainties of the situation like most of us are. Our team in the US continues to shelter in place while working to coordinate efforts with our team and partners in Haiti. There are now 15 positive cases in the country with hundreds in self-quarantine. Within our community, our partner clinic Hopital Fontaine has received support from USAID to set up a COVID-19 treatment shelter. We’re supplementing the effort with coordination, case management, and additional recovery space. Our strategy includes three critical pillars:
Prevention with education on COVID-19 via regular phone calls and text messages, distribution of hygiene items and installing hand washing stations, and providing resources to shelter at home in light of wages lost;
Support at first sign of symptoms with accompaniment of medical protocols and recovery space with social support; and
Access to medical treatment for COVID-19 when the need arises with follow through case support.
Things are moving quickly, and we’re rallying our families and First Mile collectors network to prepare for what’s to come. The first round of small business loans were distributed to enable our partners to supply essential items to the community. While that effort is underway, we’re now preparing to deliver additional food, hygiene items, and other resources to enable our families to shelter at home for the month. If you are in the position to support our efforts, a one-time contribution or a small monthly investment through the donation widget above will be put to work immediately.
Stay up to date by connecting with us on social media @doworkorg (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). We’ll share our weekly compilation of the most important information on the development and the outcomes of our response to date.
Thank you.
For our families…,
The WORK Team
MARCH 20, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
Last night, the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Haiti. Both individuals are foreigners who have been in quarantine. The President declared a state of emergency immediately that included the actions below:
closure of schools, universities;
closed factories;
declared curfew from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am;
prohibits all meetings and meetings of more than 10 people;
requests ministers and members of government to maintain security distances;
rotating 50/100 state employees with tele-work;
all ports and airports closed;
2 people per vehicle for commercial goods and merchandise;
special conditions for populations at risk (asthma, diabetes, etc);
black market for food and hygiene products will be severely banned and sanctioned.
Over the past weeks, we’ve conducted educational sessions and demos for our families and collectors network so they’re aware of the situation and what to do to avoid COVID-19. We’re working to ensure supplies are in place for our families to endure this time and that strict protocols are enforced.
If you’d like to support our families financially at this time, it will go towards access to medical care, essential items, and small business loans for our entrepreneurs. A one-time gift will be put to use immediately and any recurring support in a small amount will enable us to sustain this for the time needed. Please only give if you are able to through the widget above.
We’ll continue to provide updates here as the situation develops.
We’ve also had a chance to speak with many of you this week to learn about how COVID-19 has affected you personally. We’ll continue to do so and find opportunities to support each other however we can. Join us on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) as we unveil these ideas.
We’re in this together…,
The WORK Team
MARCH 17, 2020
Dear WORK Family and Friends,
We hope that you’re remaining safe and supported during this challenging time. Our US team is working from home and exercising precautions to protect ourselves and our communities from COVID-19. All March and April events have been cancelled.
Our families are provided with information, hygiene items, and while there are no known confirmed cases yet in Haiti, we’re working together to plan for various scenarios.
To those who have asked us how they can support our families, we ask that if you’re able to afford it to contribute a small amount of monthly support through the widget above that will enable us to maintain our preventative measures and respond meaningfully.
We’ve also reached out to the many small businesses who have supported us. As they have stood alongside us in our work to end poverty through jobs, it’s important that we help keep their staff employed during this time. According to the US Small Business Association, small businesses make up 99.9% of all firms, 47% of all private sector employees, and 41% of private sector payroll. They’re critical contributors to dignified work. Please join us in rallying around them if you’re able to.
Be well and stay healthy.
For our families…,
The WORK Team