Haiti Update

It's always good to hear an update from Haiti, especially given the place it has in our hearts since I served there for a while last year.

It's great to see progress, albeit slow, as reconstruction and rehabilitation continues, almost two years after the devastating earthquake of January 2010.

Today we've received news from IHQ that nearly 700 students have started the 2011-2012 school year in newly repaired or rebuilt school buildings owned and operated by The Salvation Army. Four of the six schools slated for completion by The Salvation Army in 2011 have been opened.

Not only have the schools been reopened, but as part of the rebuild a local maintenance team have been trained in the upkeep and ongoing repair of the buildings, building local capacity and providing more local employment.

By the end of 2014 20 schools will be rebuilt. The Salvation Army is a major provider of education in Haiti, operating around 45 schools in the country, over half of which were damaged in the 2010 earthquake. Please continue to remember the people of Haiti in your prayers.