Haiti Update: The Apparent Project

It’s been almost two months since the earthquake in Haiti  — about the amount of time when it becomes easy to forget the on-going stories of both tragedy and hope. I’ve been in touch this week with my friends Shelley and Corrigan Clay, American expats living in Haiti. The Clay family consists of two biological children and two Haitian children who are already in the process of being adopted.

When the Clays first came to Haiti the plan was to work for an orphanage. But Shelley and Corrigan were quickly moved by the reality that many children in Haitian orphanages actually have living parents. It’s just that the parents aren’t able to feed the children and are forced to give them up. While in the process of adopting thier own children (a 3-5 year process), the Clays decided to start The Apparent Project. This non-profit organization is dedicated to helping Haitian families stay together. They provide education and food for street children, act as foster parents to several older boys, and host a cottage industry where local women can support their families with their handcrafts.

After the earthquake the Clays housed 30 people in thier garden, and provided food and medical care to thier neighbors. Now they are extending that care into multiple neighborhoods, and underserved pockets of homelessness.

A few weeks ago Shelley was able to take advantage of emergency changes in the adoption laws by taking their children to the U.S. temporarily. This will allow the Clays to complete the 3-5 year long adoption, already in process.

In the meantime Corrigan is in Port Au Prince working to find better and more humane ways to distribute aid. Corrigan wrote this fascinating post on how a new method of going out in pairs with backpacks full of  food and supplies, is preventing aid rioting. And this post on the joy and resilience  of the Haitian peopel is an inspiration.

Right now, Shelly is in Washington filling a shipping container with everything from infant formula to pastic tarps to pots and pans.  They are also shipping jewlery making tools. If you’d like to help gather supplies you can donate here, and Shelley and her mom will be able to purchase goods. The container leaves for Haiti in a week. 

I so admire the work the Clays do to create sustainable solutions in Haiti. If you can, please donate today and help them to keep on keepin’ on.

Thanks for being here.

Rachelle

Posted in Magpie Girl
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