Five years after a massive earthquake struck Haiti, many still feel the effects of the disaster: family members lost, injuries sustained, and the patchwork of their hometown forever changed. But Haitians haven’t been sitting still in the aftermath of the tragedy. Instead, they have spent the past five years rebuilding, recovering, and living with optimism for the future.
In Port-au-Prince, neighbors are helping one another to get back on steady financial footing through self-run savings groups. They lend one another money and get to see their own (and others’) entrepreneurial dreams come true. Although many people lost their way of earning an income when the earthquake turned their businesses and assets into rubble, they see a way forward.
The American Red Cross, in partnership with Mercy Corps, has helped set up 35 savings and loan associations in the neighborhood of Carrefour-Feuilles. At least 35 more will be set up by community members.
Visit this page to learn more about American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.