Project Living Hope exists to empower Haitians to build a stronger Haiti, but the challenges are increasing.
“Haiti has always been a country that suffers from natural disasters, corruption, poverty and a lack of infrastructure,” said Laura Polynice, administrative assistant for the organization that was founded by Guesly Dessieux, a doctor with Santiam Hospital & Clinics in Stayton.
“In recent years, warring gangs have terrorized the country,” Polynice said. “The situation has gotten exponentially worse in recent weeks.”
Since September, she said the situation in Haiti has “deteriorated exponentially.”
“Violent gangs are terrorizing the capital and beyond, expanding their reach every day,” she said. “One gang has cut off the port where fuel is delivered to Haiti, blocking off fuel for the entire nation. Hospitals, banks and businesses all run on generators. Without fuel they are having to limit their services and even shut
their doors.
“Inflation is out of control,” she added. “In response to the violence, lack of fuel, rising prices and political frustrations, protests and roadblocks have broken out all over the country. Haiti has been in lock down for over a month now. Families are struggling to find food and drinking water. Schools have not opened for the new school year. Those fortunate enough to have a job are unable to travel to work. New cases of cholera are being reported for the first time since 2019.”
The United Nations, United States, Canada and other international powers are debating how to respond to the current humanitarian crisis in Haiti, according to Polynice.
“PLH is partnering with the 14 churches in the Camp Marie community to provide food assistance to families most in need,” Polynice said. “PLH is also collecting funds to purchase food staples that will then be distributed to families in the community.”
Polynice credits PLH for offering hope to in the midst of this crisis.
“Our vision is to see an increase in strong, self-sustaining Haitian families and communities who no longer look to outsiders to meet their basic needs.”
Under Dr. Dessieux’s lead, Project Living Hope works in four key areas: athletics, job skills training, disaster preparedness and community development.
“PLH offers courses in English, computer applications and personal finance,” Polynice said. “Every day, youth come to the PLH campus to participate in the PLH soccer academy. In a country where kids have very few places to play, this program provides kids with a safe environment where they can play, grow, and be trained holistically in their faith, sport and future.”
PLH also organizes events for kids and families in the community, she said.
“Some of our favorite events have included a father-daughter and mother-son date nights, candle-light Christmas Eve services, and a women’s craft night,” she said. “This past summer, the Haitian staff organized eight weeks of English classes and artisan crafts classes for kids in the community. The kids enjoyed learning these new skills and proudly showed off their work at an expo at the end of the summer.”
PLH’s campus in Camp Marie, Haiti consists of two FIFA regulation soccer fields, an NBA-sized basketball court, a vocational shop, a classroom and office, and a bathroom and locker room facility.
“This year, we added a kitchen, a fruit drying center, and a water purification center all with the purpose to create small businesses to employ locals and bring more sustainability to the organization and the community,” Polynice said. “These new facilities are completed but not yet operational as the situation in Haiti has delayed the delivery of key items.”
Plans and funds are starting to come together for the first large-scale building, the educational center.
“The center will include four, fully-equipped, modern classrooms, a library and study hall, a conference room, computer lab and offices,” Polynice said. “These spaces will provide valuable education and training to hundreds.”
According to Polynice, PLH has 22 employees and contracts with six part-time workers.
“The jobs that PLH creates are empowering these individuals to care for their families,” she said.
People can give financially toward PLH ongoing programs and upcoming projects. Volunteers are also needed to serve on the construction committee, with events, assisting with curriculum development, teaching virtual classes and more.
To learn more about Project Living Hope, visit www.plhop.org or follow PLH on Facebook.
PLH’s soccer academy gives Haitian youths a constructive place to belong
In March 2021, Project Living Hope’s Executive Director Dr. Guesly Dessieux noticed a young boy riding his bicycle on Route Nationale 1 with his soccer gear on.
“Little did I know he was riding seven miles every day on a dangerous road to get to soccer practice and be a part of the PLH academy,” Dessieux said of the 11-year-old boy named David.
Though not a very talented soccer player, Dessieux called David “passionate” about the game.
“He travels all this way because he feels respected and accepted by his peers within the PLH program,” Dessieux said. “At that time, David was living with his mother who works in the market from sunup to sundown and an older sister. David’s father died when he was young.”
After a conversation with the mother, Dessieux and academy staff agreed the highway was too dangerous for David to travel.
“One Saturday, David had a game at 9 a.m.,” Dessieux said. “He and a few friends decided to walk to the field. They left his house at 5 a.m. to ensure they were on time.
“I know the soccer academy matters to David,” he added. “In Haiti, a lot of youth end up drinking alcohol, doing drugs, joining gangs, and getting into trouble on the street. PLH is committed to providing them better options.”
Unfortunately, David’s mother died suddenly and it became even more difficult to attend the soccer program.
“Our goal is to have David back playing in the academy, but the instability in Haiti and severe fuel shortage has impacted his ability to come,” Dessieux said. “David is one of many kids in Haiti that come from a difficult family situation, aren’t seen for their full value, and are seeking a place to belong.
“The PLH soccer academy is about more than soccer,” he added. “The academy exists to offer kids safety, belonging, positive influences, opportunity and hope.”
