Haiti Hurricane Matthew

Following the destruction of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, Peace Winds arrived immediately to support residents in the rural area of Saint Jean du Sud. This was one of the hardest-hit areas yet had received almost no assistance. Peace Winds provided immediate support of shelters, relief goods (food, hygiene kits, and blankets), and materials for rebuilding homes.

After initial relief efforts, Peace Winds addressed the needs of  local schools, helping rebuild those damaged in the hurricane. In early 2017, Peace Winds began delivering new textbooks and other supplies to schools whose students and staff had all their items destroyed. Both staff and students were grateful for the supplies, and by the end of the summer, Peace Winds had completed all deliveries and reached 2,000 students in the area. Thanks to your generous support, these teachers and students can get back on track this school year after the devastating setbacks and struggles they faced after the hurricane.

Peace Winds continued to support the Saint Jean du Sud area through 2017, 2018, and beyond by training local carpenters and masons in disaster-resistant construction techniques, building community centers that can also be used as shelters during natural disasters, and supporting hygiene infrastructure and education. Click here to learn more about how Peace Winds continues to support Haitians with these programs today.