PARTNERSHIP WITH PLAN UK ENSURES PROTECTION FOR HAITI'S CHILDREN

Penny Appeal is delighted to announce its partnership with Plan UK in a project to protect the children of Haiti, many of whom were orphaned and displaced following the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.
 
Plan is a global children's charity that has been working for 75 years with children in the world's poorest countries to help them build a better future. The charity aims to help every child fulfil their potential through providing access to safe drinking water and education, and enabling families to earn a living and plan for their children's future.

Before the earthquake struck, Haiti was already the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Over half of the country had no access to clean water and half of all Haitian children did not attend school.

The 7.3 magnitude earthquake exacerbated an already desperate situation. It affected around three million people; 223,000 died and over 300,000 were injured. Around four thousand schools were damaged or destroyed. Many children were displaced and some lost one or both parents, leaving them vulnerable to psychological trauma, disease, malnutrition, abduction, trafficking, abuse and violence.

Providing a safe environment for children in Haiti is Plan's three-year project, which aims to reduce the risk that these children face from violence. Based in the North East Department of Haiti, it is raising awareness amongst community members and improving child protection systems. The work will benefit 2,340 children aged 0-18 and will ensure that they can grow up safe and protected in their local communities.

Penny Appeal Chairman, Adeem Younis, commented: "Rebuilding Haiti will be a long, slow process and we are delighted that we are able to support a sustainable project that lays down a good foundation for the future of children in Haiti.

"We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with Plan. The charity's accountability practices ensure that we – and therefore our donors – will be kept up-to-date on the progress of this worthwhile project and we look forward to seeing it succeed. In addition, match-funding from the European Commission has ensured that the funds raised by our donors can provide even more help to the children of Haiti."