The Haiti Program

The Haiti Program

May 21, 2011

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

After the devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake that directly affected our long standing and successful programs in Haiti, leaders of the Notre Dame community gathered on campus in March to address the needs of the people of Haiti. For many years, Notre Dame--as well as the Congregation of Holy Cross--has been serving the people of Haiti through research, medical care, education, and pastoral ministry. Additionally over the years, many Notre Dame alumni and friends have volunteered in Haiti, providing support and aid to the people of that country.

The University has roots in the town of Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake. Under the leadership and guidance of Fr. Tom Streit, C.S.C., the Notre Dame Haiti Program has been devoted to treating and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). While the program continues its work in Leogane, the conditions of a fallen city, stricken by the earthquake, continues to be a burden and cross for the people there.

One of the outcomes of that early meeting at Notre Dame over a year ago was a vision to help the people of Leogane as they looked to the future and rebuild their lives. Sponsored by the Notre Dame Haiti Program, planning began on campus by Notre Dame faculty and students, as well as other professionals with ties to Notre Dame—planners, engineers, architects, developers, educators, and consultants—for a workshop to take place in Leogane to address the needs of the city faced with the rebuilding of its infrastructure, its homes and businesses, its churches and hospitals, its parks and civic buildings.

The visionary workshop, held in March 2011 was made possible by the generous financial contributions ofND alumni and benefactors of the NDHP. The workshop called together over a 100 Haitian leaders in all sectors—business, medicine, engineering etc.and enabled Our Lady’s support of the poorest of our neighbors. The report generated from that workshop is attached with this letter. It is our intention, that from this report, a master plan for the city of Leogane can be developedand one day, implemented.

The success of rebuilding Leogane rests with her citizens and it is our desire for the people of the city to have a decision in the rebuilding of their lives. Many organizations and individuals responded to the crisis in Haiti following the earthquake, providing emergency relief. But there has been little planning and coordination for long term needs. The plans set forth in this report can succeed, but collaboration and coordination with the people of Haiti, the stakeholders in this enterprise, is essential for success.

We invite you to study this report. Our service to the people of Haiti in their great need is grounded in the good will served through cooperation and realistic hope about the future. We offer this coordinated effort to use this document to garner support and funding to aid in the rebuilding of Leogane. The use of this document comes with the request that any entity continues to work with our Haitian colleagues in a coordinated and informed effort under their leadership. This effort is for, by, and about our brothers and sisters in Haiti and we respect their leadership in this endeavor.

Sincerely,

Fr. Thomas G. Streit, CSC,

Founder, Notre Dame Haiti Program

Sarah L. Craig

Haiti Program Manager

Fr. Robert J. Loughery, C.S.C.

Workshop Coordinator