Walking through the community surrounding Pwoje Espwa in the
weeks following Hurricane Matthew, you could see makeshift shelters of tin,
tarp, and scraps standing next to collapsed homes. You could find Bernard
Olivier and his wife, Lolia, sweeping the ground in front of their own shelter.
Their children, Bertholet (age 7) and Lonia (age 5) ran around them barefoot.
Hurricane Matthew destroyed the Olivier home and blew away
their farm, goats, and chickens. Seeking shelter in the following days, the
family stayed in any safe place they could find until they were able to scrap
enough tin together to construct a semblance of a home on their property. With most
of their possessions destroyed along with their livelihood, the Olivier family was
living day to day.
As the new school year approached the following year, Bernard
and Lolia were discouraged about their ability to enroll their children,
Bertholet and Lonia. Hurricane Matthew had destroyed their birth certificates, nor
did they have the money to cover the high costs of tuition and school supplies.
Espwa reached out.
Espwa supported the Olivier family with food distributions
while they recovered their farm. Bertholet and Lonia were provided clothing and
were enrolled in school at PES with a scholarship so their days could be filled
with learning and growth.
Two years later as you walk through the community, you can
find Lolia and Bernard tending to their small farm outside of their new home, which
they welcome you into with big smiles and open arms. Two years later, the family
has been able to recover and stay together,
with YOUR assistance.
This is what Family Preservation is all about.
You can make Lent a time for faith, hope and love for families like the Olivier family.
