An Update from the Heartline Education Center
Heartline Family,
As the crisis in Haiti has carried on over the past few years, temporary closures at the Education Center and Maternity Center have become part of life. Sometimes, it is safer for our staff and the families we serve to stay home for a day or two, and that’s what we do.
Today, in that same spirit of care and safekeeping, we’re announcing the temporary closure of the Heartline Education Center. While past closures were measured in days, we expect this one to be measured in months.
The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority, and after careful consideration of the security situation around the Center, we believe this is the best course of action at this time. We’re committed to resuming operations as soon as it is safe to do so, and we remain hopeful that the situation will stabilize in the near future.
We’re heartbroken at the disruption this will bring to our students, and we’re taking every step to provide alternative resources and communicate with them during this closure.
All impacted Heartline employees have received a generous financial support package – part of our ongoing commitment to our team as we navigate the deteriorating security situation in Haiti together. We’re incredibly grateful for their hard work and courage and want to ensure they are supported through this season.
While the current circumstances are undeniably difficult, we are optimistic about the future. The Education Center’s mission to provide a safe, nurturing environment for our students is vital, and while we can’t offer it right now, we remain 100% committed to that vision.
We are already planning and strategizing in order to resume classes as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you so much for your patience and generosity as we press on through this crisis.
Sincerely,
Troy and Tara Livesay
Executive Directors, Heartline Haiti
More Information
What will happen to any giving directed toward the Education Center? Any giving directed towards the Education Center will remain in a dedicated independent fund, and be used for Center operations upon re-opening.
How long do you anticipate this closure to be? The difficult answer is that we don’t know. By most estimates, Port-au-Prince is 80-90% under gang control. While most of our programs have remained operational through careful planning and quick adaptation, the Education Center specifically is located in a particularly unstable area that has just become untenable to work in.
International forces and the remnants of Haiti’s government are working toward stabilization, but progress is slow and nonlinear. We are constantly assessing the situation and will re-open as soon as it’s safe.
How will this impact the Heartline Bakery located on this same campus? The Heartline Bakery will remain closed until it is safe to operate in the community. In the meantime, the Community Care team will continue to outsource bread used for community work.
How will this impact the Heartline offices located on this same campus? A key part of the decision to close the Education Center was the large amount of traffic it generated to and from the campus, which brought unwanted attention and placed students and staff at greater risk. With the closure, overall traffic in and out of our property will be minimal; therefore, the offices will remain open and operating. Should we have any concerns, we have alternate options to temporarily relocate the Heartline offices.
How will this impact Petite Palm, which operates from this campus? At this time, Petite Palm has also halted operations due to the instability. Items are still available on their website, and you can visit them here: https://www.petitepalm.org/
Does this decision impact other Heartline programs? This decision does not impact other Heartline programs. All other Heartline programs: maternal & infant healthcare, community care, and children’s education will continue operation, as well as our commitment to family assistance and scholarships for higher education.
Have additional questions?
Send us a note to connect@heartlinehaiti.org.
