Partnerships are crucial to the success and sustainability of the work ICC does in Haiti. In this issue, you can read about the partnerships with Canadian Feed the Children, staff and North Americans that contribute pastoral or spiritual care, and Haiti's Ministry of Health. We also celebrate an important milestone with our work in the Dominican Republic: after 15 years of operating under the legal auspice of ICC USA, ICC DR has become an official and fully recognized partner under the Spanish name of Cuidado Infantil Dominicano (CID).

Discover the many reasons ICC has persisted through all the turmoil and upheaval: a Christ-centered focus, humility, partnerships and collaboration, operations locally, and  active political impartiality. Meet Sebastien Leonard Sylvain, a six-month old baby boy, whose family is victim to some political violence, and learn about how inflation in the Dominican Republic is effecting families' diets.

Happy 200th Birthday Haiti!

Join us as we celerate Haiti's bicentennial! Not only is Haiti known for being the second-oldest nation in the Western Hemisphere, it is also the poorest. At Grace Children's Hospital, ICC has worked tirelessly to alleviate concern over the health of Haitian children. Learn about the inpatient care facilities at Grace, as well as the vaccination process for sickly children. Also, read about how our Traditional Birth Attendent training, are changing midwife practices in Haiti.

International Child Care Combats Malnutrition on the Island of Hispaniola

Hear the story of Michael Antonio, a young boy from Santiago who suffered from severe malnourishment prior to Grace. Thanks to a combination of vitamins and protein supplements supplied by Dr. Martinez at Grace, Michael is on the road to making a full recovery. Also, learn about the food service within Grace and the new assistance programs ICC is offering for Haitian people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Reproductive Health Education

In Haiti, it is an unfortunate reality that one in five children will die before the age of five due to a curable disease. In both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, young women are more likely to bear children at a much younger age than in the United States. At ICC, we are attempting to minimize this statistic through a number of measures. One of these methods that ICC has had success with is the implementation of preventative contraception practices. At Grace Children's Hospital, young women are able to visit and obtain various contraception tools in order to combat sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. 

Mission Education Encounters

Learn about the transformation that occurs for our volunteers when they participate in one of our Mission Education Encounter Trips. Hear George W. Boyd's experience through his trip to Haiti and the many lessons he took with him back to Canada. Also, learn about the story of Batania and Wellington, a mother and daughter that befriended one of our members during a trip to the Dominican Republic.

Promoting Health through Literary Training

Over 47% of Haitian adults are illiterate, and this educational epidemic is affecting the way in which parents care for their children. ICC Haiti is attempting to alleviate this statistic in a number of methods. Through their adult literary classes, adults are able to learn the fundamentals of Kreyole and French in rural areas throughout Haiti. With this education comes a sense of empowerment that parents are able to use to care for their children.

Celebrating 35 Years of Fellowship

Much has changed in the 35 years since the inaguration of Grace Children's Hospital, but not the overarching commitment to the children of Haiti. Learn about the adventures of the Stanley family in their mission to Haiti in 1967, and their call from God that compelled the family to leave their home. Also, discover how the partnership between Grace and ICC has evolved since the Stanley's maiden trip.  

The Miracle of Water

Less than half of the population of Haiti has access to reliable, clean water. Contaminated drinking water can lead to a myriad of deadly diseases, inclusing typhoid and diarrhea. Through hygeine programs at Grace, workers are able to teach safe hygeine practices to combat these illnesses. Additionally, ICC's Community Based Rehabilitation program has been successful in assisting children with behavioral disorders.