The Ona Ville Community Clinic is located about an hour outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It officially opened in September 2015. Prior to opening a permanent site, mobile clinic services were offered. The clinic resides in the townships of Onaville, Canaan, Jerusalem, and Corail. Before the earthquake in 2010, the population in Port-au-Prince was about 20,000. Post-earthquake, it has risen to 200,000. Most of the patients walk to the clinic in order to receive care. Some walk from the mountain region of Bouzie, about 6 hours away. When they arrive, they not only need treatment, but they often need water and food.
Kobonal is more than a mission—it is an active ministry affecting the lives of children and adults alike in a part of Haiti that continues to be one of the poorest regions in the world. This area was once thought to be heavily filled with adults practicing voodoo. Through the great work of Father Glenn Meaux, his team, and Cross Catholic Outreach, the Catholic faith is alive, strong, and crushing out the old voodoo practices. Father Meaux began this ministry 30 years ago as he chose to leave his home in Abbeville, Louisiana, and commit his religious life to the Haitian community. It is impossible to try and explain the impact the ministry has had on the local community. Water systems, schools, jobs, housing, healthcare, and Catholic formation are but a few of the examples of life changes brought about through the mission.
The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are engaged in education, health care, social justice, and ecological integrity, & pastoral & social service ministries in 15 dioceses within the United States, El Salvador, and Haiti. The Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth have a number of active projects: construction of the Cuvier School, Water Women project, Microloans, Sewing School, and housing projects to help with disaster relief. Coastal Connection has partnered with their organization to help provide school-based healthcare, medical supplies, and the Water Women project.
Our primary focus to date has been beekeeping. On our first trip to Haiti, we were able to partner with Edward Bernard from Marksville, Louisiana. Edward has a commercial beekeeping enterprise, Cajun Gold Honey Farm, LLC, and has been professionally working in the field for over 15 years. During our initial visit, we were able to work with the beekeepers in and around the Kobonal mission in Hinche, Haiti. The time we spent with them gave us the opportunity to share our beekeeping skills and techniques and supply them with updated boxes, frames, and other such items to multiply their hives and increase honey production. In addition, we have partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach to help provide access to clean water for families in Haiti.
Ouanaminthe, Haiti, located on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, attracts large numbers of destitute people from the nearby rural regions, people who are looking for a way to survive. The Marie Louise Bayle Center project feeds undernourished children, educates young minds, promotes maternal and infant health, and encourages a greater faith in Christ.
