When the going gets tough, the tough keep going. We heard that saying a lot as kids. Right now, it is more applicable than we would like in Haiti. The country has dealt with natural disaster, human disaster, and violence all in the midst of a global pandemic. There seems to be no solutions in sight.
When I first visited Haiti over ten years ago, I remember getting off the plane and looking around. What I saw led me to question what I had done differently in my life to be so blessed with my circumstances while the people of Haiti were living in dire conditions. The answer was nothing– I did nothing different to deserve all I have.

The answer still rings true today, and it is why we will remain tough in the face of adversity in order to support our Haitian partners. We are so thankful we started our project with a strong emphasis on mentoring. We did not want to have Americans full time on the ground “running” the project. We wanted to empower, not enable, our partners. Our intent was never to make others feel indebted to us, but to make an investment in their potential. That is what has allowed La Concorde Orphanage, Primary School, Secondary School, and Medical Clinic to thrive under such difficult circumstances. The leaders of La Concorde have been given the tools to look toward the future, even in the face of extreme adversity. That they have ensured the physical and emotional safety of the children in the orphanage brings hope. Love Takes Root has always understood we cannot change Haiti. Only Haiti can change Haiti. What we CAN do is continue to walk hand in hand with our partners.
We are able to be effective, tough partners because we have support of our own. We at Love Takes Root have learned that it takes a world village. It takes many sharing their gifts to make everything possible. It is the sponsors who never give up on the children. It is the committee members who take the time to both mentor and learn from others. It is the board members and advisory board members who give so much of their time and talents. It is the athletes who choose to raise money while they participate in competitions. And it is the donors who empower us through their generosity. We have an amazing village, and with our village, we will remain tough.

LOVE Takes Root had a very proud partner moment last week. We received pictures from LTR Medical Clinic personnel and a message that they were exhausted. During LTR’s past service trips, if we had medical volunteers we also took a day and went to the villages with our bags packed to see and serve the unserved Haitian. We depended on our Haitian staff to work side by side. We organized stations and took care of as many medical problems as we could and then figured out how to get those who need more care to Jacmel. The pictures last week told the story. The staff decided that no one had served this population of Haitians for over 20 months. So they packed up the supplies, traveled, set up stations, and provided as much medical care on site as possible. They were received with many smiles and many grateful hearts. They have decided that once a month on the same day they will provide these outreach medical services. The primary LTR Medical clinic services have grown. With no medical mobile clinics coming into Haiti from other countries the need that was unmet to begin with has increased. LTR has increased doctor hours in the clinic and has a part time nurse added when needed. LTR Medical Clinic like the other projects we are working on are built on a sustainability model. The clinic provides care for children from the orphanage and children at the school free of charge,  but charges for all services to any other community members. This money is used for the salaries and supply needs of the clinic. LTR will be asking for donations to cover the expenses of supplies used for the outreach rural clinics that the Haitians are providing. We are so proud of their motivation and actions to help. 

It is only by giving people the tools to empower themselves will they be able to achieve their potential. -Esther McVey

Almost four years ago I traveled to La Concorde Orphanage for the first time. During my time there I bonded with a little girl named, Gertrude. She was six years old and fairly new to the Orphanage and was often sad. During my few days visiting, it was astonishing to me how close and bonded I felt despite Gertrude not speaking English. I fondly remember a very fun day swimming at the beach, where I finally saw her beautiful smile, complete with a the cutest dimple! After my trip, I knew I wanted to sponsor Gertrude. Over the years, it has been so fun to correspond with Gertrude, sending and receiving letters and photos. I’ve heard she shows off pictures of my twin sons, claiming them as “her twins.” I love that she feels close to my family. This past month, I was able to return to La Concorde and it was the sweetest, best reunion with Gertrude. She has blossomed and seems to be very happy now. I got to see much more of that beautiful smile. We held hands and spent as much time together as we could over the course of my visit. It is so evident how important and meaningful sponsor relationships are to the children at La Concorde. It gives them a sense of importance and lets them know someone loves and cares for them. And in return, it is incredibly special for my family and me as well.

Ted Skidmore began his involvement with LOVE Takes Root as a donor, but his passion for and commitment to the work of LTR grew following his first trip to Haiti. After a 27 year career in marketing, including 21 years at The Walt Disney Company, Ted decided to take a break from corporate entertainment and spent a week visiting La Concorde in Jacmel, Haiti as a LOVE Takes Root volunteer. His trip to Haiti was an experience that inspired Ted to focus on improving the lives of others, and after identifying the need for better quality and quantity nutrition for the children at La Concorde, he set to work launching LTR’s Project Nourish. After a successful fundraiser at Ted’s Los Angeles home, Project Nourish was able to secure a full-time cook, solar powered refrigeration, new pots, pans and utensils, and a birthday celebration for each child at the orphanage. Today, the children at La Concorde are eating better, but Ted is continuing his efforts to ensure that these children have the nutrition to grow, learn, and play as children should and will host his 2018 Caribbean Sunday II (The Sequel) fundraising event on September 23rd in Hollywood. Ted also gives to LTR by sharing his expertise in marketing as part of a group of dedicated volunteers who help share LOVE Takes Root’s story.