
The volunteers, from Canada and the United States, went to the Caribbean island to carry out eight distributions between May 19 and 22 at four schools in Port-au-Prince and two in Petion-Ville. The supplies included crayons, pencils, erasers, notebooks and pencil sharpeners donated by Tzu Chi academies in the U.S. The foundation invited volunteers from among the residents living in tents in the national soccer stadium to help pack the 200,000 items individually.
Haitian volunteer Pierrot Joseph said that it was good to make a distribution for children. “Tzu Chi helps a lot of Haitian families.” Preparing the supplies was hot, sticky work, in temperatures of up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. “Last year we were transporting rice and corn powder,” said volunteer Xing Min. “Now we are packing stationery and it is just as hot.” At a distribution at one school in Port-au-Prince, local volunteer Jean Denis read out a letter of support from Master Cheng Yen.

Four months since the devastating earthquake in January, little has changed in Haiti. Tens of thousands of people live on the streets and in tents and the airport was as crowded as ever with relief goods. The first phase of Tzu Chi’s help to Haiti lasted for nearly three months, from January 12 when the earthquake struck until April 3. During this period, it delivered food, blankets, medicines and tarpaulin sheets to 175,000 people in 38,000 households.
※Help Haiti with Love
Newer news items:
- Tzu Chi Helps in Rebuilding Three Schools in Haiti
- Love Transcends Religions and Brings Hope to Haiti
- Tzu Chi Builds Temporary Homes for Haiti Earthquake Survivors
- Makeshift Schools at Haiti
Older news items:
- Many Religions, Nationalities Attend Tzu Chi Prayer Service in Haiti
- Tzu Chi's Haiti Relief Operation (as of 4/3)
- Volunteers Help Stricken Convent in Haiti
- Volunteers Deliver Food to Damaged Convent School in Haiti