Haiti tragedy reinforces plea for help

Onè Respé team see the scale of need among tragic people

A team from Congregational Churches went to the Dominican Republic in November to see the work being done by Christian Aid among some of the world's poorest people. They were there just weeks before the earthquake which centred in neighbouring Haiti.

Jill Stephens and Catuxo Badillo

The focus of the visit by the CF team was to see the work being done within the Dominican Republic to help Haitians and Dominico-Haitians who have migrated to the Republic. Members saw at firsthand how marginalised and disenfranchised the migrants are within society.

Although living standards and GDP in the Republic are much higher than in Haiti, the Republic is still a poor country - the second poorest in the Caribbean. One Respe is a local organisation working with funding from Christian Aid to support migrants. The Federation has pledged £30.000 over three years for the work and made an immediate donation of £1,000 towards the aid appeal.

(Left) Jill Stephens presenting a Federation candle to Catuxo, the founder of One Respe, Santiago.

The Federation team is available to talk to churches about its work and the aftermath of the earthquake.

The CF One Respe Team

The CF and Christian Aid Team. From left to right: Geoff Daintree (Christian Aid), Philip Clarke, Jill Stephens, Richard Pickering, Patrick Baxter, Pippa Durn (Christian Aid), Sophie Richmond (CA Country Manager - Dominican Republic), Prospery Raymond (CA Country Manager Haiti), Karen Wearmouth.