The streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti are a bustling place.
Colourful buses pass through the busy corridors of the Haitian capital. It’s an overwhelming and exciting experience for a team of Simcoe County health care workers.
It’s a change of pace for the Broken Earth team. It has been non-stop for health care providers since arriving in Haiti on a seven day mission.
What you can't see among the hustle of the city are any signs of the 2010 earthquake. It's estimated that 300,000 people died in the disaster.
Aid workers from around the world poured into the country to help, including Canadian doctors with Broken Earth.
"We are six years on now,” says Dr. Joanna Cherry of Hosptial Bernard Mevs. “We're not in earthquake relief mode anymore. We are working to build a sustainable Haiti."
The streets are clear of rubble and if you listen, the sounds of normal life are everywhere. However, normal life in Haiti means most people are still struggling to survive.
Poverty is rampant in Haiti and the country as a whole is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Haitians are working hard to change that. Project Stitch is one example of that push.
The initiative employs men and woman injured in the quake at a sewing cooperative.
“The money we get from the project; it helps us survive with our families,” says Ilenie Padiu.
A few doors down, dozens of people are at work assembling electronic security devices.
"You can really see that there is some hope for the future," says Dr. Coryn Hayman.
Political instability continues to threaten this fragile economy, but the medical team hopes that by sharing their knowledge, they can help the country move forward.
