The Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, is working on plans to establish an Israeli Children's Village in Haiti as part of Israel's ongoing official assistance to reconstruct the Caribean country following January's earthquake. The ministry said that MASHAV will be coordinating all of Israel's ongoing aid there.
The project plans include a 6-8 classroom elementary school that will operate in two shifts, a playground/sports field and a medical center, according to a ministry statement, which says the site could also be utilized for conducting evening adult education classes. A planned community center will work with youngsters on post trauma treatment and counseling, psychological rehabilitation and afternoon activities.
A locally-recruited staff will be joined by professionals from Israel and, possibly, volunteer teachers from Jewish communities around the world. Meals will be provided to the school through an arrangement with various non-government organizations.