delMas
Haiti
CE’s first community in Haiti, Jerusalem, was an informal tent community outside of Port-au-Prince that emerged in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. Unfortunately, violence and road blockades forced the closure of our clinic, which operated in the former location of LeFleur’s Orphanage. Our new community, Delmas, also located outside of Port-au-Prince, is more accessible, though it a lack of resources and infrastructure remain. Jobs are rare, clean water is sparse, and many people go days without food. The ongoing unrest prevents many patients from seeking care safely.
Status: active*
Partnership began in 2025
Partnership in Haiti began in 2014
*The rise of violence and instability in Haiti as prevented our medical teams from visiting; however, we continue to assist by funding our local medical staff and providing supplies.
METHOD of sustainability
CE is working with our local team to develop a long-term plan for Delmas and LeFleur’s Orphanage. With disrupted supply chains, severe political unrest and safety concerns, we’re constantly assessing what sustainability can look like. More than anywhere, this community has challenged our strategies surrounding long-term care.
1
Engage Community
CE identified local leaders and assisted in assessing the community’s needs, focusing on immediate and long-term goals.
2
Provide Consistent Care
CE-led teams have been unable to travel to Haiti since 2020; therefore, consistent care has been dependent on local staff. Care is primarily focused on chronic conditions. Our cervical cancer program has been paused as we are forced to triage the most urgent needs at this time.
3
Critical Partnerships
The economic and political situation in Haiti has made it nearly impossible to ship supplies or source it locally. In 2026, we secured a crucial partnership with the Ministry of Health, which now recognized CE as an official nonprofit. This will allow us to procure discounted medications.
4
Longterm Solutions
The volatility of Haiti’s current situation has changed the way we’ve approached sustainable care in Delmas. We are focused on investing in local staff, securing supplies at affordable rates and maintaining care for patients, most of whom have no other option.
Current focal points
Continued care
Amidst the country’s instability, continue to provide care to new and returning patients, led by Dr. Christelle Mathurian.
Strengthen partnerships
Continue working with Madame LeFleur to support the health and wellbeing of the children residing in her care.
Support LeFleur
Work with the Ministry of Health to strengthen our supply chain in order to procure medicine and resources despite steadily rising inflation and access issues.
LEFleur orphanage
Since 2014, Community Empowerment has supported an orphanage run by Madame LeFleur. She began taking in children after the 2010 earthquake, when many children lost parents or who parents could no longer accord to care for them. The orphanage houses 25-30 children at any given time, providing them with food, shelter, schooling and recreation.
After the assassination of Haiti’s president in 2021, the orphanage was forced to vacate their home in Jerusalem. CE helped Madame LeFleur secure new housing, but the current instability has prevented teams from providing routine healthcare.
Dr. FiquitA Memorial Fund
Dr. Fiquita St. Paul. Fiquita was a beloved member of our CE family and was instrumental in helping CE establish primary care services in Haiti, as well as developing programs surrounding women’s health. It was because of her bravery and resilience that we have managed to keep primary care available amidst increased violence and instability.
Dr. Fiquita was a dear friend and colleague, and her legacy lives on in our work in Haiti. Her vision for her country and love of her countrymen lays the foundation of our guiding principles.
