Second Mile Haiti

Our Mission

The mission of Second Mile Haiti is to reduce the number of Haitian children who grow up in orphanages by working directly with the families of children who are at-risk for orphanage placement.

Second Mile Haiti was founded in 2012, by two women who, while working in an orphanage in Northern Haiti, came to understand the very multi-faceted nature of the challenges faced by families in extreme poverty. Estimates suggest that at least 30,000 Haitian children currently live in one of the country's 678 orphanages and that at least 80% of the these children having living parents. With institutionalized-care facilities on the rise throughout the country, orphanages have become the go-to solution for families whose resources are not sufficient to meet the needs of the children in their care. During a crisis such as severe malnutrition, when significant lack is challenged by acute need, children are especially vulnerable to orphanage placement. For families who don't understand the condition and lack access to healthcare, malnutrition can seem like a death sentence, one that threatens the survival of healthier family members. In an effort to create an alternative for caregivers in crisis, Second Mile Haiti was born.

Currently, we operate a 22-bed rehabilitation program structured to meet the immediate needs of children with severe acute malnutrition, while empowering their caregivers through health education, agriculture training, and small business opportunities.