31 August, 2015 – A hospitality home in the heart of Haiti after five years and a half the 2010 earthquake that claimed more than 200,000 victims in the Caribbean island. The home was inaugurated by the General Manager of the Community of Pope John XXIII, Giovanni Ramonda. At the ceremony there were about 200 people, mostly Haitian families who already benefit from the presence of the Community, as well as organizations with which the APG23 has worked from the beginning of the mission: the Scalabrini Fathers who celebrated Mass in Creole; the Dominican nuns, who organized the dinner; operators of the Caritas Ambrosiana and Italian Caritas; the secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio. “The presence of our missionaries in Haiti began after the 2010 earthquake – confirmed Matteo Vignato, head of the Caribbean Zone for APG23 – Since the beginning, we have been welcomed and supported by the Scalabrini Fathers. Then, with the help of many benefactors, we were able to buy land and build this house, which has already become the center of a network of reception and support activities in favor of the local population.” The house is situated in the Croix de Bousquet, in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, the capital. Recipients of assistance are very poor families, mainly composed of single mothers with children. “With them, we developed after-school activities and simple cooking, garden, and design workshops – continues Vignato – For these children, we also guarantee school attendance by helping families in the payment of registration fees and all necessary materials.”
