The Siloe Project

Only an estimated 5% of the approximately 400,000 children living with disabilities in Haiti have access to inclusive education or specialized medical care, and the stigma surrounding disability often relegates these "invisible children" to the furthest margins. PAZAPA is dedicated to supporting the treatment, education and development of children living with disabilities in Haiti, while promoting acceptance within their communities.

SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE: Clinical evaluations, surgeries, medication management and rehabilitative therapy provided to children with medically treatable disabilities such as clubfoot and epilepsy. INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: Specialized early intervention, preschool and primary instruction for children who would otherwise not have access to an education. Students are provided quality instruction to the national certification level while building language, social and coping skills. OUTREACH: Community-based workers support the social, educational, medical and economic welfare of over 100 homebound children in 5 rural villages through home visits, medical clinics, school mainstreaming, microloans, community meetings and parent groups.

The PAZAPA model is one of accompaniment, based upon the guiding principles of solidarity, mutual respect, equity and inclusion. While these core values remain constant, the model is continually adapting to the changing needs and goals of participating families, improving through reciprocal learning with others and increasing its impact on the community through ongoing evaluation. PAZAPA means "step by step" in Haitian Kreyol, and in this way, PAZAPA has empowered over 2,000 of Haiti's most marginalized families in the past 30 years through comprehensive programs providing specialized medical care, inclusive education, outreach, advocacy, economic opportunity and access to the arts.