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Since early 2011, cbm Haiti has been participating in providing inclusive child friendly spaces and child protection to children - including children with disabilities - in camps and underserved settlements. This is being done through community-based organisations.
Limited capacity to host children
Before and after the Haiti earthquake on January 12th, 2010, and within the current cholera epidemic in the country, children - especially those with a disability - have always been the most vulnerable members of the community.
Children living in IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps and in underserved settlements, and children with a disability in particular, lack access to child friendly services, education and protection.
A number of previously available play or day care facilities have been destroyed during the earthquake. With no facilities or limited space, active grass root organisations remain active but with limited capacity. They are in need of adequate safe spaces to host the children and store materials.
Partnership with six community based-organisations
 Since early 2011 cbm Haiti supports six community based-organisations to provide more accessible and inclusive activities for children and children with disabilities.
Located in different areas of Port-au-Prince the organisations are currently active and sustain their activities with the private funds available to their members, and with donations from the community. This largely limits their capacity, the frequency of activities and the number of children they can regularly support.
Though all groups have children with disabilities participating in their activities, these are largely under-represented in numbers. This indicates that large numbers of children with a disability do not have access to these services.
As for all six groups, the children age range is between 0-17 years. Within each group, children in varying situations are supported:
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living with parents or extended family
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going to school or not going to school
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orphaned (before or during earthquake)
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living on the street and economically self-supporting
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children living with a disability
Most of these children are vulnerable (though to varying degrees) to different forms of neglect and abuse, disease (e.g. cholera), not having access to education. This list of vulnerabilities is not exhaustive but is intended to illustrate the need to support grass root based child protection activities.
Activities and benefits
 The groups organise and conduct many activities and benefits:
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child friendly spaces
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psychosocial support for children
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child protection activities
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play groups and non-formal education
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homework support
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advocacy, prevention and hygiene promotion and training sessions on the problem of cholera for both children and parents
These prepare the child for school, employment and social integration, resulting in a huge improvement in quality of life for both the child and his or her family.
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