Olomouc, Haiti – Six-year-old Lourdelandi lives with her father who is unemployed. He helps him in the home with cleaning and laundry. They are very poor and often do not have anything to eat at home. With a stomach ache and an uncomfortable itching rash, the girl came for a medical examination last year, organized by the Archdiocesan Charity of Olomouc (ACHO) in the remote Haitian village of Baie de Henne. “We gave Lourdelandi painkillers and vitamins she was missing. Fortunately, they worked. So does the rash ointment. When the little patient came to show us after a few days, the rash was gone,” says Charity humanitarian Klára Lőffelmannová. She plans to organize medical examinations for the fifth time this year. Each year, guests from the cafes and restaurants participating in the For Health Haiti campaign. Just refresh yourselves with tap water in the selected company and contribute for it from 1 to infinity crowns.

Last year, the companies involved managed to raise 25 616 crowns. With their support, Caritas has treated over 360 needy people, especially children, in remote areas of Haiti. “This August, people in 13 cafes and restaurants in the center of Olomouc will be cheering on the health of Haitians. The proceeds will then be used to provide health care in cut-off areas of Haiti. Many people die of trivial illness because they do not have enough food, vitamins or quality drinking water. They are more vulnerable,” says Klára Lőffelmannová. Health checks may also save human life. In the past, Chariots encountered, for example, a small boy with eight months of pneumonia. He managed to heal him “in five twelve”.

Gastronomic surprises and Haitian things

“This year’s campaign will be enriched by the gastronomic surprise, which will prepare some of the participating companies for its guests in the last week of August. So we have something to look forward to. The charity shop in Olomouc – Dobrodruhá will also join the event,” says Klára Lőffelmannová, adding that Dobrodruhá will exhibit handmade things from Haiti or aprons, place mats and clothes made in the sewing workshop in Gonaïves. ACHO with Czech donors equipped it with pedal sewing machines, which now teach young seamstresses to better find work and secure their families.

And that’s not all what people can buy at Dobrodruhá. “They choose from lots of beautiful Haitian jewelry, such as earrings and bracelets or painted canvases. In addition, we will decorate the store with photographs from Haiti, people will read Haitian proverbs there and on Mondays and Wednesdays they will be able to taste authentic Haitian coffee prepared by clients from the Center for People with Mental Illness,” says Kateřina Steinerová from Dobrodruhá.

The Archdiocesan Caritas Olomouc has been helping in Haiti since 2005. Its main project is Child sponsorship programme, thanks to which the poorest children receive education at school, as well as one hot meal a day. In addition, Caritas is helping the Haitian communities by conducting medical examinations, materially or disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes that are typical of the Caribbean region.

Thank you for your support of Bistro Cow, Bistro & Bar Konvikt, Jan Cafe, Na Cucky Cafe, Caesar Cafe Restaurant, Caffé Trieste, Armory Coffee Library, Jazz Fresh Cafe, Rhône Bank, Kikafe Coffee Roaster, Traffic Coffee, U Kristýna, Adventurers.

Karolína Opatřilová, Archdiocesan Charity Olomouc