The largest project to be undertaken is the rebuilding of the public school, Ecole Nationale Jacob Martin Henriquez. The nine-building school complex will provide a new educational home and free daily meal to more than 400 local children in grades K through 7.

Operation USA has partnered with Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the philanthropic organization of Honeywell Corporation, to reconstruct this primary school that will serve students who couldn’t otherwise afford to go to school. This project was built in cooperation with the City of Jacmel, with the support of its exceptional Mayor (now Senator), Edwin Zenny—a nationally known anti-corruption figure and committed activist for Jacmel’s future.

The school—designed pro bono by global planning firm Gensler, with structural engineering services provided by seismic experts Miyamoto International—was built using contemporary, sustainable building methods and was designed to withstand any potential future earthquakes. The school’s construction process was used to train local builders in modern earthquake-resistant construction and environmentally-conscious techniques that can save Haiti both money and natural resources in the years to come. Operation USA will establish a scholarship fund to help cover the cost of books, uniforms and other student expenses.

UPDATE: MARCH 2011
Construction nears completion! Inauguration ceremonies were held on March 11, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with both Operation USA and Honeywell’s CEOs in attendance.

UPDATE: OCTOBER 10, 2011
The first day of school is here! The brand new campus proudly welcomes its first students today.

Press Releases
Gensler Donates Design for Haiti School
Operation USA and Honeywell Break Ground on New School in Jacmel, Haiti

Operation USA began working with the Port-au-Prince based NGO L’Athletique d’Haiti following the hurricanes that hit the Caribbean in the fall of 2008. The series of storms paired with a 50% rise in food costs exacerbated the already dire circumstance, leaving many impoverished Haitians without access to basic food and nutrition. Malnutrition was at crisis level for those most vulnerable, especially children.

L’Athletique d’Haiti (LADH) is an after-school sports program that serves children from ages 6 to 17 in Cité Soleil and Bel Air, the poorest slums in Port-au-Prince. In a country where soccer is a national obsession, the lack of sports programs deprives young people of the opportunity to acquire self esteem, discipline and dedication—the skills developed through playing sports. The program additionally offers a nutritious daily meal and transportation to its participants.

To address the increased demand created by the hurricanes, Operation USA contributed to the funding of a new cafeteria for the facility. Additionally, OpUSA provided LADH with a grant to support their food program which serves children from some of the most destitute areas of Port-au-Prince and surrounding provinces.

In the wake of the January 2010 earthquake, the needs grew…

PROJECT UPDATE:

The facilities at L’Athletique d’Haiti sustained some damage in the earthquake–however, a large number of the children and families the program supported suffered tremendously. Many of those who survived lost their homes.

The two soccer fields at LADH housed as many as 500 families, sheltered in self-made or donated tents. They were provided food and water, alongside medical care. Under the guidance of LADH’s inspiring founder Boby Duval, massive food distributions were undertaken for those living on site.

Operation USA is currently working with LADH to address both current and long-term needs. LADH has expanded its sports offerings beyond soccer—and now boxing, basketball and track are also offered. Engaging the kids in a safe environment, LADH continues to strive to keep the youth away from drugs and gangs in Cite Soleil. LADH continues to provide one meal a day to each child—and is in the process of adding an on-site organic garden, hen houses and compost program to be more sustainable and provide better support this effort.

From Boby Duval, LADH:

“A group of young women organized by L’Athletique D’Haiti beat overwhelming odds to win the Women’s Plate in Paris.  First, the team almost did not make it to the tournament for which they had been training for for a year.  They were delayed by four days in their arrival to the 2011 Homeless World Cup in Paris because their airline, Air Caribe, prevented the entire team from leaving on their scheduled flight, claiming that four of the girls did not look like their passport photos.  Then, Air Caribe refused to rebook the team for four days, by which time the tournament and opening ceremonies had already started.

The girls stepped off the plane on Monday and immediately played their first match against Uragay.  After beating Uraguay in their first match, the goalkeeper broke her arm and had to be replaced by one of her team mates.  All this was disheartening, but through it all, the girls maintained an indominable spirit and tremendous optimism.  In the end, the Haiti team beat France 10:2 to win the Homeless World Plate, one of the top prizes. 

Tonight the entire team is back safely in Haiti and it was a very moving experience for me to greet them at the airport in Port au Prince. I am so proud of Haiti and her strong young women, who, despite being homeless and at risk, travelled all the way to Paris to proudly represent Haiti. They were winners the minute they were finally able to board the flight to Paris, but winning the Homeless Cup Silver Plate against tough competition such as France was a humbling joyful experience for all of us.”

Please visit the links below for more information and entire video of the winning match:

Homelessworldcup.org

http://www.homelessworldcup.org/paris-2011/fixtures-and-results/28.08.2011/haiti-conquer-hosts-to-claim-womens-plate

Congratulations to these brave young women!
Team Haiti 2011 Homeless World Cup Women’s Squad

Wideline Conin
Santia Roselene Hypolite
Marjorie Pierre
Amanda Pierre-Louis
Jemina Pierre
Nuela Antenor
Modelene Etienne
Jesula Leone

JULIE ANDREWS, OPERATION USA FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER APPEALS FOR SUPPORT FOR EAST AFRICAN DROUGHT & FAMINE VICTIMS

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 15, 2011)— A message from Julie Andrews, Operation USA Founding Board Member:

“Like many of you, I’ve been watching the developing story of yet another famine in East Africa. The images of mothers walking across a hundred miles of desert with their emaciated children is haunting.

I was privileged to be part of a massive relief effort in the mid-1980s which focused on Ethiopia and 7 neighboring countries. Millions of lives were at risk; but millions were saved by timely shipments of essential aid and a global commitment to help those in need.

I hope you’ll join us at Operation USA as we do our part once again.”

HOW TO HELP: 

Donate now

Text AID to 50555 and donate $10 to Operation USA’s disaster relief efforts.

Donations can also be made by phone at 1.800.678.7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 7421 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Corporate donations of bulk quantities of disaster-appropriate supplies are also being requested. Air miles can also be donated to Operation USA through United Airlines Charity Miles program at www.united.com.

About Operation USA
Operation USA is working to send emergency aid to East Africa as part of relief efforts responding to the worst drought to hit the region in 60 years. The UN has officially declared famine in parts of southern Somalia—regions of Lower Shabelle and southern Bakool. It is predicted that the entire South of Somalia will face famine within the next two months. Operation USA is working to assess unmet needs on the ground, with its initial response focusing on water resource needs in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camps. The Dadaab camps are reported to receive as many as 1,300 refugees a day, the majority fleeing war-torn Somalia. The world’s largest such site, these camps house almost 400,000 displaced people in three camps originally designated for 90,000. Operation USA first worked in Somalia in 1980, and was particularly active in response to the famine in East Africa from 1984-85.



Media Contact: 

Alison Deknatel
Director, Communications

323.413.2353
adeknatel@opusa.org


Richard Walden
President & CEO
Operation USA
323.413.2353
rwalden@opusa.org

OPERATION USA AND HONEYWELL INAUGURATE THE LARGEST SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST REGION OF HAITI

Nine-Building, 40,000 sq. ft. Complex, Serving More Than 400 Local Children, Rises Just Seven Months After Groundbreaking Following Devastating January 2010 Earthquake

JACMEL, HAITI (March 11, 2011) — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) Chairman and CEO Dave Cote and Honeywell Hometown Solutions President Tom Buckmaster and Operation USA CEO Richard Walden joined students, parents, teachers, school administrators and community leaders for ribbon-cutting ceremonies to open Ecole Nationale Jacob Martin Henriquez, a new, state-of-the-art public school in the hard hit city of Jacmel in southern Haiti. The nine-building school complex will provide a new educational home and free meals to more than 400 local children in grades K through 7.

The school was built using contemporary, sustainable building methods and is designed to withstand any potential future earthquakes. Honeywell used the school’s construction to train local builders in modern earthquake-resistant construction and environmentally-conscious techniques that can save Haiti both money and natural resources in the years to come. Honeywell has established a scholarship fund in partnership with Operation USA to help cover the cost of books, uniforms and other student expenses.

“Working together with Operation USA, Mayor Edwin Zenny, and the City of Jacmel, we have delivered on our commitment to rebuild creating a terrific community asset and environment for learning just 7 months after we broke ground,” said Cote. “This is one of the largest post quake rebuilding projects completed in Haiti so far. Haiti’s children have been profoundly affected and we are gratified to be able to help Haiti continue their education and to play a meaningful role in improving the learning environment.”

Jacmel, a seaside town with a population of 80,000 and located 45km from the epicenter of the earthquake, saw an estimated 80% of its buildings either damaged or destroyed, with the most severe devastation in the poorer neighborhoods. Before its destruction, Ecole Nationale JM Henriquez – one of the few free schools available to the city’s children – served 400 students between the ages of 7 and 17. The new school complex, which sits on one and a half acres overlooking the bay of Jacmel, will offer its K-7 students a new, free educational home featuring a computer lab, library, cafeteria, administration building, six classroom buildings, a sustainable community garden and an athletic field.

Immediately following the earthquake, Honeywell committed $1 million in aid to Haiti, including a 100 percent match of employee donations, to fund rebuilding projects. Honeywell also made business jets available to Operation USA for airlift support to deliver medical supplies and transport medical staff.

In an effort to promote good health and nutrition while also incentivizing school enrollment and thereby enhancing literacy rates, a feeding program will be implemented for all students attending the school. At the core of the program is a community garden on the school grounds. The garden will be cultivated and maintained by the students, their families, and school staff. All produce grown in the gardens will be used in the daily meal provided to the children. These “learning gardens” will integrate practices of resource management, basic horticulture, water harvesting, composting, and small animal husbandry.

The government of Haiti estimates that approximately 230,000 people were killed and over 300,000 injured in the massive January 2010 earthquake, including 38,000 students, more than 1,300 teachers and other education personnel. Over 4,000 schools and the Ministry of Education’s headquarters were destroyed, and all available data on education was lost. An estimated three million students are believed to have suffered an interruption to, or complete cessation of, their educations. Only 50% of the children living in resettlement camps and relocation sites attend school.

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FACTS:
• Nine Buildings
• 40,375 Square Feet
• 15 Classrooms
• 10 Bathrooms
• 5 Showers
• 20 Computers
• 600 Students Capacity
• Average building is 4,486 sq ft (largest 5,821 sq ft)
• Total Construction Workers Employed: 500+
• Number of masons trained in US standards and protocols: 200
• Number of engineers trained in US standards and protocols: 35
• Foundations:
• Built of reinforced concrete
• Cell Masonry:
• Used 2-cell masonry blocks, which are less susceptible to breakage, accept the vertical steel elements and additional concrete, and have higher compressive strength.
• Wall Reinforcement:
• Horizontal and vertical steel in the masonry to take the lateral (horizontal) and gravity (vertical) loadings on the wall.
• Placement of horizontal and vertical reinforcement in the masonry walls.
• Provides for a redundant system where the walls act as hundreds of columns and also are reinforced to take the lateral loading from earthquakes and wind.
• Long Span Roof:
• Steel used throughout roof and tied to walls
• Roof has drop beams at 3M on center and a 5″ slab that spans between them. This roof structure will span the 10.5M distance and allow for overhangs on both ends.
• Creates a “cage” for the entire building and distributes weight more evenly to the walls.
• The slope of the roof allows for drainage and also for ventilation and natural light into the classroom

# # #

Nonprofit community clinics provide healthcare to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. They serve the uninsured, working poor, high risk and vulnerable populations. But the demand for their services is increasing just as their funding is decreasing. For over 29 years, Operation USA has provided supplies, equipment and medicines—free of charge—to community clinics and health centers throughout California.

Operation USA’s California Clinics Supply Program provides, on average, more than $5 million worth of materials each year. Over 100 nonprofit agencies are served throughout the state that provide clinical, mental health and/or social service care to men, women, and children in need. Partnering with manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers, donated products are shipped directly to the clinics based on their current needs.

Operation USA maintains a 24,000 sq. ft California Board of Pharmacy-licensed warehouse at the Port of Los Angeles where donated items are received, staged and stored.

Operation USA Open Warehouse events are held regularly for partner clinics who are invited to ’shop’ at the warehouse and select, free of charge, useful items from the inventory. These events allow the clinics to interact with each other as well as learn more about the donating companies.

Operation USA’s California Clinics Supply Program continues with thanks to many generous supporters. Product donors include: Brother’s Brother Foundation, Heart to Heart International, Kaiser Permanente, DAVA Pharmaceuticals, King Pharmaceuticals, McKesson, Mitsubishi, and others.  The California Community Foundation, The California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield Foundation, McKesson Foundation, San Francisco Community Foundation, California Healthcare Foundation and The Lincy Foundation, among others, provide financial support.

Operation USA has continued to invest in the future of the region’s children by funding afterschool programs and mental health initiatives that are designed to bring stability to their fragile lives. The Awesome Girls Mentoring Program, a long-term partner, offers afterschool programming for at-risk girls that gives them a place of safety and shelter, as well as provides a nurturing environment where they have the simple freedom to be children again.

The Children’s Bureau of New Orleans (CBNO) was founded in 1892 to provide specialized programs for children and families in the greater New Orleans area, with an emphasis on mental health, child welfare and advocacy. The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was particularly acute for the children of New Orleans. CBNO has been a local leader in providing mental health care for children and families in low socio-economic status with pre-existing problems that were exacerbated by the devastation.

Operation USA was a major responder to Hurricane Mitch throughout its impact area (Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador). After an initial airlift of medical and shelter supplies, Operation USA began a series of projects to restore people’s lives. Through this work, Santa Rosa was discovered—a small village of about 70 families near Nicaragua’s frontier with Honduras, originally set up in 1984 as a resettlement camp to move villagers out of a war zone. Santa Rosa had always functioned at a bare subsistence level—and Mitch nearly destroyed the village.

Our approach in Santa Rosa was to first guarantee the very survival of Santa Rosa’s residents by providing them with food, shelter, access to water and medical assistance. In the years which followed, Operation USA built a village health clinic, a common kitchen, a pre-school, an irrigation system, a micro-hydropower electrical system, a connection to the national power grid, a library, a computer training center, a recreational park and several outbuildings used by the villagers to house a series of microcredit projects.

Operation USA has made a long-term commitment to the village of Santa Rosa, which, over the years, has been transformed from a disaster site to a healthy, productive, self-sustaining community.

Operation USA used the Santa Rosa development model to assist the village of Kalladi, Sri Lanka recover and regain its livelihood after the devastation of the December 2004 tsunami. These village projects are two of Operation USA’s largest long-term development projects.

OpUSA has partnered with LA-based Artists for Peace & Justice to support Father Rick’s lifesaving work. Initial response includes the purchase of $140,000 worth of food and cooking utensils.

Future projects will include help to rebuild neighborhood schools of varying sizes depending on population resettlement.