The ApParent Project: Haiti

Written by: Katie Miller PA-C
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with an estimated 80% unemployment rate. Sadly, thousands of parents are forced to send their children to orphanages because they simply cannot afford to feed or clothe them.  The devastation of the 2010 Earthquake made the dire situation worse by leaving many more children homeless and parentless. It is estimated that over 700,000 orphans are currently living in Haiti. The Apparent Project is a nonprofit artisan guild with a mission to teach the poverty stricken Haitians how to create their own wealth. One of their most famous skills is the "upcycling" of street garbage into beautiful jewelry and wall art. This project has gained recognition by many celebrities including Gwenyth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde, and most notably Donna Karan of DKNY. The project has helped hundreds of parents piece their families back together.

The founders of the Apparent Project also provide a guest house which is available for Mission Trips. The guest house is equipped with a medical clinic, pharmacy, and accommodations for sixteen volunteers. Unfortunately, the clinic only functions when volunteers are available. When the clinic is open, Haitians will wait three hours in the blistering sun for the opportunity to discuss their medical concerns with a trained provider.  Many Haitians have never had a medical screening exam and suffer daily from treatable pain, rashes and chronic illnesses. They seek simple entities in life that Americans take for granted. Common requests include eye lubrication or drops, pain medication, reading glasses, sunglasses, topical creams/ointments, antihistamines, respiratory inhalers or simply a reassuring medical evaluation.

Every January and July a team of Western New York medical providers travels to the Apparent Project. This July a team of massage therapists, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants and supportive personnel treated hundreds of Haitian citizens during the two week clinic. The trip is an amazing experience for everyone involved. If you have ever contemplated attending a Medical Mission Trip please visit the Apparent Project website, www.apparentproject.org, for more information. If you are interested in donating to the Apparent Project medical mission please visit the WNYPAA website for a list of donation sites and needed supplies. Additional donations may be made by joining Smile Amazon. Once you are a member you may choose the Apparent Project as your charity of choice to receive 0.5% of the proceeds from each of your qualifying purchases.  If interested in becoming a part of this mission please contact: David Parsons PA-C at [email protected]

List of supplies needed: