Methodist Church in Chile assists Haitian migrants

The pandemic continues to grow in Chile, with increasing levels of COVID infections and deaths, despite having one of the best vaccination programmes in the region. The pandemic has adversely affected Haitian migrants in Chile. Prior to the pandemic, Haitians already experienced a level of vulnerability, employment insecurity and lack of access to essential services such as healthcare in the country. The pandemic deepened this vulnerability, as Haitian founds themselves without the monetary resources with which to buy food or pay their rents. Some ended up homeless.
All of these consequences have made them even more vulnerable to contracting COVID, particularly as many have been forced to break lockdown rules and undertake informal employment, with little or no PPE protection.

The Methodist Church in Chile is using the World Mission Fund to strengthen the work they already do with Haitian communities and by offering them training for income generation that will enable them to earn an income and provide for their families. The project will focus on training for communities living in two neighbourhoods in Santiago that have a high density of Haitian migrants, some living in informal housing with minimal privacy and hygiene.

The baking and sewing course will be offered to 50 men and women. They will also be offered access to psychological support, legal support to help them regularise their migration status and pastoral support from the local church.

Irish Methodists make an annual contribution to the World Mission Fund through World Mission Partnership.