Planting Peace (De-worm Project)

Planting Peace first began its “Stomp the Worm’ project in Haiti after a mission trip in which we learned that 80% of the Haitian population is infected with intestinal parasites. It was at that time that we also learned of the devastating effects parasitic worms have on the physical and mental health of the Haitian children.

According to the World Health Organization, intestinal parasites eat up to 20% of a child’s nutritional intake a day. With Haiti being the second hungriest country in the world, no Haitian child can afford to have their nutritional intake depleted by 20%. In most cases, ridding a child of these parasitic worms can mean the difference between life and death.

Most of us are aware of the effects malnutrition can have on a child. Poor cognitive development, lifelessness, lethargy, weak immune systems, vitamin deficiencies, anemia, etc. However, many do not know to what degree parasitic worms exacerbate this problem.

Planting Peace is also striving to educate people on how to prevent being infected with these parasites and how not to become re-infected once treated. This is an overwhelming task considering the current living conditions in Haiti and other underdeveloped countries regarding poor sanitation, raw sewage, and lack of potable drinking water, minimal health care facilities and extreme poverty. However, we believe through treatment and through education, we can make a difference.

It is also the goal of Planting Peace to bring awareness to the people of this country as to the health and living conditions of Haiti and elsewhere.

No child should be left alone to sleep on the streets… no child should be without love and guidance… no child should go to bed hungry…. No child should have to live with a belly full of worms.
It is our hope that the word of our efforts will spread, and that more people will not only declare this to be unacceptable, but will be willing to give forward.