Middle Ground, formerly Espwa Berlancia, is a small but impactful organization. Since 2016 their programming has benefitted the lives of 716 children and their families. Rhyan Buettner, the founder of Middle Ground has grown the organization from its original foundational organization, Espwa Berlancia. Rhyan has accomplished much over the years, and I am honored to call her a friend.
The sight of a child tortured by years of malnourishment is hard to describe. Witnessing the frailty and weakness that takes over, not just consuming a childās body, but capturing every part of their happiness is something that never leaves your memory. The ability to find the glimmer of hope and the spark of joy return to a child who once sat completely still, with no energy to lift their head, and little movement in facial expression now running around a room the way a child with a full and content belly can is nothing shy of miraculous.
Middle Ground is many times a Miracle Ground.
I have watched as the staff at Middle Ground has lovingly and with full dedication turned the lives of many children from the brink of the tortures of malnourishment return to smiling, playing children who then graduate from programming and go home to their families or care providers. During their stay, these family members and care providers are provided with education and skills to become more equipped and prepared to maintain a healthier and more vibrant child. The days I have spent at Middle Ground affirm that the work done by all is done with thorough dedication and with love.
Middle Ground handles some of the most severe cases possible, and its programming is intentionally designed for the mitigation of relapse. The following information provides a sampling of each program they offer with additional links containing further program details if you are interested in learning more about Middle Groundās offerings and how you can support the work they do to help families facing malnourishment in Haiti.
A child who qualifies for the severe Malnourishment Treatment Program is placed in an inpatient unit where they are cared for by medical staff and are placed on a āPlumpy Nut treatment programā, and those who will care for them after their treatment are educated on how to sustain their health when they recover.
The Infant Formula Program is available to children who arenāt able to receive the much-needed nutrients for their growth. This program also provides the education their caretakers need to ensure babies receive proper nutrition.
Middle Groundās Physical Therapy Program is part of each childās treatment during their stay. These services assist with helping kids with delayed skills work on core motor skills, exercise, and play. These activities are designed to be consistent and available techniques that they can complete at home for continued success once they are discharged.
The Family Preservation Program is an aspect of Middle Groundās programming that is assessed individually as evaluating the circumstances that lead a child to their door is always different. Support for care providers varies from counseling to school sponsorship as the needs each family faces are different.
Graduation is the goal for a child in one of Middle Groundās programs. Sustaining a childās health is vital, and preventing relapse is essential. For this reason, each participant has scheduled follow-up appointments with Middle Ground staff for the year after discharge from inpatient programming.
Health Education is a big part of the Middle Ground program. All care providers are enrolled in classes providing education on nutrition, hygiene, and other relevant topics that will aid in the enrolled childās success post-programming like sanitation. Birth control is introduced and discussed as well. These classes are based on Facts for Life, a UNICEF and WHO publication, which includes the use of visual aids.
Spiritual Support is a vital part of life and working in Haiti. When a child is in need of services at Middle Ground, utilizing Spiritual Support in tandem with Mental Health Support through a partnership with Espere Counseling Center provides care providers support during extremely difficult trials in their lives.
Small Business classes are offered to the care providers of the children who have graduated from the Middle Ground program. The Lorika Foundation developed the training and it has been adapted to Haitian culture. Students of the business classes learn about profit and loss, credit, money for living, avoiding failure, business community business plans, money management and record keeping, loans, and sustaining life.
Upon completion of and successful passing of the Middle Ground business class, participants are equipped to and encouraged to open a business suitable for their community.
The Dributts Product Program offers parents the opportunity to utilize scraps of Dributts diaper materials to create hair ties and bracelets. These are sold at a thrift store by the name of Re-Thread. Funds support parents, as well as a general fund that supports thinks social work and advocacy for families. The partnership with Dributts has allowed Middle Ground to facilitate diaper drops, and malnourishment screening clinics and offers parents profit through direct sales.
Sustainability is a journey. Middle Ground and Harvest107 partner to combat food insecurity; these two organizations help prepare families and caregivers. The Middle Ground business instructor teaches a two-day business and money management class. Harvest107ās agronomist meets with caregivers in their community to share insight and instruction on how to grow and maintain a garden and provides the essentials for an organic garden, including tools, organic soil, seeds, a bucket, and a natural fertilizer made by Harvest107. Staff from both organizations maintain communication to support the sustainability plan for one year.
If youād like to assist Middle Ground with their efforts, you can donate via their programming in an amount youāre comfortable with here:
https://middlegroundhaiti.org/donate/
For more information on how YOU can help Middle Ground please see the following:
Donate directly to Middle Ground:
https://middlegroundhaiti.org/donate/
Are you interested in fundraising on behalf of Middle Ground? Consider joining an Advisory Group! Email info@middlegroundhaiti.org for more information, and see the below link for ways you might be able to serve Middle Ground as an Advisory Group member:
https://middlegroundhaiti.org/fundraise/
If you havenāt seen my post about creating 500 + dolls to take to Haiti, you might want to check that out.
I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to donate dolls to Middle Ground several years after I met Rhyan.
The pattern I used for the dolls I created to donate to Middle Ground was made by Sara of Dolls & Daydreams, and it is available in 8ā and 10ā template sizes. The free template can be found here:
