Our first week in Haiti

We arrived in Haiti via Florida with a stop over on the beautiful Turks and Cacios Caribbean island for a refuel stop. Our first day we were taken to Grand Goave near the Leogane zone which is very near the epicenter of the quake. This is where our base is located. As we drove through the heart of Port-au-Prince, we began to see the vast devastation the quake did to the city. Then as we move into the area we are working for our time here and see even more devastation around us. The impact of the earthquake is immense and indescribable. 80-90% of Leogane is destroyed. Dust abounds. Rubble is everywhere (even more prolific than the number of NGOs here in Haiti). Military helicopters flying over is one of the most common sounds. Internally displaced persons camps are growing fast. The water, shelter, food and medical needs are endless.

Yet the people were busy selling and buying goods and seem to be incredibly resilient in the face of the disaster. The children also were playing and smiling despite being homeless. Many of the children were flying kites high in the sky out of the trash they found. Many tend to paint the Haitians as victims when you read stories in the media...we are seeing more everyday a different reality of resilience, strength and even joy. One example of this happened while working on Wednesday. I was quickly greeted by the children of the village that I had been teaching hygiene and health and to my surprise they wanted to show me something they made. I then saw the area that we had met in previously for the health lessons. The children had creatively transformed it into a community space using the rubble they had found as an outline of the area. Their new joy that day was my joy too. Rubble to community spaces. Deserts to gardens.

A BIT ABOUT OUR JOBS & LIVING AREA-The place where we are living consists of a 12 room compound that is apart of a local Haiti NGO called Haiti Arise which is connected to a local church. Our group fluctuates at times but right now consists of 3 water team members, 2 latrine builders, a Team leader, 1 engineer, 2 rubble removal members, 1 logistician, 1 health and hygiene promoter. Ian continues to swing in between the positions of latrine builder in the internal displaced person camps and logistician (which coordinates supplies and food, hygiene and shelter distributions). I am working as a hygiene and health promotor within the internal displaced camps. The grant for the water and sanitation program we are working from is funded by USAID, incorporates working with handwashing, latrine use, bathing facilities, mental health (earthquake trauma care) and good hygiene practices. Everyday we go to a new camp to build latrines and promote health and hygiene activities. We usually work for a good 10-12 hours a day. But we are all functioning on disaster mode. Otherwise, we are staying busy and loving the area of Grand Goave and Leogane we are stationed at. Hopefully we will pick up more French and Creole while we are here. So here are a few glimpses of our first week.

The Beautiful Children








The Latrine Construction in the Camps


The Latrine finished product


Internally Displaced Persons Camp














Rubble to Community Space