5 years and counting

Annual Christmas Reunion- Haiti March 2006

The dynamic duo (Maggie and Dianne)

 

My mentor for the past 5 years – this woman rocks my socks.

CHEERS to many more ladies….. so much love for all of you!

Christmas Blessings

When we count our many blessings it isn’t hard to see

That life’s most valued riches

are the treasures that are free.

For it isn’t what we own or buy that signifies our wealth

Its the special gifts that have no price- our family, friends and health….

And WOW am I ever blessed.

With 2 sets of incredible parents who support me, challenge me and love me unconditionally.

5 amazing little brothers who help me grow and teach me so much in their innocence, individuality and outpouring of love.

A huge, expanded family- has taught me so many life lessons both blatant and inherent.

Amazing friends both near and far. Those who are by my side day in and day out and those who are not as close but provide the same closeness, love, support and good times from afar. I am able to learn from and with each and everyone of them.

A heart for social justice, equality and hope.

Incredible life experiences, the ability to travel to Haiti and Kenya and develop my own individuality, passion and drive.

A future that is bright and limitless.

As Christmas quickly approaches I am challenging myself to reflect on these many blessings and ensure that everyone on this list above knows exactly how thankful I am for them.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.

Charles Henry Pierre- Nou sonje ou

Haiti lost a good man this week….

Rayjon’s in country director Dieudonne wrote to inform us that Haiti has lost a good man this week.

“Just writing to inform you that this morning our dear Charles Henry Pierre, our driver, carpenter, teacher, electrician, construction supervisor, car maintenance man, friend, security guard, everything to the organization, to the work, counselor, DJ, the kids father at the orphanage, soccer coach, boarding school superintendant, everything to us and to all,  the core of the organization, died suddenly. A slight fever on wednesday evening, spent the day at home on thursday, and became worse this Friday  AM, took him to the hospital died  on the way to the hospital, the doctors and nurses all  his friends too, tried to revive him, he did not respond.”- Dieudonne

This is a man who brought me great comfort during my visits to Haiti, not only did he ensure our safety but his warm smile and gentle heart made him a valued friend to so many.

I distinctly remember Charles smirking in the rear-view mirror has he shared his Haiti with fresh eyes.

I remember his cologne- as it was a familiar scent from home- my dad’s scent. This brought me such comfort on my first venture away from home.

I remember his kind smile- he was quiet but that smile spoke volumes.

I remember when he picked me up from GLA, our second meeting. Tears streamed down my face as I said tough goodbyes and anxiously embarked on the second half of my trip. He comforted me as we made the long drive to St. Marc, I learned a lot about him that day.

We didn't speak the same language but somehow we communicated throughout my stay. It will not be the same without him this March.

Please keep our staff, community members and of course Charles’ family in your thoughts and prayers.

Haiti lost a GREAT man this week. You will be missed Charles.

 

If the world were a village of 100 people....

Haiti election UPDATE

For those of you interested. Haiti held its 3rd democratic elections on Sunday November 28th, despite concern over proceedings the count was distributed today- Tuesday Dec 7. Because neither of the leading candidates received 50% of the vote, the top two will go through to a second round in January 2011.

The top two candidates:

1. Former first lady Mirlande Manigant

2. Government “technocrat” Jude Celestin

 

May the "best” candidate win!

Work that is close to my heart

As many of you know, I work for a NGO called Free the Children and the associated social enterprise Me to We. A lot of the work I do stems around leadership, social activism and engaging youth in the social movement of moving from “me'” thinking to “we” thinking. We do this in various ways, through programs developed within the schools, through independent social justice camps, motivational speeches and global leadership seminars. As a staff we develop modules that engage our audience to start thinking about and challenging the various social issues going on domestically and internationally. I was recently asked to put together a issues modules on Haiti and its contributing issues. Although I cant share the entire piece with you (because it is very visual and not electronic) I would like to share some of the research I did, mainly through statistics and facts.

Haiti’s population wavers around 10 million people.

60% of those live in abject poverty.

70% of the 10 million people live on $2 a day.

GDP= $480.53 per person per year

Average life expectancy= 61 years

1 in 8 children will not reach their 5th birthday.

50% of people living in the cities HAVE access to clean drinking water. Only 30% of people in the rural regions do.

40% of Haitians DO NOT have access to basic health care.

The National Literacy Rate is 53%, less than 75% of school age children go to school. Why?

School tuition costs approximately $12 a month.

$12 + uniform + books/ pencils + lunch on $2 a day?

Haiti has experienced 7 severe natural disasters in 5 years.

The second most recent, an earthquake. That killed over 300,000 people.

Injuring thousands more.

$5.3 billion were pledged from the international community.

And here we are, a grim look at Haiti’s basic statistics. What are the solutions? I was asked this very question, and this is where I am stumped. WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS?

In whose hands is Haiti’s future?

Yours, mine, theirs, ours?

March 15, 2011 couldn’t come soon enough

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“Do you think you should be going with everything going on over there?”

“Does your family worry about you when you travel there?”

- the quotes of so many I encounter

 

“A person may cause evil to others not only by their actions but by their inaction, and in either case they are justly accountable to them for the injury.”
John Stuart Mill

- the quote I choose to listen too

Mwen retounen Ayiti an…..

DAYS

…. but whose counting?

What do politics have to do with it?

EVERYTHING.

A solid, dependable leader could bring stability to the economic market:

= stable market prices and food prices

= dependable income and just employment opportunities

= restoration of agricultural sustainability

A fair and just leader could shed light on the wavering education system:

= knowledge is power, with education comes development, with education comes a break in the cycle of poverty, with education comes a future

A transparent, accountable leader could restore faith throughout the country

= safety

= hope

= health

We are still waiting on the November 28th election results due Dec 7th; however speculation remains- will the votes count?