Folks,
Your notes and messages to CODEP and me in the wake of the earthquake are heartening in their engagement: What Can I Do?
As many of you know, I was here in Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and I’m bringing a couple lessons forward for this disaster.
The bottom line is that our response has to be considered and collective. At this stage, it does little good for individuals to race to the epicenter and try to pitch in. We’re still learning the impact, the death toll, and the state of roads that would allow us to get to the affected areas.
On Tuesday evening, about a half dozen organizations are going to meet at the guesthouse where I live here in Leogane. I invited our network of NGO’s in the area most of which are not relief organizations but are involved in systemic change work: education, women’s health, youth sports, women’s empowerment and training. We will discuss resources, contacts, transportation, the team of people we could send, and what we could actually do to help. Frankly, these NGO’s are looking to us because we have such a strong group of Haitian leaders within CODEP who are able to rally, organize, and communicate well.
I anticipate that I will be part of a team of people, including some of the proteges in our mentoring program, that heads over to the impact area. If experience serves me from 2010, this will be a long, difficult process. I will send pictures and updates as possible.
Thank you so very much for your concern. Your support over the years has helped us build CODEP, its leadership, and its skill set. These will be of real value in the coming weeks.
Michael Anello
Executive Director
Early picture by Haitian friend of the destruction from the earthquake. Recent estimates are that 13,000 homes have been destroyed.