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- The Citizen Voices Team
Rebuilding Haiti
by Kathy Legrow & Megan Drodge
Over lunch recently, as we were catching up on our various projects, we talked about the devastation in Haiti. Like many Canadians, we feel at a loss and wish there was something more that we could do, apart from making a financial donation. An idea came to mind that we would like to share with other fellow mentors and mentorees. We would like your feedback to determine your level of interest before we proceed any further.
We think it would be an interesting project for our entire group to commit to one week of volunteering in the rebuilding of Haiti. We could do it either as individuals or as a group, depending on what would work best in terms of logistics. We recognize that some may not be able to commit due to other obligations, but most of us can find a week in our otherwise busy schedules in the next 10 months.
We could approach the Canadian military for housing and transportation. If that is not feasible, there are other options we can explore. The details are not important at this point. It goes without saying that, until the disaster relief phase has passed, there is no place for us, hence the suggestion that we go when rebuilding has begun.
The international relief experience would add volumes to the resumes of our mentorees. The contacts and resources of our mentors could be put to the test. What better way to honour our participation in the Mentorship program than to take this on as a joint project!
We would like to receive your thoughts and ideas as soon as possible. If there is sufficient interest then we can begin to plan and commit to a great adventure in rebuilding.
4 Comments
I HAVE BUILT MY OWN HOUSE AND BEEN WORKING THE IN CONSTRUCTION FIELD ALL MY LIFE.
I AM WORKING ON A PLAN THAT WILL ALLOW WOMEN IN HAITI TO TAKE THEIR FUTURE IN THEIR OWNS HANDS BY BUILDING THEIR HOUSE THEMSELVES.
BY USING LOCAL MATERIALS AND BY TEACHING THEM THE KNOW HOW WE CAN GIVE THEM BACK THEIR DIGNITY.THESE VERY SOLID LITTLE HOUSES ARE VERY SIMPLE BUT WILL PROTECT FROM THE SUN, THE HEAT,THE RAIN AND THE VIOLENCE TOWARDS WOMEN IN CAMPS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO RECYCLE RAIN WATER AND HAVE A GARDEN ON THE ROOF!THE BEAUTY OF THE CONCEPT IS THAT IT CAN BE BUILT IN A DAY AND DISSASSEMBLE TO BE RELOCATED IF NEEDED IN THE FUTURE.
I AM READY TO GO TO HAITI AS SOON AS MY PLAN IS READY, PROBABLY IN TWO WEEKS. I AM A FRENCH CANADIAN, SO IT WILL BE VERY EASY FOR ME TO TRAIN WOMEN. THE IDEA IS TO TRAIN 50 WOMEN WHO WILL EACH TRAIN ANOTHER 50 WOMEN OR MEN.THAT WAY WE CAN FORM AS MANY TEAMS OF LOCAL BUILDERS AS NECESSARY!
HONORABLE MICHAELLE JEAN,IF YOU READ THIS E-MAIL PLEASE CONTACT ME
ALL MY LFE I HAVE BEEN HELPING WOMEN TO LEARN TO BUILD AND RENOVATE AND THE POWER YOU GIVE THEM IS ABSOLUTLY AMAZING!!!! I ESPECIALLY HAVE IN MIND WOMEN THAT ARE SINGLE MOTHERS AND VERY POOR. THEY ARE OFTEN THE ONES THAT STRUGGLE THE MOST...
I AM CONVINCED THAT HAITIAN WOMEN WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO REBUILT THEIR OWN LIFES. THEY ARE TIRED OF WAITING AFTER HELP THAT MINGHT TAKE MONTHS BEFORE IT GETS TO THEM.
WHAT AN INSPIRING STORY WE CAN START BY GIVING THOSE WOMEN THE TOOLS TO EMPOWER THEM!!!
SO KATHY AND MEGAN ANYTIME YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME IT WILL BE MY PLEASURE TO GO AND MEET YOU!
Danielle Sauvé
Haitienne de coeur
HAITI DE DEMAIN
Je remercie toutes les nations de leur appui et aide qu’elles apportent en ce moment difficile et douloureux au peuple haïtien (qu’il soit riche ou pauvre, qu’il soit de la haute société, de la classe moyenne ou de la masse).
Espérant que les autorités haïtiennes et étrangères vont profiter de cette occasion pour décentraliser les bureaux du gouvernement haïtien en instaurant certains ministères dans les autres villes du pays. Que ce pays ne se résume plus à la République de Port-au-Prince. Que des ministères, des bureaux d’archives, des aéroports, des facultés, des hôpitaux soient disséminés partout. Il est important qu’un nouveau projet de société puisse se dessiner pour ce nouveau départ que le pays doit prendre au seuil du troisième millénaire.
Une décentralisation permettra donc de diminuer l’exode rural qui est la cause principale de la surpopulation à Port-au-Prince. Elle diminuera les pertes humaines et structurelles du pays dans l’avenir. Car nous savons que les risques d’avoir d’autres tremblements de terre sont là et que Port-au-Prince et Cap Haïtien sont les deux villes à très haut risque.
Il est temps que nous apprenions de nos erreurs et évitons qu’elles se reproduisent dans l’avenir.
Encore une fois, au non de ceux qui ont besoin de l’aide en Haïti, ceux qui ne peuvent s’exprimer, nous tenons à témoigner notre gratitude au monde entier.
Bénédict Bois, agroéconomiste
Kathy and Megan, I think this is an excellent idea. We as a group have all expressed our interest to make a difference together; the proposed project is the ultimate opportunity for us to make a significant contribution by uniting, seizing the moment and providing help to those who need it the most.
I would feel sincerely grateful to be given the opportunity to be involved with such a worthy cause. I welcome and encourage this project and would be excited to be involved in its actualization.