Day Three In Haiti

“We will not walk in front of them. We will not walk behind them. We will only walk with them.” Those were the words that were told to us by Kevin, who runs livelihood programs in Port-Au-Prince. The common theme we are hearing is that Haitians must rebuild Haiti, and in many ways the same principle can be adopted anywhere. Here Haitians are given the tools and training they need to get started in businesses, but must maintain these on their own. We met Anna yesterday who showed us her business. She makes hand stitched greeting cards like the one below. These are intricate works that she is very proud of. We met a baker who dreams of continuing his business to be able to supply prisons with bread. Talk about giving back. Not all of the people we’ve met have been as successful since leaving the camps. Two young people we’ve met stay at home all day since they have not completed school and cannot get jobs without this education. You may ask yourself why they just don’t go back to school. School in Haiti is very expensive and they cannot afford it without jobs, and can’t get jobs without education. My wheels are spinning with ideas to help these young people and Haiti in general.

Much is to be said about the people working for CRS as well. We’ve met Haitians and Americans that do the work here. They are just as proud of their work as the Haitians are proud of their benefits. I am looking forward to visiting programs in Les Cayes, a city on the southern coast of Haiti. --- Ryan
Wow! My head and my heart were very full yesterday as we ventured to 2 communities rebuilding with the guidance of CRS. The amazing people of CRS are so dedicated to the poor and vulnerable. The ideas generated are ingenious. We visited the community of Petitonville within Port au Prince and saw the progress of transitioning families into T shelters and WASH (Water and Sanitation Hygiene) programs. The most brilliant idea to me was encouraging and supporting Haitians do and entrepreneurship turning rubble into gravel or sand for latrines and bases for T shelters. The Good News shared here today was that several of the tent camps have been closed and the people have been moved into a somewhat safer environment. The poverty is overwhelming and heartbreaking here. Progress is slow. Funding runs low but, CRS brings hope!

We were invited to go to L’arch de ciel an orphanage for AIDS/HIV in the afternoon. It is considered to be a positive place of healing for them. This was so evident in the dignity and compassion shown by the founder Danielle. 17 young people from ages 3 to 20 greeted all of us with smiles and kisses .Before going to Le Cayes today we visited another community on recovery. We got to chat with two little boys with our limited French. They asked me about my children and “if my mother was living.” So sweet…
Count your blessings! Missy

I have always believed that the greatest resource that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has are the people who make up the community. What I am discovering here in Haiti this week is that people might be the best resource of every community. CRS has a program that moves people from the point of needing direct assistance—food and shelter—right after an event like the earthquake to transitional housing which is safer and more permanent. They move back to their home neighborhoods and are given holistic training and skills to take the next step toward self sufficiency. They learn about finance, get psychological support, get start up money for their businesses, and form community associations. They have CRS mentors and many have begun to rebuild the economy here through this program. One of the people we met today is an example of the inspiring people who are moving this poverty stricken country forward. Richie is a young Haitian man who attended Boston College and graduated with a dual degree—Finance and Pre-Med. He got a job in Finance after graduation but decided he wanted to move back to Haiti to be with his family and perhaps start a business here. He came back to visit in January 2010….just in time to experience the earthquake. He used his medical skills in the early stages of the event and later teamed with Catholic Relief Services where he continues to work in a very poor neighborhood that literally crumbled that night in January. He is now assisting this neighborhood in rebuilding, regaining jobs, and getting the kids back into school. I cannot tell you how humble he was as he told his story nor how inspired I was to hear him. I kept thinking of the statement that Anne Frank wrote in her diary as I looked at the devastation and then at Kevin. It was something like...”Despite all this, I still believe that people are truly good at heart.”…..Kathy