I’m sitting in Leogane, Haiti on a really good net connection in a huge concrete building sipping on a cold Coke on my day off as a volunteer with Hands On Disaster Response. It’s hard not to feel guilty about having such a sweet setup when directly in front of the building sits a small tent city of homeless Leogane residents, most with buildings made of sticks, bed sheets, and tarps. But with every bad situation there’s always got to be hope. The temporary camps are dire places but singing emanates from within and friendly faces smile back at you.
I’m trying to allay my guilt by working as hard as I can. It seems impossible that one person could make any difference in this mess but when you get a bunch of hard working people together, it’s amazing what can be accomplished.
My first two full days of work were on a home that had collapsed into a pile of rubble and tangled rebar (photo above) and I was pretty overwhelmed at first. But having done several Hands On projects I should have known that it would be cleared impossibly quickly. As usual, I was surrounded by some of the hardest workers I’ve ever met and the high-intensity day in the hot sun was draining and painful but rewarding and it served as an immediate reminder a to why I keep coming back to these things.
I don’t even know if I can fully comprehend how damaging this earthquake has been in Haiti both in terms of life and property, but also economically. Something like 85% of the country’s GDP comes from business in Port-au-Prince and that pretty much been wiped out in less than a minute. In a country like Haiti that was pretty screwed before the quake, it is hard to fathom what this means and what the recovery will actually look like. Haiti’s dire situation blew my mind before this disaster and being here and seeing the devastation first hand has been a very sobering experience.
I love being here and I’m happy to be in a position to help, even if just a little bit. I will try to post as often as I can. Right now I need a nap because the past few days have kicked my ass. If you haven’t donated money to Haiti, please consider making a donation to Hands On, or any charity of your choice.
Please please please.
Wow Kirsty – your efforts to help out are both inspiring and impressive. You deserve our support while you work to improve the lives of those in need. I plan to buy another ebook to help support you and HODR. Good luck and take lots of pictures! I’m sure everyone is curious about conditions there.
Kudos on the good work helping them out Kirsty, keep up the good work out there. Take pics to show us the progress being made
This was so inspiring! It’s fun to read what happens behind the scenes and get some insight how it really is working as a volunteer.
I might try it as well next time we are ready to leave again
Kirsty you should not feel guilty at all. You are doing far more to help than most people. So enjoy your days off and cold cokes. You’ve earned it. Just imagine what their situation would be like without great organizations like Hands On helping out.
Kristy, it always great to read on what you are doing at hands on, sometimes it really makes me want to be out there doing the same thing as you are!
Take care.
Everybody must help. They need money. Where can I spend money?
nice to see someone who help others and give them his hand when they need it.
Nice efforts by you Kristy. I am not so lucky to go there to help, but I do as much as possible by donating money for sufferers.
Every little thing that you do, changes a life! It is a great thing to live by! Good work out there!
Guided by the example of the Good Samaritan of the Gospel, we raise our prayers in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
It’s really cool to see you do this. Don’t feel guilty about occasionally taking a break with a nice cool drink as you’ve more than earned it considering what you and your friends do with so much love and devotion.
Till then,
Jean
100% support you ! Let’s Hands on.
Thanks everyone! I will do my best to keep everyone updated and take photos. The internet is actually really great here but the power isn’t always on.
@pktan Do it!
@druck You can donate to the Haiti fund here: https://secure.ga1.org/05/haiti_earthquake
Kudos on the good work helping them out Kirsty, keep up the good work out there. Nice pics
thats amazing for going out there! well done!
Good to see you settling in, I’m very surprised you are living in what appears to be decent diggs.. I thought for sure this trip you where going to be living a very basic existence.
@London Paris Train
Love the site very good…
It’s great to see that people like you and your team are out in the world doing amazing things. I pray for you and hope that you’ll keep up the good work!
God Bless you all in Haiti. Hang in there. I pray for you daily.
You must feel great knowing the good work you are doing. It is so much more rewarding to be able to give your time.
As a person been in 1999 Turkey Earthquake.
I cant thank you enough to people who put their heart on supporting in any way they could.
here is how bad it was back in that day…
Sorry to hear about that, karasu. Hope you didn’t lose anyone close in that.
Till then,
Jean
don’t feel guilty at all you are doing more that most just by being there helping
It’s really cool to see you do this.
very sad… we are very thankful of you kirsty to share these kind of information with us… we need of some people who can support them like kirsty.
My heart goes out to all the victims of this earthquake and at the same thankfull that there are people like kristy risking there life to volunteer and help the people in need.